Income Dept still needs 30,000 Employees - Finance Ministry

The Income Tax Department needs to immediately add 30,000 more employees to carry out its existing operations, a senior Finance Ministry official said.

"To avoid affecting the overall revenue collection and delivery of tax payer services, the department immediately requires 22,000 additional employees apart from filling up the 8,000-odd vacant positions," the official said.

The department has 58,000 sanctioned positions and about 8,000 posts are lying vacant.

He said the department needs 4,000 officers (including 2,000 assessing officers), 4,000 inspectors, 12,000 tax assistants, data entry operators and other support staff, and about 2,000 as reserves.

CapGemini to hire 4,000 more in India

Europe's largest computer consultancy company Capgemini is all set to expand its India workforce. The France-based company reportedly plans to hire 4,000 in India by June end.

In a report in Business Standard, company's executive chairman Salil Parekh said that India continues to develop in local and international business and is core to Capgemini's Rightshore approach. The company plans to see accelerating momentum in its headcount growth throughout the year.

Adobe bends to Apple's threat, Says it would endorse HTML5 video format

Adobe Systems put aside its tiff with Apple and told thousands of software developers it is embracing the online video format preferred by the maker of iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Adobe chief technology officer Kevin Lynch endorsed the HTML5 video format that Apple chief executive Steve Jobs favors over Adobe's Flash software.

"HTML5 is great," Lynch said while Google executives touted the format as a key to rich online experiences to come.

HP & Sify partners to offer Cloud services

HP and Sify Technologies Limited, a leading Data Center player jointly announced an agreement to power SIFY’s On-Demand cloud services using HP’s Converged Infrastructure. This will allow Sify to provide demand based computing services on a pay per use or flexible contract model. Customers using the new service will be able to accelerate time to market and reduce cost by leveraging IT services on the fly, without making substantial capital investments in technology.

Using HP’s Converged Infrastructure, Sify is now launching new cloud services including Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for select applications under its On-Demand Hosting Platform. To enable this, the Blade System Matrix a product of HP’s converged infrastructure, pools together Sify’s IT resource into a highly automated and virtualized resource pool. Specific application templates have been developed to automatically provision resources for every new business requirement. Businesses users will be able to request IT services on the fly by using a self service portal powered by the HP Insight Orchestration tool, within the Blade System Matrix.

Flash 10.1 for Android to be released soon

Google used the announcement of the availability of Flash Player 10.1 for Android 2.2 to get in plenty of side swipes at Apple, but it didn't go into any detail about what you get in Flash 10.1 – or how you get it.

What Google showed at Google IO was a "pre-beta build, not the final product release," Adobe director of technology strategy for partner development Anup Muraka . "However it's a really solid technology base and it's going to play a lot of content."

"The goal for this release is that most existing Flash content should just work," says Muraka. "We acknowledge that not all content is going to behave the same; some content will work better than others. You can't expect high bit-rate HD video to work perfectly on a small screen smartphone over a 3Gnetwork- but we're still seeing good performance for video playback."

H-1B visa holders 8.9% more than Americans IT workers

H-1B visa has often received flak for fall in American salaries. In fact, anti-H-1B visa activists have often complained that say the programme depresses American IT workers' salaries and robs them of jobs.

However, a recent research from the University of Maryland claims that foreign IT professionals on H-1B visas earn more than their American counterparts.

The research which examined the IT salaries using data from online salary surveys conducted from 2000 to 2005, found that foreign IT professionals earned 8.9% more than American citizens.

Cattle manure to power Datacenters soon

Hey diddle diddle. Guess what the cow has done this time? America's dairy farmers could soon find themselves in the computer business, with the manure from their cows possibly powering the vast data centers of companies like Google and Microsoft.

While not immediately intuitive, the idea plays on two trends: the building of computing centers in more rural locales, and dairy farmers' efforts to deal with cattle waste by turning it into fuel. With the right skills, a dairy farmer could rent out land and power to technology companies and recoup an investment in the waste-to-fuel systems within two years, Hewlett-Packard engineers say in a new research paper.

IP address's will last only for 500 days

It has emerged that the IP addresses used in helping to distinguish one computer from another are expected to run out in approximately 500 days.

The unique numbers, which are known as Internet Protocol addresses, help identify the world's networked devices. An IP address uses four numbers from 0 to 255 to mark a computer from another. As an example, computers around the world can recognise the IP address 203.26.51.71 as a server for fairfax.com.au, which publishes the Sydney Morning Herald, which carried the report, online.

Hindhuja group to Buy Europe's KBL Bk for Rs.8,770 crores

Hinduja Group, a diversified global business conglomerate, today announced that it would acquire European private bank KBL epb for EUR 1.35 billion (about Rs 8,770 crore).

KBL epb, a subsidiary of Belgium-based KBC Group, is one of the largest onshore private banking groups with affiliated local banks in 55 locations across ten European countries.

Private banking refers to customised service, including wealth management, provided to high networth individuals.

Relaince Mediaworks rises its share holding in Fame India Ltd

Anil Ambani group firm Reliance MediaWorks Ltd, with two others, has raised their stake in multiplex chain Fame India Ltd to 14.51 percent, as it battles rival Inox in a takeover battle, according to a stock exchange filing.

Reliance MediaWorks, along with group firms Reliance Capital and Reliance Capital Partners, acquired an additional 2.37 percent equity in Fame through open market purchases between Feb 22 and May 20, according to a filing made to the NSE.

Political-Ethnic killng in Karachi Rises to 37, Tense up in the city

Karachi remained tense on Friday as the toll in three days of political—ethnic killings rose to 37 and at least eight vehicles were set ablaze overnight in various parts of the metropolis.

Shops in major markets as well as petrol pumps were closed and traffic suspended in the Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Qasba, Pirabad, Orangi Town, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Gulshan—e—Iqbal, Gulistan—e—Jauhar and Jackson neighbourhoods, Geo TV reported.

Symantec to Buy Verisign's Web Security arm

Symantec Corp.'s decision to pay $ 1.28 billion to buy a division of VeriSign Inc. that sells security technology to websites highlights how quickly the companies are moving in opposite directions.

Symantec, best known for its antivirus software for personal computers, wants to secure more things.

With the VeriSign deal, announced Wednesday, Symantec will have spent nearly $ 3 billion in two years acquiring technologies that make it a bigger player in other parts of the security market, such as protecting data on mobile phones and delivering software over the Internet.

Google belief of uniting TV & web

Google Inc. believes it has come up with the technology to unite Web surfing with channel surfing on televisions.

To reach the long-elusive goal, Google has joined forces with Sony Corp., Intel Corp. and Logitech International. The companies unveiled their much-anticipated plan for a "smart" TV on Thursday during a Google conference for about 5,000 software programmers.

The TVs are expected to go on sale in the fall. Pricing wasn't immediately announced.

Tagore's Paintings auction will be held

The auction of 12 paintings by Rabindra Nath Tagore on June 15 in London by Sotheby's will go ahead as planned.

"The sale of the paintings at public auction will be an unprecedented opportunity for broad competition and the initial response from collectors to the announcement of the sale has been positive. Both Sotheby's and Dartington would be delighted if the works were acquired by an Indian institution - and returned to India - as they are certainly of museum quality," Sotheby's said.

The 12 paintings were gifted to the Dartington Hall Trust 71 years ago and are now estimated to be worth £250,000.

4 Poachers killed in Gun battle with forest guards

Four poachers were killed in a gunfight with wildlife rangers at the famed Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday, three days after seven poachers were arrested on the fringe of the sanctuary, officials said.

A wildlife warden said a group of six poachers entered the park early on Friday and fired at an adult rhino near the Mihimukh range, although they failed to hit the target.

"A six-member team of forest guards upon hearing the gunshots gave the poachers a chase and soon there was a gunfight between the two sides." Park warden D. Gogoi said.

ECB warns County members to keep away from suspended BCCI officials

With the controversy surrounding a meeting that Lalit Modi had with three English cricket counties and IMG, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has warned its counties to not enter into any dialogue with 'suspended' Indian Cricket Board officials.

In a statement, the ECB said that the BCCI has asked it to avoid contact with suspended officials. "The BCCI has further reminded ECB that it does not authourise any discussions with suspended officials of its Board and should any person involved in English cricket receive any contact from a suspended official then ECB has been asked to immediately report this matter to BCCI."

Expired medicines distributed in Govt hospitals in TN & Kerala

The CBI has seized time-barred medicines from Central government hospitals in Chennai, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

During a surprise check between May 15 and 18 in seven hospitals/dispensaries, it found expired drugs being supplied to patients. Disclosing this at a press conference here on Thursday, CBI Joint Director Ashok Kumar said: “Some were found expired and being issued to patients posing health hazards to them.” On a tip-off, special teams conducted checks at four pharmaceutical companies in Puducherry and a distributing firm in Chennai and took samples for investigation. It was found that the companies were manufacturing/distributing sub-standard drugs not permitted by the Drug Controller General of India. Some of these drugs were antibiotics and anaesthetics, Mr. Kumar said.

Oil racket unearthed

Mr. Kumar said on information that petroleum products were being pilfered, adulterated and sold to public, a CBI team went to Konerikuppam in Villuppuram and seized 45 keys of oil tankers from suspects. Four persons have been arrested.

Referring to cases against a Regional Passport Officer and the Protector of Emigrants in Chennai, Mr. Kumar said the investigation was nearing completion.

Pak netizens on protest against ban on Social Networking sites

Pakistan’s cybercitizens have strongly protested against their government’s ban on Facebook, YouTube and about 450 individual web pages across various websites.

Under the umbrella of ‘Defenders of Internet Freedom’, a meeting of concerned professionals, activists and internet users in Karachi noted on Thursday: "This action will have a very negative impact on Pakistan, especially considering that countless small businesses, nonprofit organizations, restaurants, art galleries, magazines, and media outlets use Facebook to conduct day-to-day business and share information with their stakeholders."

Pak Bans sites with Islamic offensive contents

Pakistan acknowledged the "suffering" caused by its bans on Facebook and YouTube, but said it would only consider restoring the websites if they take down pages considered offensive to Islam, the information technology ministry said Friday.

The government has asked both sites to block the offending pages and was expecting a reply soon, Najibullah Malik, the secretary at the ministry said. Facebook has said that may be a solution, but did not specify if it — or the Pakistani government — should restrict the content.

Other sites have also been affected in the country as officials scramble to block content related to a Facebook page called "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" which encourages users to post images of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, purportedly in support of freedom of speech.

Next cyclone in Indian Ocean will be called 'BANDU'

It might not be known when the next cyclone will hit the northern Indian Ocean, but what is already known is its name - Bandu, an official said Thursday.

Cyclones derive their names through a systematic procedure laid down by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Cyclone Laila, which developed in the Indian Ocean off the Andhra Pradesh coast creating much havoc in the state, was named by Pakistan. The next to hit countries in the north Indian Ocean region will be called Bandu - a name given by Sri Lanka, and the one after that will be Phet, named by Thailand.

Hyundai to launch diesel variant in i10 to counter Figo

After a lull, action is back in the compact car market. The auto turf may soon see rivalry intensifying between the Korean and American car makers, as Hyundai Motor is set to launch a diesel variant of its next-generation car, i10, to counter Ford’s Figo.

For the first time, Korean carmaker and India’s largest exporter, Hyundai, has conceded that Figo and not Nissan’s Micra will keep the company on its toes, a candid Hyundai Motor India (HMI) MD H W Park admitted to visiting journalists from India to the company headquarters here last week.

He was categorical that Hyundai was not duly concerned about Micra. However, it is directing efforts to counter competition challenges from Figo and domestic leader Maruti’s re-launched WagonR. He strongly hinted that Hyundai may launch the diesel variant of i10, though he did not specify the time-line.

Soumya murder case accused brings knife to court

Ravi Kapoor, key accused in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, caused a stir in a court on Thursday by taking out a knife from his pocket and alleging that policemen gave it to him to attack undertrials in Tihar jail. The court asked the jail superintendent for an explanation on Kapoor's charge.

"Tihar jail superintendent (high risk cell) is hereby directed to file an explanation on the allegations of the accused by June 4 before the court," Metropolitan Magistrate Veena Rani said. The accused took the judge, lawyers and others in the court by surprise by taking out a knife from his pocket, saying it was provided to him by policemen to attack other undertrials in the lock-up at Patiala House courts complex.

Electric Taxis introduced in China

China has launched a fleet of electric taxis in booming Shenzhen and is aiming to add more battery-operated vehicles in order to check the impact of global warming.

With the launch of 40 electric taxis Monday, Shenzhen city of southern Guangdong province has become the country's first city to have environment-friendly transport in operation, said Hu Jianping, president of Shenzhen Bus Group (SBG).

'The E6 cars' ET (environment technology) batteries give off zero emissions and cause no harm to the environment,' said Wang Chuanfu, chief executive of BYD, manufacturer of the electric taxis.