Samford University’s Brock School of Business is changing the schedule of its evening MBA program.

The graduate program - taken often by working professionals - is being revamped into two semesters that are nine weeks each with a 10-week summer semester, the school reported Thursday.

The program used to have five, nine-week terms in a year.

Under the new schedule, each course will meet for a two-hour class each week, giving students more time to study and learn the material, school officials said.

“We have retained the flexibility and convenience for working professionals through the option of attending one evening a week,” said Larry Harper, director of Graduate and Executive Education Programs at the Brock School of Business in a news release. “In addition, students can complete the degree in as little as 12 months by attending full-time or 22 months by attending part-time.”

The new curriculum covers all business functions and is designed to offer a more complete general management experience. Students also learn to exercise ethical business practices.

“Managers need comprehensive skills and sound values in order to achieve the disparate goals of their investors, customers, employees and the public at large,” said Beck A. Taylor, dean of the Brock School of Business. “At the Brock School, our charge is to help current and aspiring managers to discover solutions that meet these goals.”

The evening MBA program is the oldest in the state of Alabama and takes applications year round. Students can enter the program in January, June and August.

More : bizjournals.com

Not unexpectedly, the Ministerial Conference in Cancun, the World Trade Organization meeting reached the conclusion proof, without any convention. The main stumbling blocks were massive subsidies to agriculture (estimated at approximately $ 300 billion a year by rich countries) and so-called “Singapore issues”.

The proceedings of the meeting was a great demonstration of power between developed countries - the USA and the European Union in particular - and developing countries, the bloc of G-22, cited by India, China and Brazil. In principle, it ended in a deadlock.

What are the main effects and consequences of the collapse of the Cancun negotiations? Firstly, by the huge subsidies that rich countries to their farmers, which would remain intact. So, farmers in many poor countries (especially in Africa) would continue to suffer unfair competition from their richer counterparts in the form of production subsidies, export subsidies and import tariffs . Developing countries were convinced to participate in negotiations on the Doha promise that their main development concerns would be accepted.

Indeed, they say that the reduction of agricultural subsidies by developed countries under the agreement of Uruguay has not been implemented and questions should focus on a priority before the news is included in the price.

The most troublesome aspects of developed countries, agricultural subsidies in Cancun was trying to change the definition of what constitutes a “trade distorting” subsidies. They were loans, export subsidies for trade. is clear policy to support home, in the form of grants entry and exit also rising costs of domestic producers an unfair advantage over their market in producing countries cheaper from other countries and must also be seen as distorting trade.

In addition, the European Union and the USA tries to block among the ranks of developing countries to give the impression that they were ready for the phasing out of export subsidies for products of particular interest to developing countries. He hoped that the existence of an influx of some developing countries, for their main products in the list of convicts and the G-22 solidarity. They even tried to attract China by suggesting that the subsidy and tariff reduction commitment would be less China, as it lies at the WTO later. So far, no developing country in the trap. But there are already sufficient indications and explicit threats of USA and the European Union’s negotiating driving licence they operate, bilateral and regional deals with a number of countries and try to a weakening of the coalition of developing countries.

At present, protection is enjoyed by Indian farmers to import duties (now that the import quotas are not more) remains intact. It would be a victory for the government before the elections. The NDA government itself of the project can also contribute to a better protection of interests that the Indian government Uruguay discussions in Congress.

The other obstacle was the Singapore issues - of multilateral rules for foreign investment, competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation (simplification of customs procedures, and so forth). Among the latter, the most controversial of developing countries was the attempt to implement (EU-led) a multilateral agreement on investment (MAI).

Countries such as India argue that this is not a single rate of tax rules for foreign investment for all countries. Historically, countries at different development stages (including the USA, Japan, France, South Korea and so on) many species have imposed restrictions on foreign investment would promote economic development. In the future, they should also have the freedom to decide what type of foreign investments are allowed or discouraged. At best, it may insist on the fact that once a foreign investor is allowed for loading in a country, there should be no discrimination against foreign prisoners vis-a-vis a national company. But it has already been guaranteed by several provisions of the MIC (investment measures), under the agreements of the Uruguay. For example, the requirements discriminatory has no local content or export obligations can be held abroad, even longer.

Regarding the other Singapore issues, the objections were not as strong. Indeed, India can win if greater transparency is ensured in public procurement in all countries.

A number of uniform and transparent rules for fair competition should not be a bad idea either. The problem is that even the USA, unfair competition, it is easier to prove, against foreign producers. Even the practices followed by domestic producers are tolerated. It is precisely for these reasons that competition policy problem has been on the agenda of the Cancun conference, at the insistence of the USA. Among developing countries’ perspective of free movement so that foreign investment without a competition policy in the village would have been the worst scenario. Fortunately, the time has been avoided.

In India, activities related to CEDAW began around Beijing. During 1998, with efforts by the IWRAW Asia-Pacific, a group of activists, lawyers and supervisory institutions in India was the fulfilment of their obligations under the CEDAW on a project entitled “To facilitate the performance of government bonds to equal Woman” (to facilitate Project). The first draft of the action, it was to research and write provisional below indicate reports necessary baseline data to determine the woman and contributory causes and gaps in India, the performance of his duty. Three themes were reports: 1) Women’s political participation, 2) The armed conflict in the region North-East, and 3) Article 16 of CEDAW-Convention on women’s rights in marriage, including India made a statement. (1) The research, in order to sufficient information for the development of alternative report, if the CEDAW Committee considered the report of the State. (2)

The development of an alternative report of the NGO Committee on CEDAW

If India was expected, its first report to the CEDAW Committee in January 2000 in New York, it was only news that women’s NGOs should be an alternative report. A central team has already been monitoring the implementation of CEDAW, so that NGOs to facilitate the task. Sixteen groups have been instructed to familiarize themselves with the various articles of the Convention. The alternative to the assessment report of the factual situation (see definitions P.11) women’s equality and non-discrimination as enshrined in CEDAW. To improve the consultation process, a national conference with nongovernmental organizations from all over India took place at the conclusion of the report of the substance and awareness of the importance of the Convention, its reports and flows such as NGOs May, in other reports. Relevant was invited leaders of government, so that they benefit from the discussions. The whole process involved:

1) a day of orientation for NGOs and government representatives on the convention, principles and scope of government commitment [on 13 November 1999, UNIFEM, South Asia, IWRAW Asia - Pacific and the National Alliance of Women (NAWO), where exchanges of experiences in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, whose reports have already been verified

MUMBAI, India — Rediff.com India Limited (Nasdaq: REDF), one of the leading worldwide online providers of news, information, communication, entertainment and shopping services for Indians, announced the appointment of Rashesh C. Shah as an Independent Director to its Board. Mr. Shah has also been appointed as a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr. Shah is currently CEO of Edelweiss Capital Limited. He also serves on the Boards of several Edelweiss subsidiaries and other companies. Edelweiss Capital is a leading financial services company based in Mumbai, India, whose businesses include investment banking, securities broking and investment management.

Mr. Ajit Balakrishnan, Chairman of the Board at Rediff.com India Limited said, “I am delighted to welcome Rashesh to the Board. He joins us with extensive experience and strong financial skills generated from his career in the financial services industry. His expertise will be of great benefit to the Board.”

Mr. Shah is an MBA graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Bombay. He is also a Diploma holder in International Trade from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.