Strom kills 125 in Eastern states of India

Indian authorities on Thursday fanned out rescuers across the eastern states of West Bengal and Bihar that were lashed by a storm on Tuesday night as officials pegged the toll in the calamity at over 125.

The state of Bihar was the worst hit with at least 81 people killed in eastern parts of the state while nearly 100,000 were rendered homeless.

Disaster management principal secretary of Bihar Vyasji said relief work has been undertaken and Rs 1.5 lakh would be paid the families of dead.

Artificial blood vessels from Jatropha

Artificial Blood vessels from Jatropha? After bio-diesel, this humble tropical weed could now help Indian researchers to indigenously develop blood vessels.

A biodegradable polymer recently developed from Jatropha has attracted researchers from IIT-Madras to work towards a project in this direction. The IITians are not alone. A Thiruvananthapuram-based medical institute Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) and a Belgium-based multi-national company have also evinced interest in the polymer developed by a Gujarat-based national research institute.

Countdown for India's indegenous cryogenic luanch smooth

The countdown to the launch of a 50-metre, tall, 416-tonne rocket with an Indian cryogenic engine to inject an advanced communication satellite in the geo-synchronous orbit has started at the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, a space agency official said on Wednesday.

"Filling of liquid propellants in the four strap-on motors (42 tonnes each) that will be hugging the rocket is set to begin soon. Fuel filling of the second stage (40 tonnes) got over recently," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director S Satish said from Sriharikota.

Sanitation Vs Communication in India

People in India, the world's second most populous country, have more access to a mobile telephone than to a toilet, according to a new UN report.

"It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that roughly half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet," Zafar Adeel, director of United Nations University's Canada-based think-tank for water, the Institute for Water, Environment and Health, said.

Virgin claims to have launched freiendliest calling pack in Indian GSM market

Virgin Mobile users may want to consider using the company’s latest pack if it fits well into their scheme of things. Well, Virgin Mobile has released an affordable local calling pack for all its GSM subscribers.

Claimed to be the industry’s friendliest local calling pack at Rs. 45, users can now call a local number for only 1paise/2seconds. With a validity of 30 days, this pack is accessible across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Mumbai and Maharashtra circles.

Predicting Monsoon a challenge in Indian Farm sector

Predicting monsoon rains, vital for India's farm output and economic growth, remains a challenge for the country as its forecasting skills are inadequate, scientists and weather officials said on Tuesday.

"Monsoon is still a mystery phenomenon. It poses a great challenge in forecasting," Ajit Tyagi, director general of the India Meteorological Department, told the South Asia Climate Outlook Forum in the western Indian city of Pune.

Data canter operators oppose ASHRAE's proposal

Six representatives from some of the largest data center operators in the world united Monday to issue a joint statement opposing a new proposal to deploy fresh air cooling as the preferred tactic for cooling data centers, according to a report by Data Center Knowledge.

Executives from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Digital Realty Trust, DuPont Fabros Technology and Nokia are calling HVAC standards organization -- the Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (www.ashrae.org) -- to set cooling performance-based efficiency goals for data centers instead of adopting particular economizers over methodologies.

New terminal in IGI scheduled to be opened on Jul 3

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would inaugurate the new integrated terminal of the IGI airport in New Delhi on July 3, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Tuesday.

"On July 3, the new integrated terminal building (Terminal 3) of the IGI airport will become functional and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate it in the presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi," Patel said, asserting that there was no change in the launch date.

Mahindra Satyam to recruit 4,000 associates this Fiscal

Mahindra Satyam on Tuesday launched a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) here on the first anniversary of acquisition of scam-hit Satyam Computers by Tech Mahindra, and said it would complete restatement of accounts by the end of June as per schedule.

India's fourth largest software services firm said it planned to hire 4,000 associates this quarter. At present it has a headcount of 25,000.

Infy awaits 224 application patents

IT behemoth Infosys Technologies on Tuesday said it is awaiting approvals for 224 patent applications in India and in the US.

Infosys applied for eight patent applications in India and the US during the fourth quarter of 2009-10, the nation's second largest software exporter said in a statement.

Infosys to hire around 30,000 this yr

Infosys, India's second largest software exporter, on Tuesday said it was looking at recruiting nearly 30,000 persons for this fiscal year including over 2000 from overseas.

In India it had already made 19,000 campus offers, T V Mohandas Pai, Member of the Board and Head-HRD and Education and Research said in Bangalore on Tuesday.

The company was planning to induct 5,500-6,500 laterals, he said while talking about Infosys' hiring plans.

Insurance Cos seeks Govt intervention in ULIP row

  Life insurance companies today said the government's intervention to end the turf war between SEBI and IRDA will clear confusion among investors over ULIPs and help in reverting to normal business.

"We welcome the initiative as it clarifies the concerns of our customers. Anxiety on the part of our customers could have caused delay in payment of renewal premiums," Bajaj Allianz Life chief operating officer V Philip said.

"There was some confusion earlier but now there is no confusion," Aegon Religare Life Insurance CEO Rajiv Jamkhedkar said.

Two killed in palestenian border

 IDF troops opened fire at a group of Palestininans attempting to plant a bomb near the border fence around the Kissufim area in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday.

The army reported later on Tuesday that two bodies were found at the site of the gunfight, armed with grenades, rifles, explosives and other weapons.

American airlines plane lands in Iceland following reports of Chemical fumes in cabin

 An American Airlines flight with 145 people on board made an emergency landing Tuesday in Iceland after five crew members became ill following reports of chemical fumes in the cabin.

American Airlines Flight 49 traveling from Paris to Dallas-Ft. Worth landed safely just after 1345 GMT (9:45 a.m. EDT). The source of the fumes was being investigated, Keflavik Airport spokesman Fridthor Eydal said.

World Turban day to honour Sikh community

Thousands of Sikh men will take to the streets of the country today on the occasion of the World Turban Day to highlight the significance of the most conspicuous emblem of their faith.

Scores of rallies, prayer vigils and tying competitions will mark World Turban Day, an event conceived amid concerns that young Sikhs are abandoning the turban in favour of Western-style hairdos.

Call rates for satellite phones of security personnel in border slashed to Re.1

The satellite phone call charges for security personnel manning the international borders will be slashed from Rs 5 to Re 1 per minute from Thursday.

The reduced rates will be effective on satellite phone calls made from border outposts and will benefit personnel central paramilitary forces like the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

Commodore's comprommise the nation for his affair ?????

 In recent memory, never has a defence contract been revised thrice. But, Admiral Gorshkov deal has witnessed an unusual hike. Now, in a new twist, it appears a senior Indian naval officer could have done the damage.

Objectionable pictures of Commodore Sukhjinder Singh with a Russian woman have surfaced. This raises serious questions on whether Russia thrust the aircraft carrier deal upon us by luring him into a honey trap.

Court of inquiry is underway now against Commodore Singh. The objectionable pics of Commodore Singh surfaced a fortnight ago.
After this, the Navy chief has briefed Defence Minister A K Antony about the case.

Interestingly, Commodore Singh was uintil a few months ago, a favourite among the Naval top brass. He negotiated the Gorshkov deal - now called INS Vikramaditya.

Gorshkov saw unusual hike from Rs 4,870cr-Rs 11,650 cr. Singh was hand-picked in 2004 to look after Gorshkov refit. Commodore Singh was in Russia from 2005 to 2007.

Sources within the Navy have told, that if the Board of Inquiry finds Commodore Sukhjinder Singh guilty, he will have to face court martial. Sources also say even if he clears charges relating to the Gorshkov deal, he will be asked to leave as his conduct has shamed the Indian Navy. Commodore Singh could be served with a letter of displeasure.

Raj thacekraj's bahu to join Cong.

The 48-year-old Thacekray bahu is said to be enamoured by the leadership qualities of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, and says both of them are doing a great job of leading the country.

She was a force to reckon with when the BJP-Sena combine was in power during the mid 1990's but then was margnalised within the Sena with the growth of Uddhav Thackeray. Smita is also a Hindii film producer and an active social worker.

Smita was a regular in Mumbai's page 3 and film circles.

A girl motivates others to join the local school...

The Government Girls’ Middle School at Sherpur village in Madhya Pradesh is now being widely recognised as “Lalita Ka School.”

Lalita is no politician but a gritty 15-year-old, whose firm determination to study has motivated other girls to follow suit at the same very school from where she studied from Class VI to VIII.

More CRPF personnel to be deployed in Naxal hit areas

Government will send around 6,000 CRPF personnel to naxal-affected States of the country including Chhattisgarh where 76 securitymen were recently killed in a Maoist attack.

The six battalions of the CRPF to be sent for anti-Maoist operations will be drawn from units which have recently finished training and are scheduled to go for deployment, sources said.

Bharti Walmart to concentrate in Southern states too

Bharti Walmart, the 50:50 joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and US-based Walmart Inc, on Tuesday said it will enter the southern and western parts of India within the next 18-24 months as it looks to expand presence in the country.

The wholesale firm had earlier announced plans to have 10 -15 outlets within the next three years in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Mac pro with Intel i5 & i7

Judging by the current trending on Twitter you'd think we'd seen the second coming, but in fact Apple has simply gotten around to putting those tasty Intel Core i5 and i7 processors into its MacBook Pro ranges - you know, about 2 months behind everyone else.

Completely entitled moaning apart, the spit and polish does bring the 15.4in and 17in lines up to date. Core i5 2.4GHz (520M), Core i5 2.53GHz (540M) and Core i7 2.66GHz (620M) CPUs will be available and Apple has paired them with Nvidia's rather excellent GeForce GT 330M graphics chips and Optimus.

No Govt or Private agency to monitor disposal of radioactive waste

Rules to govern medical waste largely ignore radioactive matter; agencies pass the buck

Before the radiation leak at a Mayapuri junk market stirred the authorities into action, the dangers posed by radioactive material seems to have been mostly ignored. While several hospitals use machines that include radioactive material — the substance found at Mayapuri is also suspected to have come from medical equipment — it finds no mention in the list of things state authorities on the ground level need to keep a tab on.

The Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, list out a number of hospital-generated waste, but the exhaustive rules do not include radioactive waste. While the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has a mandate for monitoring hazardous substances, it does not include radioactive waste or material either.

Palm - smartphone maker - for sale

 Despite critical acclaim, Palm's 'iPhone killer', the Pre, proved unpopular with consumers. The company is now inviting bids, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg reports that Palm is working with Goldman Sachs to find a buyer, according to three sources close to the company. Rival phone makers HTC and Lenovo are reported to have already made offers for Palm, which recently sought to revitalise its fortunes with the launch of the Pre and Pixi range of high-end smartphones based on the WebOS operating system.

Apple's Venture in Ad market makes it easy for Google's AdMob acquisition

Google's CEO has been lauding iAd, saying that Apple's foray into mobile advertising demonstrates a competitive market in which Google should be allowed to acquire AdMob.

Google has been trying to buy AdMob since November, having snatched the company from Apple, but is facing resistance from the Federal Trade Commission who sees a potential monopoly. Apple's entry into the market removes that threat, at least according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Orkut leads in India besides global fall

Facebook might have overtaken Orkut globally in terms of the number of users, but Google's social networking offering still remains the favourite in India, according to the England-based online traffic tracking firm comScore.

In its latest report on social networking activity in the Asia-Pacific region, comScore says the Google-owned Orkut is ranked as the top social networking site in India, with 46.8 per cent of the nation's web population using the website. Facebook, on the other hand, ranks numero uno in Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Apple iPad's manufacturing cost lies below $260

If you  thought that Apple's 16 GB iPad at a price of $499 was value for money, then think again. The real price for manufacturing the iPad is around a half that price according to research agency iSuppli as we found out on Engadget. iSuppli dismantled the iPad and had a thorough look at what lies inside. According to their best estimates, the price of the materials used in the 16 GB iPad do not go a cent over $259.60. This includes $95 for screen and $26.80 for the A4 processor. The shiny aluminum exterior costs $32, while the battery costs $21. The only reason Apple is likely to quote for the huge price premium is the "research and development" cost. One thing that iSuppli did note was that the iPad was more complicated than it appeared as they found there were three chips controlling the touchscreen. iSuppli had previously researched the cost of the iPhone 3G and had come to a similar conclusion. So now you know the magic formula Apple uses to price its products.

Microsoft launched VS 2010 & .net framework 4 in India

In line with the global launch, Microsoft today announced the general availability of Visual Studio 2010 and.Net Framework 4 in India and that Silverlight 4 technology will be released to the web later in the week.

"Together, these technologies simplify the entire development process, enabling developers to build new platforms and build high-quality applications", S Somasegar, Senior Vice President, Microsoft Corportion said delivering the keynote address at the TechED 2010, a technology conclave which commenced here on Monday.

IT industry will recover by 8.4% this year

There will be a strong recovery in demand for IT product and services in 2010 with the US IT market - the world's largest - set to grow by 8.4 per cent, research firm Forrester has said.

The tech recovery has begun in the US and around the world with Q4 (2009). IT market indicators are showing an end to declines, and setting the stage for stronger growth in 2010. Forrester expects the US IT market to grow by 8.4 per cent and the global IT market (in US dollars) by 7.7 per cent, the IT market outlook by the firm said.

CCI warehouse Fire accident causes damage worth 300 million

Container Corp Of India said on Monday that goods worth 300 million rupees were damaged due to fire at its export warehouse on Saturday.

There was also a partial damage worth 50 million rupees to the warehouse building.

The firm's liability for goods and warehouse facilities are fully insured, it said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

IVRCL stocks up after its order worth Rs 832 crores

IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects touched an intraday high of Rs 181.30 and an intraday low of Rs 176.30. At 15:11 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 178.70, up Rs 0.95, or 0.53%.

The company has bagged order worth Rs 832 crore,  CNBC-TV18 reports.

GAIL in talks with InterOil Corp for stake in New plant

 State-run gas utility GAIL India on Monday said it is talking to Interoil Corp for a possible stake in the Canadian oil firm’s proposed liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea.

“We are still talking to them. Nothing has been concluded as yet,” GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B. C. Tripathi told reporter.

Growth in Industrial production may encourage stimulus phase out

Industrial production growth slowed to 15.1 per cent year-on-year in February from 16.7 per cent in January. The slowdown was sharper than expected and was mainly attributable to slower growth in manufacturing and mining output.

India’s industrial production growth was 15.1 per cent year-on-year in February. Production growth has slowed since hitting a record-high 17.6 per cent in December. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation does not release seasonally adjusted data. Seasonally adjusted estimates suggest month-on-month growth was strong in late 2009, after a sharp jump in May and June.

IRDA & SEBI chiefs meet finance secy

SEBI chairman C B Bhave and IRDA chief J Harinarayan had separate meetings with finance secretary Ashok Chawla on Monday on the ongoing tussle between the two regulators over equity-linked insurance schemes.

The differences between the two regulators over administration of the Unit Linked Insurance Products (ULIPs) are likely to be resolved by this evening, IRDA chief Harinarayan indicated after his meeting with Chawla.

RTI, a tool to fight for rights

The Right to Information (RTI) Act has provided city residents a useful tool to fight for their rights. By providing access to records and documents of public authorities, it has allowed many citizens to solve long-standing problems or to bring certain issues to the notice of authorities.

But most officials do not follow some of the Act's guidelines and awareness among officials and the public is an issue, activists say.

Changes in Drugs law ,the need of the hour

 Medical shop-owners and Tamil Nadu Pharmacy Council members say amendment to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 is the need of the hour.

The rules stipulate that a stockist/wholesaler, who applies for licences should have passed class XII, have 160 sq.ft of space and should have 5 years experience in selling drugs.

RTOs to issue RC's in the same day of applying - TN govt circular

Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the State will issue Registration Certificates (RCs) and vehicle permits on the day an application is filed.

The new regulation, which comes into effect on Monday, applies for transport as well as non-transport vehicles and will ensure that processing time is brought down to one working day.

A circular has been sent to all 61 RTOs in the State. 

Iran to deploy a new age radar in Persian gulf soon

Iranian scientists are planning to develop domestic radars to replace a series of aging Russian-made systems currently deployed in the Persian Gulf.

"The systems will be designed and installed chiefly for defense purposes," said Vice President for Science and Technology, Nasrin Soltankhah, in an interview with Fars News Agency on Saturday.

Another Political party channel in Tamilnadu

 Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by Vijayakant will launch “Captain TV” on April 14.

“The trial is on from Sunday. The news-cum-entertainment channel will target the youth in the State,” said L.K. Sudish, managing director of Captain Media and brother-in-law of Mr. Vijayakant.

Schools in Jharkand to open & close early- coz of high temperature

Due to the soaring mercury, school timings in Jharkhand have been changed from Monday. Schools will now open at 6.30 a.m. instead of 8.30 a.m. and will close at 11 a.m. instead of 2.30 p.m., an official said.

Ranchi, which was the summer capital of undivided Bihar, witnessed a temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius Sunday. In Palamau and in some other parts of the state, the mercury touched 46 degrees Celsius.

Nuclear summit in washington

Leaders and representatives from 47 nations have gathered for a nuclear security summit in Washington as Barack Obama, the US president, pledges to one day rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Obama is expected to tell delegates at Monday's conference that the biggest threat to global security has shifted from the possibility of confrontation between nuclear armed states, to the fear that "terrorist" groups might acquire atomic weapons.

2nd day of Sudanese Election

Voting was proceeding generally smoothly on the second day Monday of Sudan's multi-party elections after a chaotic start which had prompted cries of foul and forced officials to admit "mistakes."

Queues -- one for men, one for women -- formed in stifling heat at voting stations in central Khartoum Monday even before polling opened, as cars arrived bringing even more voters.

Another Indian has been found dead in Sydney.

 Dharmendar Singh, hailing from Nadampr village in Punjab, was found dead on Sunday on a roadside in Sydney.

Singh had gone to Sydney with his wife about one-and-a-half year ago. His family back home at his native village is in a state of shock.

"A friend of Dharmendar Singh telephoned and told us that your son is dead and his body is lying on road. We didn't believe him and called the wife of our son. She was crying and was speaking in partially unconscious state, then we realised that the information was right," said Dharmendar Singh's uncle Gopal Singh.

4.72 Lakh students take IIT-JEE 2010

About 4.72 lakh students across the country will take the IIT-JEE 2010 to be held tomorrow for admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

According to T S Natarajan, organising chairman, JEE, an average of 60,000-80,000 students would appear in each of the seven IIT zones in the country for 10,000 seats in 15 IITs, IT-BHU and ISM Dhanbad.

Sania now a Pakistani by Marriage

The celebrity wedding between tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik took place on Monday (April 12) as the two families advanced the much hyped marriage by three days.

Originally, the marriage was to take place on April 15 although stories on the re-scheduling of the marriage kept coming in the media.

China's Peace Airport near Mt.Everest

China is building a new airport near Mount Everest with the apparent purpose of turning the Chinese side of the tallest peak into a climber’s paradise. It has been named the Peace Airport, which might be a message for Tibetan rebels or for India.

The $71.7 million airport is coming up in Xigaze (also called Shigatse) prefecture. It will boost tourism and bring more visitors to the Tashilhunpo monastery of the Panchen Lama, which is located there. The government appointed Panchen Lama, who was recently inducted into the Chinese parliament, has played a key role in helping the government run a campaign against the Dalai Lama.

Threat by Maoists in Nepal to revoke deal with India for MRP

Opposition Maoists in Nepal called off their proposed countrywide strike on Monday following a government decision to scrap the contract with India on supply of machine readable passports (MRPs).

The move came after the Madhav Kumar Nepal government decided late on Sunday evening to revoke the deal due to political pressure and questions raised by Public Accounts Committee on the manner in which the contract was awarded.

Indian in the Wikimedia foundation

Bishakha Datta, who recently joined the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation as member, is upbeat about the immense potential the free online encyclopaedia has to chronicle the country's pluralistic culture.

She was speaking to the Wikipedians of Bangalore at the `Wiki Meetup' on Sunday. She stressed on the need for greater awareness about the medium, and increased involvement by Wikipedians in local languages.

Fire in B'lore hotel- No casualities reported

A fire broke out on Monday afternoon on the terrace of five-storey Gold Towers in the heart of Bangalore, destroying a temporary shed, a police official said.

"The fire occurred between 1.45-2 pm in the shed on the roof of Gold Towers. No casualties have been reported so far. The fire has been brought under control," Deputy Commissioner of Police G Ramesh told reporters.

The fire brigade rushed five fire engines to douse the flames on a hot and humid afternoon.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated"

Kabbadi WC 2010

Dulla Pehalwan from the US, Jassa from Italy and Jinder Amli from Canada have all gathered in Punjab for the first edition of the World Cup Kabaddi Punjab 2010 that is turning out to be quite a gathering of Punjabis from all over the world playing the game.

While the Canadian team in the nine-nation tournament boasts of names like Jinder Amli, Lucky Kurali, Bhoora and Aman Kundi, the US side has two Pehalwans - Dulla Pehalwan and Jassi Pehalwan - in its ranks.

ValueFirst acquires Tagg.in

Tagg.in, a 2-year old firm started by Vatsal Desai, was incubated by Aurum Ventures, which continues to be an investor.

ValueFirst Messaging, a Gurgaon-based enterprise mobility and communication services company, has acquired a majority stake in social media firm Tagg.in for an undisclosed sum. Tagg.in, a Mumbai-based company, runs web and SMS based microblogging site which allows users to build communities and blog via SMS.

ONGC more eco-friendly than other oil Cos

State-owned explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Monday said it has received 10,722 emission reduction certificates from the United Nations for a waste heat recovery project at its Mumbai High fields, making it the first public sector undertaking to generate revenue by trading in carbon credits.

The heat recovery project is the first of the six that ONGC has registered with the clean development mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations framework convention on climate change, the company said in a statement from New Delhi.

TTD lauches new e-Ticketing facility

Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) is an new online ticket booking service launched by TTD trust to assist the people from different parts of Andhra Pradesh to the Holy place Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam. This service is run by a travel agency.

Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam is one of the most popular and visited religious place in Andhra Pradesh. There are many other travel agencies that provide tour and travelling assistance at minimal rates.

HP slate details leaked

Just hours after HP teased us with another  short video of its Slate tablet, Engadget revealed even more details about the upcoming device. Those details are courtesy of an internal HP presentation, which shows the specs of the upcoming device, including both its advantages over the iPad and its weaknesses--such as half of the battery life of Apple's tablet.

The leaked HP Slate presentation, which looks genuine, elucidates many of the mysteries around the device, starting with the price: $549 for the 32GB model and $599 for the 64GB version. In comparison, the introductory price of an iPad starts at $499 for a Wi-Fi-only 16GB model.

HCL re- launches its BeanStalk series

HCL Infosystems has re-launched the Beanstalk series desktops in India after it was first launched in 1995.

The desktop range, in the price band of Rs39,990 to Rs85,000, is equipped with a one-touch button service to address all customer queries and comes with a three-year warranty and McAfee Antivirus access.

Microcoft to lauch Social networking Mobiles

 Microsoft Corp. plans to introduce a new line of mobile phones Monday with social-networking capabilities aimed at young consumers, part of the technology giant's effort to turn around its struggling mobile-phone strategy, people familiar with the matter said.

The new devices, based on a Microsoft development project code-named "Pink," will be available later this month in the U.S. through a partnership with Verizon Wireless, the carrier owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC., one of these people said.

Tech issues in iPad reported by users in Apple forum

New complaints about technical issues with the iPad emerged today, as Apple celebrated selling hundreds of thousands of the new devices over the weekend.

Apple has maintained its silence over reports about glitches with its new tablet computer. New iPad owners have posted comments on Apple forums claiming that their wi-fi was poor or fluctuating, where other internet devices worked well. Today, new reports suggested there could also be issues with charging the device and compatibility with apps designed for the iPhone.

J & K Govt imposed ESMA to tackle emplotee strike

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday imposed the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) as government employees continued with their strike for the third consecutive day.

The employees have been on strike for the last three days to press their demand for the release of arrears prescribed by the Sixth Pay Commission Report and the enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60.

The state's cabinet on Monday, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, decided to impose ESMA, which will deny employees their salaries if they do not come for work.

HTC Magic for Vodafone has worm - Trend Micro reports

Viruses have known to be making an attempt to infect mobile phones. It has now been reported that the manufacturing lines of HTC Magic being offered by Vodafone are likely to have been infected. An Internet Security firm called Trend Micro has discovered the presence of the virus.

Vodafone’s HTC Magic runs on the Android operating system. It so happened that one of the infected handsets was received by an employee of an anti virus firm called Panda Security. The Trend Micro blog has reported that a worm WORM_SILLY.QT is spreading with the smart phone memory. The moment the phone is connected to the PC the worm infects the recipient computer.

Telecom Cos welcome online auction of spectrum

Telecom operators have endorsed the online mechanism designed by NM Rothschild for conducting 3G spectrum auction, saying the process virtually eliminates any scope for unrealistic bid.

All the top telecom firms including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, RCom and Tatas would be participating in the e-auction process, the first of its kind in the world, to acquire 3G spectrum for which the auction begins on April 9.

Corporate frauds on the fast lane - KPMG

 Corporate fraud in India is on the rise, a fact corroborated by 75 per cent of the top executives surveyed by consultancy firm KPMG.

An increasing number of employees are indulging in fraudulent activities, mostly driven by financial stress and dissatisfaction with their company management, according to ‘KPMG Fraud Survey Report 2010’. Global consultancy KPMG conducts the survey every two years across all sectors.

Revaluation of Yuan - its China's choice

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he was confident that China would see that it is in its own interest to make its currency more flexible, and said global economic recovery "looks quite strong now."

Geithner, in an interview on Tuesday with India's NDTV, said it was "China's choice" whether or not it revalues the yuan.

"As I said before and I'll say it again, but I want to make sure I am repeating myself, I am confident that China will decide it's in their interest to resume the move to a more flexible exchange rate, that they began some years ago and suspended in the midst of the crisis," he said in India's capital.

DoT conducts Mock auction - real auction on friday

The government today held mock auction for 3G spectrum and has convened a meeting tomorrow in which the bidders will be briefed about the nittty gritties of the real auction on Friday.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) conducted the mock auction to familiarise the nine 3G and 11 broadband wireless access (BWA) bidders with the system and clarify their technical queries about the auction.

Bidders logged onto the DoT's mock auction network since morning to understand the nitty gritties.

Reliance's Zapak to buy Codemasters' 50% shares

Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Big Entertainment today said it will acquire 50 per cent stake in U.K.-based gaming firm Codemasters.

Reliance Big Entertainment has agreed to acquire 50 per cent shareholding in Codemasters, the company said in a statement. The company, however, did not disclose amount involved in this deal.

India's Defence network systems compromised by Chinese hackers - China denies the report

China on Tuesday dismissed reports that Chinese hackers have broken into top secret files of the Indian Defence Ministry and embassies around the world, saying that it was firmly opposed to hacking and regards it as an international crime.

"We have been hearing frequently these kind of news and I do not know the purpose to stir up issues," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said, replying to questions about reports of hacking of sensitive Indian sites in the media today.

Techie arrested for creating profile of a girl to harass her...

A software engineer was arrested in Hyderabad on Saturday for allegedly creating a fictitious vulgar profiles of a girl on social networking sites, Cyber Crimes Police said.

The parents of Shiva Shankar Madisetty, a software engineer at a MNC software firm in Bangalore, had asked for the girl's hand for their son but were turned down by her parents. Apparently dejected, Madisetty wanted to harass the girl, CID Superintendent of Police B Sumathi said.

After collecting details (including cell phone number) of the girl through social networking sites, Madisetty created a fictitious profile of the girl with her photo and added vulgar content, the police officer said.

Riot Panel waiting for Modi to appear

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has so far not appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) enquiring into the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The SIT has given Modi a week starting from Sunday to come and answer questions in a case filed by Zakia Jafri, wife of late Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who along with 68 others were killed in the Gulbarg Society massacre of February 28, 2002.

The summons though does not make it mandatory for Modi to make an appearance before the SIT team headed by RK Raghavan. Narendra Modi is consulting his top legal advisors whether he should appear or not before the panel.

Maharaja Exp. flagged off- Offers a royal travel experience

Now, travel through the heart of India in the lap of luxury. Equipped with LCD TVs, panoramic windows and internet connectivity, the new Maharajas' Express promises to make the journey from Kolkata to Delhi a royal experience.

The train is the latest offering from Indian Railways on the lines of the Palace On Wheels to generate revenue and help tourists explore India. It possesses elegant features and international-level comfort.

The journey from Kolkata to Delhi by Maharajas' Express has been christened Celestial India. It will cover pilgrim and tourist centres like Gaya and Varanasi, the Bandhavgarh forests, Khajuraho, Agra and Gwalior before terminating in Delhi.

Moto's Android Phone "Milestone" debuts in India

March 22, 2010 will see the launch of Motorola Milestone in India. Motorola Milestone is the GSM version of Motorola Droid and the handset is based on Google Android 2.0 Operating System. It is however predicted that the Indian customers may have the mobile phone without free Google navigation and other free services.

Motorola Milestone, which has already pre-loaded Android 2.1 version with its US counterpart, has started showing some technical problems in the Android 2.1 OS. There is anticipation in the market that Motorola is likely to hold its 2.1 Android in the US.

India to Interrogate Headley - US Officials

Indian investigators can interrogate David Headley, said a US official on Saturday adding that the Pakistani-born Lashkar-e-Taeba operative's extradition to India was still possible, but not on charges of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"With respect to the Headley case, the plea bargain agreement was announced and part of that agreement was that the US would not extradite Headley either to India or Pakistan or Denmark for the charges for which he has now admitted guilt," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O Blake told reporters in New Delhi.

Asked if Indian investigators would be allowed to quiz him, Blake said: "My answer would be yes."

Kochi gets its New IPL team along with Pune...

Irrepressible Shashi Tharoor added a new dimension to his expansive profile when he got leading business magnets to come together as Rendezvous Sports World Ltd. that bagged a team for Kochi in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Tharoor gave Kerala a reason to cheer for when he lent his support to the franchisee to bid $333.33 million (Rs 1,533.33 crore) to get Kochi one of the two new IPL teams from the next season. Sahara Adventure Sports Group bagged Pune.

Muslim Law Board increases the No. of Women in its panel ....

 The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) may been silent on the women's reservation bill. But when it came to reconstituting its executive body, it unanimously increased the representation of women from one to five.

Announcing this on the last day of the board's three-day annual convention at the Nadwa Darul-Uloom Islamic university here, AIMPLB spokesman-cum-legal adviser Zafaryab Jilani told reporters Sunday: 'We have nominated five women this time on the board's executive committee.'

Socialite Begum Naseem Iqtidar was the lone woman on the committee till now.

Sexual assault to replace rape in IPC soon

Every 54 minutes a woman is raped in India, but less than 36 per cent of the rapists end up in jail. Rape has long been considered one of the worst crimes, almost at par with murder.

For years, lawyers and activists have argued that the penalty for rape, currently seven years, is far too lenient. Now, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is all set to introduce dramatic changes, not just on rape but all sexual crimes.

ISRO shoot out a misunderstanding - Karnataka Govt

The shootout at the sensitive Deep Space Network (DSN) facility of India's space agency ISRO near here appears to be the result of a "misunderstanding" and should not be given importance, the Karnataka government clarified on Wednesday.

"It appears to be result of misunderstanding and there is no need to give the incident importance," state home minister V S Acharya told reporters after briefing chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on the progress of the police probe into the incident that occurred early Tuesday morning.

Few Techies in Touch with Jihandis on Pak - Report

Recent security audits of some of the top software firms, including Indian MNCs headquartered in Bangalore, have revealed that some of their employees are in touch with jihadi elements in Pakistan, via the internet, or are surfing and posting messages on radical Islamic sites and blogs during their work hours.

The cyber security audits at the software majors started almost three months ago and are still continuing, sources in the security establishment revealed. The adverse findings, pointing to internet exchanges between employees and suspected jihadists using their respective firm’s web systems, have been reported to the police and intelligence agencies for further probe.

TTSL announces DIALOG- internet through TV sets.

Telecom service provider Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) has announced the launch of DIALOG, a product that enables customers to connect to the internet on their television set.

Customers can access the internet without a desktop or laptop, transforming the TV set into a multimedia device with the help of DIALOG.

"We are launching the product first time in the country simultaneously in Chennai and Kolkata. We will take three months for the testing period and after that we will go for an all-India launch of DIALOG in the first quarter of FY11," TTSL national sales head Abhijit Sanyal said here at a press meet.

TTSL & RCom launched 3G in CDMA segment - Vodafone wants DoT to levy more

Escalating the war of words over spectrum, Vodafone Essar has now alleged that Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices have already launched third-generation (3G) services and therefore should be charged higher levies that are applicable to 3G operators.

Telecom companies that offer third-generation services are required to pay a higher spectrum usage fee. In the case of CDMA operators, both second generation (2G) and 3G services are offered using the same airwaves or spectrum. Incumbent GSM operators have alleged that the high-speed data services offered by RCom and Tatas constitute 3G services. GSM operators are, however, waiting for 3G airwaves auction that are scheduled to begin next month.

Garland of currency wirth lakhs & Crores put around Mayawati.

The Congress on Wednesday dubbed as "vulgar display" of money in politics the garlanding of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati with currency notes.

"This is a vulgar display of money in politics. This is not good for any political party or a political leader," Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.

Ignoring all criticism, the BSP chief today got herself garlanded with currency notes said to be of the value of Rs 18 lakh. The garland comprising notes of various denominations was put around her neck at a meeting of party leaders despite opposition outcry over her being presented a similar garland of value estimated between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 15 crore on Monday.

MSD to miss IPL 3 matches for 10 days -Raina to lead Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni has been ruled out of the next few IPL games after an elbow injury. He may be out of action for the next 10 days.

"Dhoni has been diagnosed with an elbow injury and has been advised 10 days rest," team manager Russell Radhakrishnan said.

Suresh Raina will stand in as Chennai captain. Dhoni hurt his elbow while batting against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Tuesday's match at Eden Garden. A delivery from new KKR buy and pacer Shane Bond hit Dhoni on the right elbow. Later he underwent an x-ray test.

Xerox to open a Reasearch Lab in Chennai - First in India

Xerox Corp, the largest maker of high-speed colour printers, is opening its first research laboratory in a developing market, aiming to expand its services division.

The lab in Chennai, India, will work with local universities to develop document-management services for emerging markets, the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company said.

Xerox has two research centers in the US and one each in Canada and France.

Pak does not take serious steps to destroy terror outfits in Pak

Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday said Pakistan “was not taking serious steps” to destroy 42 terror camps on its soil. Stating that India was “exploring all possibilities”, Mr. Antony also said he did not expect any “miracles” from the dialogue with Pakistan.

“All the terror camps in Pakistan are active. Pakistan has not taken any serious steps to destroy these camps,” Antony told a press conference on the sidelines of the launch of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Vishwast at the port town of Vasco, 30 km from here.

Vodafone to shut its GPS business

Vodafone, the world's largest mobile operator by revenue, is to close its navigation business as it could not compete with free services pr
ovided by Google and Nokia.

Vodafone, which bought a Swedish navigational software firm Wayfinder for $30 million in December 2008, said it would close the offering with the loss of 95 jobs across Sweden, Romania and Britain.

Vodafone said the commercial proposition for navigational services had completely changed after the introduction of free services in the last six months.

Call Rates may fall in the quarter - RCoM

Reliance Communications (RCom), the country's second-largest telecom service provider, today said the price war in the sector is likely to
intensify in months ahead and the pressure on operators to reduce call charges will continue to be there for a few more quarters.

"There are two-three greenfield operators who are likely to enter the Mumbai market which may further intensify the tariff war. We are always competitive in all respects and we will continue that," RCom's President Mahesh Prasad said that it may intensify further.

Delhi HC asks Govt to file report on its stand in rural health care

 The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the government to make its stand clear on a plea that a short-term course on primary health was required to allow non-MBBS persons to practise medicine in rural areas.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta directed the government to file a detailed affidavit specifying whether it has accepted the recommendations given by the Central Council for Health and the Task Force which recommended a three-year course for practitioners.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) informed the court that it has not accepted all the recommendations of the Task Force and will file an affidavit in this regard by April 7.

Thermax in JV with B&W PGG to Manufacture critical boilers for power sector

Energy and environment solutions company Thermax Wednesday announced a joint venture with US based Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation group (B&W PGG) to manufacture super-critical boilers for the power sector.

Thermax will own 51 percent share of the joint venture while B&W PGG will have 49 percent.

The new entity will also manufacture sub-critical boilers of over 300 MW in capacity.

'In B&W, our joint venture partner, we have a global technology leader whose boilers generate over 300,000 MW of power around the world,' said M.S. Unnikrishnan, managing director and chief executive of Thermax.

Govt's steps to look on Rising sugar Price

India's sugar mills have backed out of import deals to the tune of 100,000 tonnes, and traders have diverted cargoes as prices tumble.

Analysts and traders believe if lower prices do not improve, mills can back out of import deals of another 500,000 tonnes.

A top industry official on Wednesday told Reuters that the supply situation was now "comfortable" and the country did not need further imports.

Indian Micro Finance Institutions set up self regulating body

As many as 31 microfinance institutions (MFIs), including the top 10 in the country, have come together to set up Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a self-regulatory organisation that aims to work with regulators to promote microfinance to achieve larger financial inclusion goals.

“MFIN is the response of NBFC (non banking financial company) MFIs in the country to concerns of overborrowing by clients and unregulated credit practices in the microfinance sector. This level of unity and commitment to client protection is unique and has not been seen in any other sector in India. MFIN members now collectively represent almost 80 per cent of the entire microfinance sector in the country. We are confident that a co-ordinated and united approach from the members of MFIN would enable us to support the government’s initiative of taking forward on a significant manner the process of financial inclusion to the masses in a transparent and sustainable basis,” MFIN president and Basix chairman, Vijay Mahajan, stated in a press release.

Mobile app to provide Updates of BSE soon

Trading at your fingertips may soon become reality. One may soon be able to trade real time through ones mobile phone.

Going by the push that stock exchanges are giving to mobile-based applications, it looks like market players are ready.

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has launched an application that will show the 30 Sensex scrips on mobile phones, real time, claiming it to be just the first small step.

Ashish Chauhan, deputy CEO of BSE, said, “In India there are 1 crore personal computers, but 50 crore phones. We hope to penetrate a large customer base through mobile phones."

Ford to launch its global products in Indian Market soon

Automobile major, Ford India, plans to launch more global products in the Indian market, a top company official

"We are going to bring more global products into the Indian market. We will look at options for Indian customers' needs out of our global stable," Ford India's Managing Director and President, Michael Boneham, told  here today.

"We plan to launch a new car every 12-18 months, which would include small and medium-sized cars in India, Boneham said.

No plan sale stakes in ONGC & IOC - Oil secy

The government has no immediate plans to sell stake in state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Indian Oil Corp (IOC) , Oil Secretary S. Sundareshan told reporters on Wednesday.

"There is no serious consideration (on follow-on public offerings in IOC and ONGC) at this juncture," he told reporters here.

Both IOC and ONGC are not in favour of raising money through equity route as valuations are being impacted due to uncertain fuel pricing policy.

Also, market conditions were not right for FPOs. "(These are) not the correct market time for FPOs," he said.

TATA DoCoMo offers carry Forward offer for its customers

Tata Docomo, the GSM brand of Tata Teleservices Ltd, on Monday launched a tariff plan for its enterprise customers, which carries
unused free talk time and SMS forward for a period of three months.

Under the 'Rollover Plan' (RO Plan), customers pay by month and enjoy the facility of carrying forward their unused free talk time and SMS for a period of three months, TTSL said in a statement.

"Today I am proud to say that we are launching yet another industry first-- The Rollover Plan-- exclusively for our Tata DOCOMO Enterprise Customers," TTSL Managing Director Anil Sardana said.

IPL 3 to be Ad free in Sun Direct HD platform

Sun Direct will show the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in high-definition (HD) on Max.

As per the deal, Max will provide the HD feed of the IPL matches without any advertisements. With dolby digital for the audio and sound with 16:9 ratio, Sun Direct claims that the HD telecast will deliver in-stadia like experience to viewers.

The HD telecast will be available on Sun Direct HD platform.

Nissan Micra to cost between 3.3 lac -3.8 Lacs in India

Nissan Micra is a new car from Nissan India in the small car segment. Nissan Micra is a premium hatchback model with attractive features and specifications. The Nissan Micra car is expected to face competition with the small car segment majors like Maruti Alto, Hyundai Santro, Ford Figo, Wagon R and Chevy Beat.

The Nissan Micra car will be available to Indian customers by May 2010. The company aims to price Nissan Micra in India in the range of Rs. 3.8 lac to Rs. 5 lac.

The Indian small car segment will have Nissan Micra in both petrol and diesel options. The petrol option has 1200 and 1300CC variants and the diesel option has 1600 CC variant. The car will be available in 11 amazing hues like Roma Red, New York Blue,Madrid Ebony, Paris Blue, London Rose, Vienna Garnet, Geneva White, Tokyo Silver, Rio Latte and Monaco Platinum.

IPL 3 needs some Good Pace attack - Zaheer

Mumbai Indians  fast bowler Zaheer Khan  believes fast bowlers will play a key role in the upcoming third season of the Indian Premier League , starting in Mumbai on March 12.

"I think bowling is important. If you see in the last auction as well, all the teams were going for genuine fast bowlers, because everyone now feels the importance of fast bowlers upfront due to the Powerplay.

"A good bowler can definitely increase the chances of giving an early breakthrough, which definitely restricts opponents from getting off to good starts. With the first six overs of Powerplay rule it is very important for the bowling side to get that early wicket," Zaheer said in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Aus to fight with Nethers in FIH semis

Australia's speed and firepower will be up against the free-flowing game of the Netherlands as the two title favourites clash in the semi-final of the Hockey World Cup here Thursday.

The two sides are bracing for their fifth-ever tryst in the pre-summit round of the World Cup after a contrasting run in the Pool stage. The Australians began with a shock defeat and then won three games, while the Dutch saw their three-game victorious stint broken following a draw against Germany and a loss against Korea in the last two outings.

Australia have been the most prolific with 23 goals in the tournament, with Luke Doerner (6), Jamie Dwyer and Glenn Turner (5 each) finding their names in the top scorers' list. The Kookaburras' 12-0 whipping of South Africa has been the most lopsided game of the competition at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Kapil added to ICC's Hall of Fame

 India may have produced many a cricketing legend but only three have made it to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Hall of Fame. Odd but true. On Tuesday, Kapil Dev became the latest member of the elite club which boats of 59 other gems including compatriots BS Bedi and Sunil Gavaskar.

However, Kapil isn’t someone who gets into all those intricacies. On a day when he felt “honoured and happy”, India's only World Cup-winning captain was just counting his blessings.

“Don’t worry. Many more players from India will make it to the Hall of Fame. Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and Virender (Sehwag) will all make it. They are still playing,” he told from Dubai.

While the ICC has recognised him for his cricketing prowess, Kapil still can’t find favour with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. “They (ICC) gave me the award, I accepted it. It’s simple. I have no differences. I never keep grudges. If someone has differences with me, then good luck to them.”

IKDRC creates method for less pain Kidney transplantation

Sanjay Sharma, 32, and Ramesh Dabhi, 48, recently underwent a second kidney transplant surgery. This time, they endured less pain, had a faster recovery and the surgery cost less compared to the earlier one.

Sharma and Dabhi have got to thank the experts at the Institute of Kidney Disease and Research Centre (IKDRC) and the Dr HL Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Science (ITS) who used a new surgical technique on the patients. IKDRC and ITS successfully performed the first laparoscopic kidney transplantations on the two patients on March 4.

The laparoscopic kidney transplantation is a minimally invasive complex surgery and the entire operation is carried out without making a large incision.The major advantages are less post-operative pain, rapid recovery, and shorter hospital stay.

Ruchika Case hearing adjourned till Apr 15

A Chandigarh court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case, which involves former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore till April 15 on the plea that his lawyer was still recovering from an assault on him last month.

Rathore arrived in the court accompanied by his lawyer-wife Abha Rathore and a Haryana cop. Abha Rathore told the court that Rathore's counsel N D Sharma was still recovering from the assault on him outside the court premises last month.

Rathore was on February 8 punched and stabbed thrice with a blunt instrument outside the court premises by Utsav Sharma, a student of the prestigious National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. The former DGP's lawyer had also sustained injuries in the attack and both had to be hospitalised.

The court had last month passed the adjournment order on medical grounds.

Govt has taken measures to provide Healthy Mid Day Meals

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said the government has made elaborate arrangements through the guidelines for Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) to ensure that children get good quality meals.

Sibal added that two to three adults, including at least one teacher, taste the mid-day meal before it is served to the children.

Under the scheme, the government has fixed 450 calories and 12 grams of protein intake for primary and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein intake for upper primary children, claimed Sibal.

"The energy and protein requirement is met through food cooked," he added.

Glaucoma & the 12 million affected Indians

In World Glaucoma Week, know how to guard yourself against the disease that has affected an estimated 12 million Indians

So how often do you go for an eye check? With most of us leading a lifestyle that strains our eyes on a daily basis (like long hours in front of computers), a routine eye check up every three months, doctors suggest, is a good idea to keep track of your eyesight. This week, ending March 13, the world is observing Glaucoma Week, highlighting, among other things, the fact that regular eye examination, particularly by those above 40, helps early detection of the disease and, in turn, would help in preserving one's vision. Glaucoma is a hereditary disease but there are other factors that can make you a potential glaucoma patient.