Experienced middle-order batsman Vangipurappu Laxman has been declared fit to play in the second and final test against South Africa starting on Sunday, India's chief selector Kris Srikkanth said.
Laxman missed the opening test with a finger injury as top-ranked India lost by an innings and six runs in Nagpur, their first defeat on home soil in almost two years.
"Laxman is going to be back in the Kolkata test match," Srikkanth told the CNN-IBN news channel on Thursday. "He has said he is 100 percent fit."
Laxman's return should bolster India's inexperienced middle-order which has been without injured duo Rahul Dravid (jaw) and Yuvraj Singh (wrist), both ruled out of the two-test series.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Cricket cleared to bid for olympic game....
Cricket was cleared to pursue its bid to be included in future Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rubberstamped the sport's recognition on Thursday.
Cricket, powerboating and sports climbing became the latest sports to be officially recognised by the IOC, a status necessary before launching a bid to become part of the Olympic programme.
"The session gave definite recognition to the three federations," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.
The three sports can now bid to join the 2020 Olympics as the programme is always determined seven years in advance.
Golf and rugby were latest inclusions in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games when an IOC session voted them in last year.
The decision about new sports for the 2020 Games will be taken at the IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013 where the host country will also be picked.
Cricket, powerboating and sports climbing became the latest sports to be officially recognised by the IOC, a status necessary before launching a bid to become part of the Olympic programme.
"The session gave definite recognition to the three federations," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.
The three sports can now bid to join the 2020 Olympics as the programme is always determined seven years in advance.
Golf and rugby were latest inclusions in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games when an IOC session voted them in last year.
The decision about new sports for the 2020 Games will be taken at the IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013 where the host country will also be picked.
TRAI plans to roll out 4G service ASAP
India has begun the process of introducing fourth-generation (4G) mobile wireless broadband services, even though the government has yet to finalise a date for its long-pending 3G spectrum auction.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday sought industry views on advanced 4G mobile systems, as it prepares a consultation paper on the new technology, that it said would be 10 times faster than 3G.
"It is necessary that our country should be prepared to introduce 4G services at the earliest," the TRAI said.
It said Sweden and Norway had already launched IMT-Advanced (4G) mobile wireless broadband networks and operators in the United States, Korea and Japan were gearing up for these services.
The TRAI said it would deliberate on issues such as pricing of spectrum and licensing in its consultation paper.
India is the world's second-largest and the fastest-growing mobile market in terms of subscribers, but most of its networks are of second generation.
The country's plan to auction spectrum for 3G and broadband wireless access (BWA) services has been delayed as defence forces, which have much of the spectrum, are yet to vacate it for civilian use.
The auction was set to begin from Jan. 14, but Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja said on Jan. 12 some of the differences with the defence ministry were yet to be resolved and that a new date had not been agreed upon.
Media reports have said the auction could be delayed until September when the spectrum is expected to be available.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday sought industry views on advanced 4G mobile systems, as it prepares a consultation paper on the new technology, that it said would be 10 times faster than 3G.
"It is necessary that our country should be prepared to introduce 4G services at the earliest," the TRAI said.
It said Sweden and Norway had already launched IMT-Advanced (4G) mobile wireless broadband networks and operators in the United States, Korea and Japan were gearing up for these services.
The TRAI said it would deliberate on issues such as pricing of spectrum and licensing in its consultation paper.
India is the world's second-largest and the fastest-growing mobile market in terms of subscribers, but most of its networks are of second generation.
The country's plan to auction spectrum for 3G and broadband wireless access (BWA) services has been delayed as defence forces, which have much of the spectrum, are yet to vacate it for civilian use.
The auction was set to begin from Jan. 14, but Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja said on Jan. 12 some of the differences with the defence ministry were yet to be resolved and that a new date had not been agreed upon.
Media reports have said the auction could be delayed until September when the spectrum is expected to be available.
Indian techie firms makes the forecast to be false..
India's software and services exports in the year to March 2011 will be less than earlier expected as the sector's growth has not been cranked-up enough by the recovering global economy, an industry body said on Thursday.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) projected export revenue to grow 13-15 percent to $56-$57 billion, below the previous outlook for $60-$62 billion.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) projected export revenue to grow 13-15 percent to $56-$57 billion, below the previous outlook for $60-$62 billion.
Facebook changes its Ad format after talks with Microsoft
Facebook is taking full control of display ads on the world's No. 1 social networking website, cutting short an exclusive deal that had allowed Microsoft Corp to manage part of that business.
However, Microsoft -- the exclusive provider of Web search on Facebook -- will continue to sell text-based search ads on the website as the partners extended the arrangement beyond 2011, when it had been due to expire. A Facebook spokesman declined to say how long the deal has been extended.
Microsoft also said it will further integrate its Bing search engine into Facebook while expanding its reach beyond the United States.
However, Microsoft -- the exclusive provider of Web search on Facebook -- will continue to sell text-based search ads on the website as the partners extended the arrangement beyond 2011, when it had been due to expire. A Facebook spokesman declined to say how long the deal has been extended.
Microsoft also said it will further integrate its Bing search engine into Facebook while expanding its reach beyond the United States.
Bharti & Reliance to launch their App stores ...
India's top two mobile firms, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications, both plan to launch online mobile applications stores, opening up a new revenue stream from add-on services such as music and social networking.
Bharti Airtel said on Tuesday it would provide more than 1,250 applications across 25 categories including games, books and social networking on its applications store.
Reliance Communications said the first version of its applications store would go live for GSM customers by the end of February, and by the end of March an expanded version would be available to its CDMA customers as well.
Globally, Apple Inc's App Store has proved extremely popular. Phone makers, operators and technology firms including Nokia, Research In Motion, Vodafone and Microsoft Corp have also sought a piece of the pie.
In January, seventh-ranked Aircel, which is majority-owned by Malaysia's Maxis, was the first Indian operator to announce a mobile applications store, when it signed a deal with No. 2 software services firm Infosys Technologies.
India, the world's fastest-growing mobile market, is predominantly a voice-centric market, with just over 10 percent of mobile operators' revenue coming from data, but researcher Gartner expects data services revenue to grow faster in the next few years.
Bharti Airtel said on Tuesday it would provide more than 1,250 applications across 25 categories including games, books and social networking on its applications store.
Reliance Communications said the first version of its applications store would go live for GSM customers by the end of February, and by the end of March an expanded version would be available to its CDMA customers as well.
Globally, Apple Inc's App Store has proved extremely popular. Phone makers, operators and technology firms including Nokia, Research In Motion, Vodafone and Microsoft Corp have also sought a piece of the pie.
In January, seventh-ranked Aircel, which is majority-owned by Malaysia's Maxis, was the first Indian operator to announce a mobile applications store, when it signed a deal with No. 2 software services firm Infosys Technologies.
India, the world's fastest-growing mobile market, is predominantly a voice-centric market, with just over 10 percent of mobile operators' revenue coming from data, but researcher Gartner expects data services revenue to grow faster in the next few years.
Finance ministry decides to push 3G auction ahead...
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has decided to push ahead with the third-generation (3G) mobile spectrum auction within the current financial year ending March 31, the Financial Express newspaper reported on Friday.
The auction was set to begin from Jan. 14, but Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja said on Jan. 12 some of the differences with the defence ministry were yet to be resolved and that a new date had not been agreed upon.
Media reports have said that the auction had been postponed to the next financial year.
The auction would now be conducted in the second half of March, with the entire process compressed into 15 days against the earlier scheduled one-and-a-half months.
The government, which is fighting a 16-year high fiscal deficit, is targeting to raise around 350 billion rupees ($7.53 billion) through the auction.
It hopes to use the proceeds to partly cut down the fiscal deficit, estimated to touch 6.8 percent of the gross domestic product in 2009/10.
The auction was set to begin from Jan. 14, but Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja said on Jan. 12 some of the differences with the defence ministry were yet to be resolved and that a new date had not been agreed upon.
Media reports have said that the auction had been postponed to the next financial year.
The auction would now be conducted in the second half of March, with the entire process compressed into 15 days against the earlier scheduled one-and-a-half months.
The government, which is fighting a 16-year high fiscal deficit, is targeting to raise around 350 billion rupees ($7.53 billion) through the auction.
It hopes to use the proceeds to partly cut down the fiscal deficit, estimated to touch 6.8 percent of the gross domestic product in 2009/10.
No major tax reforms expected this budget session...
India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will not present a major tax reform to bring down corporate tax and simplify income tax rules this month, the Business Standard daily said on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
The Direct Taxes Code bill was expected to be presented in the budget session of parliament beginning on Feb 22, with the aim of coming into effect from April next year.
There were several complications in the Direct Taxes Code in its present form, and it required further scrutiny, the newspaper said, citing unnamed senior government official.
The Business Standard added that the government may delay the major tax reform bill to the next session of parliament, which starts in July.
The Direct Taxes Code bill was expected to be presented in the budget session of parliament beginning on Feb 22, with the aim of coming into effect from April next year.
There were several complications in the Direct Taxes Code in its present form, and it required further scrutiny, the newspaper said, citing unnamed senior government official.
The Business Standard added that the government may delay the major tax reform bill to the next session of parliament, which starts in July.
UID on full swing - to be completed in next five yrs...
600 million IDs will be issued over the next five years
Nandan NilekaniClose to 30 IT professionals are expected to assist Nandan Nilekani in his endeavour to give 1.20 billion residents in India a Unique Identification (UID) number.
“I have requested the industry to allow its skilled professionals to voluntarily participate in the authentication process. The companies could allow these professionals to go on sabbaticals for a year or two. We have received interest from individuals and firms,” Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the UID project, said at the Nasscom Leadership Forum today.
Over the next five years, nearly 600 million IDs will be issued, with the first set of numbers being expected between August 2010 and February 2011.
“In the next few weeks, we will appoint a consultant to help us draft the request for proposal (RFP) for the managed services provider. Post that, we will start doing pilots and conduct proof-of-concepts to check how the technology works for the database of 1.20 billion people.”
Nilekani indicated that the managed services provider would have to ensure robust security measure to protect the online database. The plan aims to provide real-time online authentication. “The key issue for us is to ensure that there are no duplicates in ID system, like it is happening in other schemes. The problem with identity is that many national and state projects have duplicates that had led to frauds while implementing various government programmes,” Nilekani said.
“The data will also be available across the country on cellphone networks that can be validated on any mobile handsets, online, or can be embedded within a software programme,” said Nilekani. On these open-ended systems, companies can build applications that will cater to certain specific industry usage like health care, he added.
He accepted that the maximum challenge was during the enrollment due to the inherent challenges in India.
The project, if successful, will be a money spinner for the IT industry. The project, according to Nilekani, will lift the hardware market in a big way, as it could lead to a large demand for point of sale equipment, iris scanners and biometric devices. The government had earmarked a fund of Rs 120 crore for the UID project for 2009-10.
Nandan NilekaniClose to 30 IT professionals are expected to assist Nandan Nilekani in his endeavour to give 1.20 billion residents in India a Unique Identification (UID) number.
“I have requested the industry to allow its skilled professionals to voluntarily participate in the authentication process. The companies could allow these professionals to go on sabbaticals for a year or two. We have received interest from individuals and firms,” Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the UID project, said at the Nasscom Leadership Forum today.
Over the next five years, nearly 600 million IDs will be issued, with the first set of numbers being expected between August 2010 and February 2011.
“In the next few weeks, we will appoint a consultant to help us draft the request for proposal (RFP) for the managed services provider. Post that, we will start doing pilots and conduct proof-of-concepts to check how the technology works for the database of 1.20 billion people.”
Nilekani indicated that the managed services provider would have to ensure robust security measure to protect the online database. The plan aims to provide real-time online authentication. “The key issue for us is to ensure that there are no duplicates in ID system, like it is happening in other schemes. The problem with identity is that many national and state projects have duplicates that had led to frauds while implementing various government programmes,” Nilekani said.
“The data will also be available across the country on cellphone networks that can be validated on any mobile handsets, online, or can be embedded within a software programme,” said Nilekani. On these open-ended systems, companies can build applications that will cater to certain specific industry usage like health care, he added.
He accepted that the maximum challenge was during the enrollment due to the inherent challenges in India.
The project, if successful, will be a money spinner for the IT industry. The project, according to Nilekani, will lift the hardware market in a big way, as it could lead to a large demand for point of sale equipment, iris scanners and biometric devices. The government had earmarked a fund of Rs 120 crore for the UID project for 2009-10.
Charcoaled face....
Pramod Muthalik, leader of the right-wing Sri Rama Sene that functions as a moral police in Karnataka, got a taste of his own medicine on Wednesday when his face was blackened by the alleged activists of the Youth Congress in the middle of an open air debate on Valentine’s Day hosted by a local TV channel.
Muthalik and several others had been invited for the debate titled ‘Love Wars’ organised by the Asianet Suvarna channel outside the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Thursday evening. Muthalik who has been threatening to disrupt the Valentine’s Day festivities was involved in a heated argument with other panelists, including Agni Sridhar, a former underworld don-turned-social activist, who had been threatening to teach Muthalik’s men a lesson if they try to disrupt Valentine’s Day.
According to eyewitness accounts, several youths clambered on to the makeshift stage where the debate was being filmed and cornered Muthalik in his seat, pushed him to the ground and smeared his face with charcoal. The youths escaped before the police could swing into action.
Muthalik and several others had been invited for the debate titled ‘Love Wars’ organised by the Asianet Suvarna channel outside the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Thursday evening. Muthalik who has been threatening to disrupt the Valentine’s Day festivities was involved in a heated argument with other panelists, including Agni Sridhar, a former underworld don-turned-social activist, who had been threatening to teach Muthalik’s men a lesson if they try to disrupt Valentine’s Day.
According to eyewitness accounts, several youths clambered on to the makeshift stage where the debate was being filmed and cornered Muthalik in his seat, pushed him to the ground and smeared his face with charcoal. The youths escaped before the police could swing into action.
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