Facebook beats Google as most visited in 2010

San Francisco:  Facebook surpassed Google as the most visited website in the US in 2010, according to a survey by the web tracking firm Experian Hitwise. The social networking site also claimed the top search term of the year, with variations on its name filling four of the 10 most popular searches, the survey found. In all, Facebook searches accounted for 3.48 percent of all web searches in the US in 2010, a 207-percent increase over 2009. The study found that Facebook accounted for 8.93 cent of all US website visits in the year, ahead of Google.com's 7.19 percent and third-placed Yahoo Mail with 3.85 percent. However if all Google's various properties are taken into account, the web...

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Ahead of Srikrishna report, security tightened in Andhra

Security was tightened in Andhra Pradesh Thursday as the Srikrishna Committee on the Telangana issue is all set to submit its report to the central government.Fifty companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in addition to the state police forces across the state, especially in the Telangana region.As the five-member Srikrishna Committee, which looked into the demands for and against separate statehood to Telangana, has sought an appointment with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to submit its report, the police in the state went on alert.Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the law and order situation with state Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy, Director General...

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Former CM Of AP,Rosaiah booked in land deal

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister K. Rosaiah and 14 others were Wednedsay booked in connection with the alleged allotment of a prime land to a private party. The Anti-Corruption of Bureau (ACB) of the state registered the case of criminal misconduct after the designated court directed it to probe the alleged irregularities.There are allegations that Rosaiah, as chief minister, committed irregularities in handing over a nine-acre prime land in Ameerpet area of Hyderabad to a private company.The court directed ACB to register the case after an advocate filed a petition against the transfer of land worth Rs.200 crore. The court asked the anti-graft body to submit its report by Jan 28.The petitioner...

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Jaganmohan in Delhi to meet Pawar

Former Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy arrived here late Wednesday to meet Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar over better relief for Andhra Pradesh farmers who lost their crops in recent unseasonal rains. Jagan, as he is known in his state, is likely to meet Pawar Thursday morning, sources close to Jagan said.He has also sought an appointment with the prime minister, the sources added.Jagan, the son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, had gone on a 48-hour hunger strike earlier this month to demand a better deal for farmers.He resigned from the Congress and quit the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat last month, accusing the leadership of dividing his family by luring his uncle...

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PM, senior ministers discuss Telangana

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed the issue of a separate Telangana state with his senior ministers Wednesday ahead of the impending report of a panel that has examined the contentious demand that has created sharp political divisions in Andhra Pradesh. Official sources said the hour-long meeting, attended by Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony, had been called to discuss the “issue of smaller states”.Moily is the Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.The meeting came two days before Friday deadline for the Srikrishna panel to present its report. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, a retired Supreme Court...

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Gujjars agree to talks Thursday as stir reaches Delhi

The Gujjar community said it would hold talks with the Rajasthan government Thursday while its 10-day agitation for five percent reservation in government jobs continued to hit rail services in parts of the state and even spilled over to the national capital and Greater Noida. “Gujjar leaders today (Wednesday) evening communicated to us that they would like to hold talks with us on Thursday. We hope to hold talks in the first half of Thursday,” said G.S. Sandhu, Rajasthan’s principal secretary for urban development.Sandhu, who is also looking after the home department, is member of the state government delegation that has been deputed to hold talks with the Gujjars and has been camping in Bayana...

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Unease in Andhra ahead of Srikrishna panel report

There is unease, anxiety and suspense as Andhra Pradesh awaits the Srikrishna Committee’s report on the demand for separate statehood to Telangana region.Hectic activity began in political circles here amid reports from New Delhi that the five-member panel will submit its recommendations to the central government Friday.With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussing the Telangana issue with senior ministers in the national capital and the central government issuing do’s and don’ts to the media, various speculations were doing the rounds here.There was anxiety among protagonists of separate state over some reports that the central government was contemplating to set up another panel to study the...

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Sensex climbs 0.42 percent; Maruti, Tata Motors rise

A benchmark index of the Indian equities market climbed nearly half a percent by noon Thursday on buying support in auto, FMCG and technology stocks. The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened in the positive terrain at 20,274.12 points from the previous close of 20,256.03 points.Keeping its upward curve, the Sensex was ruling at 20,343.77 points, up 0.43 percent or 87.74 points in the early afternoon session.At the National Stock Exchange 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was holding at 6,078.80, up 0.30 percent or 18.45 points.Tata Power climbed 1.47 percent. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra were up nearly one percent.At the broader market...

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Food inflation zips on high onion, fruits, eggs, meat prices

Soaring prices of onions, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat and poultry sharply pushed India’s annual food inflation based on wholesale prices to 14.44 percent for the week ended Dec 18 from 12.13 percent for the week before.This was the fourth straight week of rise in food inflation rate, which was pushed back to double-digits during the previous week, as per weekly data on wholesale price index for primary articles and fuels released by the commerce and industry ministry Thursday.The fresh data reflects the high onion prices due to crop failure in the main growing regions in Maharashtra which had caused a nationwide furore last week, resulting in a slew of steps like a ban on export of...

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Don’t regulate diesel prices: Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Diesel prices should not be regulated so that they can be aligned with international levels, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here Wednesday. “I think diesel prices need to be aligned with global prices as soon as possible. Delaying the price rise by a week or by two weeks is not a solution. Going by what is happening in the global world, it is really difficult to delay it,” Ahluwalia told reporters.“By not raising diesel prices, oil companies would suffer big losses. Then they would not be able to invest in the development of oil supplies and in such a situation, government has to subsidise it. If the government subsidises, then fiscal deficit will go up,” he...

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Chola MS targets Rs.2,000 crore premium by 2013-14

Chola MS General Insurance is eyeing a premium of Rs.2,000 crore and a profit of Rs.100 crore by the end of the 2013-14 fiscal, a top official said here Wednesday. “We are targeting a premium of Rs.2,000 by the end of the 2013-2014 fiscal along with a profit of Rs.100 crore,” the company’s managing director S.S. Gopala Rathnam told mediapersons here.The company had a premium turnover of Rs.785 crore in the 2009-2010 fiscal with a profit of Rs.2 crore.In 2010-2011, the company was aiming for a premium of Rs.950 crore with a profit of Rs.20 crore, he said.The company, which has 14 offices in the eastern part of the country, plans to establish another six to eight offices in the region.The company...

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Uninor, others pay penalty for delayed 2G rollout

Mobile service providers Uninor, Etisalat DB and Sistema-Shyam Teleservices Limited Wednesday said they have paid penalties to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for delayed and inadequate 2G rollouts, but under protest. Earlier this month, the government had issued showcause notices to these firms and had given them 15 days to respond.“Etisalat DB has received communication from the Do­T for imposition of liquidated damages towards roll-out obligation for the first year in respect of four telecom circles aggregating to Rs.9.9 crore. Etisalat DB has made payments for Rs.9.9 crore under protest,” the company said in a statement.In a separate statement, Uninor, a joint venture between...

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Wipro deposits Rs.240 mn in tax case on court order

IT bellwether Wipro Limited Wednesday deposited Rs.24 crore (Rs.240 million) with the state commercial tax department in compliance with a Karnataka High Court directive, a company official said. “We have deposited the amount (Rs.240 million) as directed by the court Tuesday but we look forward to an early solution to the issue of double taxation on goods and services,” Wipro Senior Vice President (taxation) P.V. Srinivasan said here.The global software major is of the view that when it is paying 10.3 percent towards service tax on the export of goods and services, levying an additional four percent as value added tax (VAT) by the state commercial department on the same transaction amounts to...

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Gayatri Projects bags Rs.1130.67 crore Nagaland contract

Engineering firm Gayatri Projects Limited Wednesday said it has bagged a road contract worth Rs.1,130.67 crore in Nagaland in a joint venture with Maytas Infra. “The contract from the government of Nagaland is for widening of roads in the state for a total value of Rs.1,130.67,” the Andhra Pradesh-based company said in a regulatory filing.The joint venture has received a letter of acceptance from the government to this extent, it added.At the Bombay Stock Exchange, the shares of the company closed 1.42 percent higher to trade at Rs.320...

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Indian mobile handsets market grows by 3.6 percent in Q3

The sales of mobile phones in India grew 3.6 percent to touch 40 million units during the quarter ended Sep 30, said a study by advisory firm IDC’s India quarterly mobile handsets tracker, 3Q 2010.According to the study, Finnish handset maker Nokia had the largest share of 31.5 percent in terms of units shipped during the quarter. While the emerging vendors captured 41.2 percent combined share of the market.Chinese brand G’Five followed Nokia in terms of units shipped share and Korean handset manufacturer Samsung occupied the third position.The study also showed a strong quarter on quarter growth in smartphone sales of 34.2 percent, and a year on year rise of 294.9 percent. This clearly underscores...

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2nd Test: India beat South Africa by 87 runs, level series 1-1

DURBAN: An inspired India made amends for the drubbing at Centurion with a sensational 87-run victory against South Africa in the low-scoring second Test to level the three-match series 1-1 on Wednesday. After setting a target of 303, the Indian bowlers put up a disciplined show to dismiss the hosts for 215 in 72.3 overs about an hour after the lunch break to record only their second Test triumph on South African soil. It turned out to be an extraordinary Test with fortune fluctuating from one team to the other but the Indians eventually tilted the balance in their favour on a bouncy Kingsmead track which saw 40 wickets fall in three and half days. The Indians, who had lost the first Test...

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2nd Test: India-South Africa statistical highlights

DURBAN: Statistical highlights on the fourth day of the second Test between India and South Africa on Wednesday.  # India have recorded their second win against South Africa in South Africa. In the 2006-07 Johannesburg Test, India had won by 123 runs.  # India's aforesaid victory is their seventh (lost twelve and drawn seven) out of 26 played against South Africa - success % 26.92.  # India have won eight, lost three and drawn three out of 14 played this year - success % 57.14.  # India's tally of eight wins this year is exceeded only by England - 9 wins, three losses and two drawn - out of 14 played - winning % 64.28  # South Africa have lost three Tests in succession...

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FMSCI president Chandhok wants to improve motorsports infrastructure

Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India’s (FMSCI) newly- elected president Vicky Chandhok Wednesday said he would try to improve the infrastructure for motorsport in the country. “There is a lot of work to be done to improve the infrastructure of the sport in the country. I have always been pushing for the sport to grow at the grassroot level before all else. We have had our team doing just that with Rallying, Motocross and Go-Karting respectively and we will look to carry this into all segments from the next year on,” said Chandhok, who was elected president at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held here Tuesday.Chandhok, who was president earlier during 2003-05, took over from Khushroo Madan...

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Chikka moves ahead of Fernandes in All India junior golf

Playing on his home turf, Chikkarangappa took advantage of Rigel Fernandes faltering in the third round to take the overall lead in the All India Junior and sub junior golf here Wednesday.Chikka, who was three-under for the front nine with three birdies in a row from fifth to seventh holes, had an up-and-down back nine with six bogeys and one birdie for a day’s work of 74.He is now four-over 220 for three rounds, but one shot ahead of Rigel Fernandes who shot a 78 and is now placed at 221 after three days. Fernandes however leads the Category B, as he is eight shots clear of Manu Gandas (72-71-78=221) and lying third is Shiv Naren Srinivasan (77-78-75=230)In Category A, there should be a tough...

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Iran is now a nuclear state: Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran is now a nuclear country and that it has achieved nuclear know-how for energy purposes, a media report said. “Though the US and its allies have been exerting political and propaganda pressure and have issued resolutions against Iran over its nuclear programme, all their efforts have failed and Iran has now become a nuclear country,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by Press TV.Addressing a gathering in northern Karaj city, the Iranian president said cooperation rather than confrontation was the only way to resolve issues related to Iran’s nuclear energy programme.“We are open to cooperation based on our rights,” he said, warning Western countries...

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Russian missile maker to build two plants, expand exports

Russia’s Almaz-Antei conglomerate will receive a government loan to build two new production facilities to expand the export of missile defence systems, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday. The conglomerate’s core products are the S-300 and S-400 missile defence systems, most of which are procured by the Russian military, he said, adding that exports were limited.“However, these goods, so to speak, are in great demand on the international market,” he noted.The S-300PS Grumble model entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in 1985. It has an effective range of 90 km.The S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) is designed to engage airborne targets at distances of up to 400 km, double...

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Spain confirms mutual expulsion of diplomats with Russia

Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday that Russia expelled two Spanish diplomats in response to Madrid’s decision last month to expel two Russians “for conducting activities incompatible with their status”. The two Spanish diplomats expelled from Moscow last week have the rank of secretary, Foreign Ministry sources told EFE.The Spanish daily La Razon reported Dec 10 that the expulsion of the two Russian officials was due to their engaging in acts of espionage.Both governments “consider the incident over and done with, and are working to staff their diplomatic delegations as soon as possible”, the Spanish foreign ministry said.Spain’s top diplomat, Trinidad Jimenez, will fly to Moscow Jan...

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PM discusses Telangana with senior ministers

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday convened a meeting of senior ministers to discuss the issue of a separate state of Telangana that has led to sharp political divisions in Andhra Pradesh.Official sources said the hour-long meeting, attended by Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony, had been called to discuss the “issue of smaller states”.Moily is the Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.The meeting comes two days before the Srikrishna panel report will present its report Friday. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, a retired Supreme Court judge, heads the panel formed by the government on...

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I respect governor, will clear misunderstanding: Yeddyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Tuesday sought to assuage an angry Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, saying that he respected him and would regularly brief him to prevent any misunderstanding.“I have a lot of respect for the governor. He is experienced and elder to me. I will take guidance from him,” Yeddyurappa, who had threatened to write to President Pratibha Patil against Bhardwaj’s style of functioning, told reporters here.Bhardwaj has been frequently criticizing the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka and was particularly upset that Yeddyurappa had not replied to two of his letters.One sought a “true picture” of allegations against Yeddyurappa...

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Srikrishna report by Dec 31, Andhra to withdraw all cases

Amid fears of violence in Andhra Pradesh, Justice B.N. Srikrishna, who heads the panel for examining the contentious issue of statehood for Telangana, Tuesday said the committee will present the report by the Dec 31 deadline, even as the Andhra Pradesh government withdrew all criminal cases filed during protests for a separate state. “The report will be given to the government before Dec 31. We will make sure that it is given before Dec 31,” Srikrishna, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, told reporters here.“We have gone into all aspects. It’s comprehensive,” Srikrishna said while refusing to disclose the contents of the report.In February, the Srikrishna committee was constituted...

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Telangana MPs end fast as government withdraws cases

ongress MPs from the Telangana region Tuesday ended their hunger strike after the Andhra Pradesh government agreed to withdraw all criminal cases filed during widespread agitation for a separate Telangana state. The nine Congress parliamentarians broke their fast after state Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy handed over a written assurance from the government to senior leader and Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao about withdrawal of the cases.Keshava Rao told reporters that following the government’s decision, they were terminating their hunger-strike.The home minister said the government has decided to withdraw all the remaining cases against the agitators, most of whom...

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PAC will decide on PM’s offer to appear before it: Joshi

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who chairs parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Monday said the panel will take an “appropriate decision at an appropriate time” on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer to appear before it on the 2G spectrum allocation scam issue. Joshi, speaking to mediapersons, said the panel was not tied to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in its probe into the allocation of second generation airwaves to telecom companies in 2008 that is alleged to have caused losses to the national exchequer.“The PAC has got a letter from the prime minister in which he has repeated his offer of appearing before the PAC, if needed....

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Gujarat to focus on education in a big way: Modi

After making Gujarat “investor-friendly”, the government’s focus would now be on developing the state’s education sector from the primary to the professional level, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.“While the state has achieved investor-friendly status, education is it’s next primary field of concern. The state had nine universities in 2000 and today we have 25,” he added.The chief minister was speaking at an Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) conclave organised by the Gujarat government and the institute’s alumni to celebrate its 50th anniversary.“I congratulate IIM-A on its completion of 50 years. It’s a joyous moment for both Gujarat and the institute...

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Sensex rises 138 points; HDFC, Bharti Airtel climb

A benchmark index of the Indian equities market advanced more than half percent by noon Wednesday, led by good buying support in metal, banks and FMCG on the back of positive Asian cues. The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened in the positive terrain at 20,060.88 points from the previous close of 20,025.42 points.The Sensex held on the early gains and was ruling at 20,163.47 points, up 0.69 percent or 138.05 points around noon.HDFC Bank surged 2.37 percent to Rs.2,310.70. HDFC rose 1.72 percent to Rs.712.05 and Bharti Airtel jumped 1.64 percent to Rs.347.80.At the National Stock Exchange 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.71 percent...

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Pesky calls to nag customers for one more month

Pesky calls will continue to trouble the subscribers for one more month as the telecom regulator Tuesday gave the mobile phone firms another month to curb unsolicited commercial calls and messages.“Telemarketers registration shall commence from Jan 15 and other provisions shall come into force from Feb 1,” said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in a statement.“Having regard to security audit of the website and other processes involved, TRAI has found it necessary to re-determine the dates for implementation of the regulations,” it added.Earlier this month, the telecom watchdog announced a set of new measures to curb unsolicited commercial calls and messages,...

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Surya Pharma’s arm acquires US’s ActivOn for $22 mn

Surya Pharmaceuticals Tuesday said its subsidiary has acquired US-based ActivOn, a leading over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic drug brand, for $22 million.“Surya Pharma’s wholly owned subsidiary, Surya Pharmaceutical (Singapore) Pte Ltd, has acquired ActivOn with global marketing rights,” the company said in a regulatory filing.The investment will be funded through a mix of internal accrual and debt financing from EXIM bank, it added.Through the acquisition, the company also adds to its portfolio brands like Preferon, Firston and Renewin.“This acquisition will not only entitle us to ready shelf space with leading retailers like Walmart, Walgreen, RiteAide etc. but will also be instrumental...

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KEC International bags orders worth Rs.1,018 crore

Power transmission major KEC International Ltd Monday said it has bagged orders worth Rs.1,018 crore for the construction of transmission lines and other civil projects.In the transmission segment, the firm secured three orders for constructing 765 kV transmission lines from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (RRVPN), Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and Eskom (South Africa), the company said in a regulatory filing.The RRVPN order worth Rs.313 crore is for constructing a transmission line between Anta and Phagi in Rajasthan on a turn-key basis (projects sold in a ready-to-use condition).PGCIL has placed an order worth Rs.130 crore for the supply and construction...

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South Indian Bank bags ‘best bank’ award

The city-based South Indian Bank (SIB) has bagged India’s Best Bank-2010 award in this year’s edition of the ‘Businessworld-PricewaterhouseCoopers Best Banks Survey’, a statement said Monday.“This coveted award speaks strongly of the corporate metamorphosis the bank has undergone by effecting rebranding, achieving asset quality, implementing banking technology and recruiting young and qualified personnel,” the bank’s managing director and chief executive officer V.A. Joseph said.SIB was in the news recently when Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan presented it with the ‘Best Bank’ award (in private sector, traditional banks category) of State Forum of Bankers’ Clubs,...

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Now a chip that makes computers 20 times faster

An ultra-fast computer chip that is 20 times faster than the ones found in the current desktop computers has been created by scientists.Modern PCs have a processor with two, four or sometimes 16 cores to carry out tasks. But the central processing unit (CPU) developed by the researchers effectively had 1,000 cores on a single chip, Daily Mail reported Tuesday.The developments could usher in a new age of high-speed computing in the next few years for home users frustrated with slow-running systems.And the new ’super’ computer is much greener than modern machines – using far less power – despite its high speed.Scientists used a chip called a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),...

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Suspected debris of exploded rocket washes ashore

An oval metal object, suspected to be debris of the rocket that was blown up mid-air by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists Saturday following a failed launch, washed ashore near Pazhaverkadu in Thiruvallur district near here, officials said. The geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) carrying advanced communication satellite GSAT-5P was exploded mid-air by ISRO after it started disintegrating within a minute of its lift off Saturday.A huge oval shaped metal object washed ashore Monday.According to Thiruvallur police, the part was taken in possession by officials from the Revenue Divisional Office in Ponneri Taluk.The officials at the rocket launch...

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Undaunted by rocket’s failure, India plans 30 satellite launches

India Tuesday announced plans to launch 30 remote sensing satellites in the next 10 years, undaunted by the failed launch of a rocket that was to place an advanced communication satellite into orbit. The series of launches is intended to strengthen India’s lead role in data collection and dissemination, a top scientist said Tuesday.“We expect (to launch) not less than 30 satellites,” V. Jayaraman, director of the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), India’s one-stop centre for all the users of remote sensing data solutions, said here.Jayaraman’s statement comes in the backdrop of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-F06), carrying a heavy communication satellite...

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