PARIS -- Alcatel is expected to purchase a larger share of Thales, a manufacturer of defense electronics, when its board meets later this week.

Another player on the scene is EADS, which is reportedly offering its satellite production to Thales in exchange for a stake in the company.

EADS is the parent of Airbus, the European aerospace consortium. Thales is the largest producer of defense electronics in Europe.

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WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday voted to double the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers as part of a controversial immigration bill that faces a tough fight in Congress.

The proposed measure, which would raise the number of H-1B visas to 115,000, with an option of raising the cap 20% more each year, was included in the Senate's immigration bill.

The committee passed the bill 12-6. It now goes before the full Senate.

H1-B visas are controversial as many tech companies insist on them and yet critics claim they come at the expense of American workers who would otherwise fill those jobs.

H-1B visas are currently capped at 65,000 a year. The visas are good for six years.

The Judiciary Committee proposal would increase the annual cap of H-1B visas to 115,000 beginning in 2007 while maintaining all existing exemptions, a move that would effectively would boost the number of H-1B visas to nearly 300,000 a year, according to published reports.

LONDON -- The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry has completed its implementation review of the WEEE directive and is now holding informal discussions with companies on "whether the implementation proposals will deliver the objectives and obligations set by the directive in an effective and efficient way.”

The DTI emphasized, however, that further review of the implementation plans will not be sought.

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SHANGHAI -- SMTA China will officially form next week during Nepcon China in Shanghai, kicking off its first executive committee meeting in conjunction with the SMTA Hong Kong chapter’s annual meeting.

A ceremony and dinner will be held April 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Centre International Hotel.

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