IBM scientists create smallest 3D earth model

IBM scientists have created a 3D map of the earth so small that 1,000 of them could fit on a single grain of salt.

They accomplished this through a new, breakthrough technique that uses a tiny, silicon tip with a sharp apex -- 100,000 times smaller than a sharpened pencil point -- to create patterns and structures as small as 15 nanometre at greatly reduced cost and complexity.

A nanometre is a billionth of a metre. This patterning technique opens new prospects for developing nanosized objects in fields such as electronics, future chip technology, medicine, life sciences, and optoelectronics.

Chinese Electronics Firm Sues HP,Toshiba

A Chinese electronics company has launched legal action against computer makers Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba over alleged infringements of
its patents, a report said Tuesday.

Beijing Huaqi Information Digital Technology, better known by its brand name Aigo, accused HP and Toshiba of violating six patents for USB Plus, a storage port technology used in many laptop computers, the Financial Times said.

Aigo is seeking one million yuan ($146,500) damages from HP, according to a complaint seen by the newspaper.

Couple in Rajouri questioned on Madhuri Gupta visit to their home

A doctor couple in Rajouri have been questioned by security agencies in connection with the sensational espionage case involving an Indian diplomat, who was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan.

A team of officials quizzed Dr Khem Raj Sharma and his wife Dr Champa Sharma for nearly two hours in connection with the spying case at Sunderbani in Rajouri district on Thursday night, highly placed sources said.

During questioning, Champa Sharma told interrogators that diplomat Madhuri Gupta had visited her residence in Sunderbani on March 29 for a day after crossing from Pakistan via Wagha border in a Toyota vehicle registered in Pakistan.

HP to buy Palm for $1.2Bn

 Hewlett-Packard Co said it has struck a $1.2 billion deal for Palm Inc, offering a 23 per cent premium to expand into the smartphone market.

The news comes after much speculation on Wall Street about who would buy Palm, which once dominated the market but which has been overshadowed by Apple Inc's iPhone, Research in Motion's BlackBerry and phones that use Google Inc's Android software.

In a sign of Palm's struggles, the company on Wednesday slashed expectations for the current quarter, saying slow sales of its products have resulted in low order volumes from phone carriers. "If you saw the guidance Palm just put out, it was clear they had to sell," said Phil Cusick, analyst at Macquarie Research.

Madhuri Gupta embraced by Islam ?????

Madhuri Gupta, the 53-year-old second secretary arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, may have embraced Islam about six years ago, a media report has claimed.

Gupta, who was posted at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was perhaps a Shia Muslim, according to a media report.

"She was really inspired by the teachings of Islam, but was scared to announce her new faith," reads a report in the Post.

Man posing as a CBI sleuth arrested on molestation charges

A man posing himself as a top law officer of Haryana and a CBI sleuth was arrested on charges of molesting a woman in a hotel in Jaipur, police said.

Sanjiv Kadia, arrested late last night and was booked under various sections of the IPC, was granted bail by a local court, IGP (Jaipur Range) B L Soni said.

During questioning, he had told police that he was an Assistant Advocate General of Haryana and a CBI sleuth, the IGP said.

Two Govt officials arrested over bribery charges

The house of two senior government officials were searched by the Central Bureau of  Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday.

They both stand accused of accepting large bribes.

O Ravi, a Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry, allegedly accepted 25 lakhs from a private distiller to transfer an administrator who was persistent and meticulous about the taxes owed by the distiller.

No 4G for now in India - A.Raja

The government does not have any plans as of now to auction 4G spectrum, Communications Minister A. Raja said on Thursday.

"The auction of 3G spectrum is going on successfully. The question of the need of 700 MHz (4G) spectrum (for the public) is being studied. It is not necessary as of now," Raja said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha.

"If in the course of time, the need arises, we will decide how much of this should be released for the public," he added.