Friday, July 2, 2010
Killing in the name of honour or pride is not a new term in Indian society, particularly in rural areas. The northern states of Haryana and UP have always been notorious for this henious crime, but the sudden surge in the cases of honour killing in metropolitan cities has undoubtedly shaken everyone.
The recent murders of a young couple and a woman, allegedly by their own brothers in the city like New Delhi not only highlights the darker side of Indian social system but also raised a question mark on the effectiveness of legal enforecement authorities.
These unjustified and brutual killings of youths, who dared to love or tie the nupital bond with their will, but against the wishes of their family members, only showed the helplessness of our legal system.
In most of the cases the victims had demanded police protection but their application remained unheard. Sarcastically, the alleged killers or the so-called crusaders of local customs showed no remorse for their crime. I heard one of the accused saying “we killed them for bringing disgrace for our family and we have no regret,” when he was asked by media persons.
These cases gives a sensational revealation that how the self-styled crusaders of tradition-preservation forces are involved in murders for the sake of dignity and pride.
Interestingly, the Khap Panchayats (local caste councils of elders), an influential local bodies formed to solve local issues, have played a crucial role in issuing diktats against young couples who dared to marry within the same gotra (clan), the thing which is against local customs and is regarded as one of the most henious crime.
Even politicians are seem to be reluctant in bringing tougher laws to protect the killings in the name of honour and dignity in the country. One of the finest examples of politician’s apathy is Haryana state, which has recorned a number of cases regarding caste related violence and honour killings. The state has witnessed a series of such incidents in the past few years.
The bigwigs of state politics, right from the state Chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda and main opposition leader Om Prakash Chautala to the businessman turned lawmaker Naveen Jindal, are trying to defend Khap Panchayat leaders saying that the khap panchayats are just like social organisations which have been doing social work for centuries.
Now, the question arises, whether our legal system is strong enough to provide full proof security to young couples who dared to marry within the same clan or against the wishes of their family members? I think the government must realise the sensitibility of the iisue and bring tougher laws to prevent these killings.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
No army in anti-Maoists operation; a right step
The federal government’s decision of not deploying army and air force in tackling Maoists is a praiseworthy effort. Right from the very beginning both the army and air force were reluctant in accepting active participation in anti-Maoist operations as they knew that if any such operation is launch then only poor, deprived and marginalised civilians particularly tribes residing in remote forest regions would suffer.
They were right as Maoists always use civilians as their safety shields. The red cadres have deep influence in tribal areas, among those who are residing in remote forest regions and are deprived of economic development or in many cases deprived of basic amenities viz. Food, Shelter and Clothes. I am doubtful whether these masses of the growing economic superpower of the world are capable of meeting their daily food requirements.
The majority of tribes doesn’t even aware of the outside world, their rights; they just know about their natural resources, which they claimed as their own. They oppose compulsory acquisition by legislature in the name of economic reforms.
Maoists gained some support by pledging their support to local villagers in their resistence against land acquisition by large companies. And there is no denying of the fact that communication gap coupled with corruption, justice denial and police atrocities on innocent masses only added fuel to the fire.
Civilians, residing in Maoist-infested belts, are caught between both stones of the mill and most of the times they find themselves on cross roads as both rebels and police are well aware about the power of the gun and both perties know how to use this.
Media reports suggest that there are some 20,000 fighters, out of which only some 8000 are hardcore fighters and are well versed in handling automatic weapons and explosives, rest are armored with traditional bows and arrows. So, it is unfair to use full-fledged power to crush rebels equipped with traditional weapons. The weapons that army uses are meant for causing maximum lethalties and in any case innocent civilians would only be the ultimate sufferers.
I think the country which gave the concept of ahimsa or non-violence to the world prefers diplomatic efforts to a full-fledged war. Nation’s interest must be given full priority and the government must appoint some envoys to reach rebels. I think the nation, which is the birth place of Gautam Buddha and Mahavira, must appoint goodwill ambassadors and try to reduce the communication gap.
This is the high time to take concrete steps as the Naxal (Maoist) Movement, which started in Naxalbari town of West Bengal, and has now spread in rural swathes of 20 of India's 28 states. The movement may derail the process of economic growth of Asia’s second largest growing economy.
Hundreds died in a series of violent incident involving red cadres killing police personnel and activists of opposition parties in central Chattissgarh and eastern West Bangal state. Recently a rail accident claims more than 70 lives in West Bengal state that claimed more than 70 lives. Officials claimed that the incident occurred after rebels sabotaged the track.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Google entering the 'smart TV' market, reports say
(CNN) Google and its partners are looking to become the latest players to beam Web content onto your television, according to media reports.
The Web search giant, along with Intel and Sony, would integrate applications like Twitter and the Picasa photo site onto TV screens, according to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Both reports attributed news of the project, said to be in its early stages, to unnamed sources. Google did not return a message from CNN seeking comment.
Google would open its Android smartphone operating system to developers to use for the television project, according to the reports.
Projects based on the software could begin popping up as early as this summer, the Times reported.
The move would follow several established companies and some startups working to more fluidly combine Web content and television viewing.
Earlier this month, TiVo announced that subscribers will be able to pull Internet content, music and movies onto their televisions more easily with a new Premiere service.
The "Boxee Box," which won the title of "Last Gadget Standing" at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, lets users search and store Web content and either play it on television or share it on social-networking sites.
California-based company Roku has also rolled out a digital video player that integrates television, Web content and a video library.
What do you think? Would you welcome Google's entry into the TV business?
Facebook responds to massive phishing scheme
(CNN) Facebook has responded to a an apparently massive attempt to steal passwords from its users.
"There's another spoofed email going around that claims to be from Facebook and asks you to open an attachment to receive a new password," read a post on the Facebook Security page.
"This email is fake. Delete it from your inbox, and warn your friends."
Facebook will never send users a new password in an attachment, the post says.
The messages claim to be from Facebook, with a return address that looks legitimate. A message sent twice to a CNN.com staffer reads:
Hey [user's name],
Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed. You can find your new password in attached document.
Thanks,The Facebook Team.
McAfee security warned users in a blog post Wednesday that the link is a password stealer that becomes active when the user clicks on it. Once installed, malicious software, or malware, could potentially access all username and password information used on a computer, not just on Facebook, the post said.
Reports suggest the scheme continued to spread on Friday.
McAfee and Facebook urged users to not open the attachment and immediately delete the message, if up-to-date security software programs don't catch the message first.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Twin suicide attacks kill 39 in Lahore
M Zulqernain
Lahore, Mar 12 (PTI) Terrorists today struck Pakistan's heartland of Punjab targeting the military as a pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives seconds apart in the heavily-guarded cantonment area here, killing at least 39 people and injuring nearly 100 others.
Lahore, Mar 12 (PTI) Terrorists today struck Pakistan's heartland of Punjab targeting the military as a pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives seconds apart in the heavily-guarded cantonment area here, killing at least 39 people and injuring nearly 100 others.
In the second major attack in the city within a week, the bombers, who were on foot, hit vehicles of the Garrison Security Force patrolling the cantonment near a mosque in the busy R A Bazar area at 12.48 pm local time and the dead included 10 security personnel.
The area where the attacks occurred is full of residential and commercial complexes and also houses several security agency facilities. Within minutes of the explosions, it was swarmed with security personnel who stopped even media, including TV crew, from approaching the site of the blasts.
"Two suicide attackers struck the army vehicles which were on patrol.
China tells Google to obey laws or face consequences
K J M Varma
Beijing, Mar 12 (PTI) Hardening its stance, China today said that world's leading search engine Google must obey its rules or "face the consequences" giving no indication whether it was ready to reach a compromise in the dispute over hacking.
Beijing, Mar 12 (PTI) Hardening its stance, China today said that world's leading search engine Google must obey its rules or "face the consequences" giving no indication whether it was ready to reach a compromise in the dispute over hacking.
It said the US internet company was welcome to stay and expand its business in China but at the same time it will have to face the consequence if it insists on doing things that violates China's laws and regulations.
"It is irresponsible and unfriendly if Google insists in doing something that goes against China's laws and regulations, and it will have to bear the consequence for doing so," said Li Yizhong, Chinese Minister of Industry and Information technology.
"Whether to withdraw from China or continue to stay is up to them," Yizhong told a press conference called to give details of China's talks with the company.
Guj riots: After Modi, Nalin Bhatt summoned by SIT
Ahmedabad, Mar 12 (PTI) After Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the state's former BJP General Secretary Nalin Bhatt has also been summoned for questioning by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT in connection with the 2002 riots.
"I have been asked to appear before SIT tomorrow as I was the general secretary of BJP during the 2002 riots," Bhatt told PTI today.
A day after the Special Investigating Team(SIT) said it has summoned Modi to appear before it on March 21 for questioning in the communal violence at Gulburg society, opposition Congress and the ruling BJP also traded charges.
The Congress stepped up its demand for 60-year-old Modi's resignation saying he should do so on "moral grounds" following SIT summons.
"Modi has no right to be the chief minister once the SIT has summoned him. He should resign on moral grounds," Congress state in-charge P Sudhakar Reddy said.
Fresh communal clashes erupts out India's northern town
Fresh communal clashes erupted out in Bareilly town of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on Friday (March 12).
Reportedly the rioters set three shops and severaln trucks on fire.
The city has been put under curfew for since March 02 after clashes between two communities broke during a religious procession.
However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court has given a clean to a senior Muslim cleric and directed police to close all investigations against him. The cleric was arrested by Police for envoking communal violence on Monday.
Indian Finance Minister rules out rollback of fuel price hike
Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday (March 12) ruled out rollback of petrol and diesel price hike saying the nation's fiscal condition did not permit him to do so.
"I would have loved to respond to the request of the Opposition (for a rollback in auto fuel price hike, particularly diesel) but my financial condition does not permit me to do so," Mukherjee said while replying a debate in Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament.
"Kindly excuse me (from doing so)," he added.
India raised retail motor fuel prices by up to 7.75 percent last week, the first hike since July last, a move that will add to already high headline inflation.
The budget announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday (February 26) restored a 5 percent import tax on crude oil, which was removed in 2008 when global prices were at record highs, as part of a broader effort to raise revenue and cut fiscal deficit.
Pakistan announces 15 players squad for the Twenty 20 World Cup
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced 15 players squad for the Twenty 20 World Cup on Friday (March 12).
The squad included Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal-the three players who are serving a six-month probation for disciplinary problems.
However, the board did not announce a captain and vice-captain tournament.
The players in the squad include Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Saeed Ajmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Umer Gul, Khalid latif, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Hafiz, Hamad Azam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif and Yasir Arafat while the reserve players include Shahzeb Hassan, Mohammad Samee, Raza Hassan, Naveed Yaseen and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
"Hurt Locker" wins 6 Oscars, best film
(Reuters) Iraq war movie "The Hurt Locker," took the Oscars by storm on Sunday winning six of the major film honours, including best movie and director for Kathryn Bigelow who became the first woman to win that honour.
The drama about a squad of bomb defusing specialists and the emotional toll war takes on them also secured writer Mark Boal the Academy Award for best original screenplay, and claimed honours for film editing, sound editing and mixing.
"Hurt Locker" and Bigelow won Oscars over stiff competition from her ex-husband James Cameron, whose sci-fi adventure "Avatar" is the top-grossing movie ever with $2.5 billion at box offices and was seen as a favourite for best movie.
"This really is, there's no other way to describe it, it's the moment of a lifetime," Bigelow said.
"Avatar" earned 3 Oscars, but in technical categories -- visual effects, cinematography and art direction.
Veteran Jeff Bridges claimed best actor playing a drunken country singer in drama "Crazy Heart." The son of Hollywood star Lloyd Bridges, held his trophy high over his head, looking to the heavens and thanking his deceased parents.
"Mom and Dad, yeah," he shouted. "Thank you Mom and Dad for turning me on to such a groovy profession."
Sandra Bullock was named best actress for "The Blind Side" in a first for the actress once dubbed "America's Sweetheart" because she won so many early fans in her romantic comedies.
But for "The Blind Side," she took the part of a real-life, strong-willed mother who helps take a homeless youth off the street and makes him into a football success.
"Did I really earn this, or did I just wear you all down?" she joked on Oscar's stage.
Dark drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" earned two Oscars including supporting actress for Mo'Nique and adapted screenplay for writer Geoffrey Fletcher, who became the first African American to claim that honour.
Christoph Waltz won best supporting actor for his turn as a menacing Nazi officer in revenge fantasy "Inglourious Basterds," which follows a band of American Jews killing their enemies behind lines during World War Two.
"Up" was named best animated movie, and Argentina's "The Secret in Their Eyes" won best foreign language film.
(Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Olympics-host Vancouver ranked world's most liveable city
SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Vancouver has again topped a list of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world, giving the Canadian west coast city an extra boost as it opens the 2010 Winter Olympics.
In the annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vancouver scored 98 percent on a combination of stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure -- a score unchanged from last year.
The city has also topped the index since at least 2007.
In the 2010 ranking, there was little change in the top positions with Vienna, Melbourne and Toronto still taking the second, third and fourth positions and the top 10 dominated by Canadian and Australian cities which took seven of the 10 slots.
Johannesburg, which is hosting the soccer World Cup finals in June, came in 92nd place, the highest score in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Vancouver scores well across all categories in the survey and the forthcoming Winter Games contribute to a strong score in the cultural and sporting events category," said Jon Copestake, editor of the report, in a statement.
"Johannesburg has had well-documented crime problems, but performs better in other categories, with the highest overall liveability rating in sub-Saharan Africa."
The Economist Intelligence Unit survey ranked 140 cities on 30 factors such as healthcare, culture and environment, and education and personal safety, using research involving resident experts and its own analysts.
It said in a statement that these rankings were used by employers assigning hardship allowances as part of expatriate relocation packages.
New York was ranked 56th, two slots behind London which was at number 54, while Los Angeles ranked at number 47.
Zimbabwe's capital Harare scored the least, making it the list's worst city, with a rating of 37.5.
Following is a list of the top 10 most liveable cities as ranked by The Economist:
1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Helsinki, Finland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Perth, Australia
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand
The bottom 10 cities were:
1. Harare, Zimbabwe
2. Dhaka , Bangladesh
3. Algiers , Algeria
4. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
5. Lagos, Nigeria
6. Karachi, Pakistan
7. Douala, Cameroon
8. Kathmandu, Nepal
9. Colombo, Sri Lanka
10. Dakar, Senegal
In the annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vancouver scored 98 percent on a combination of stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure -- a score unchanged from last year.
The city has also topped the index since at least 2007.
In the 2010 ranking, there was little change in the top positions with Vienna, Melbourne and Toronto still taking the second, third and fourth positions and the top 10 dominated by Canadian and Australian cities which took seven of the 10 slots.
Johannesburg, which is hosting the soccer World Cup finals in June, came in 92nd place, the highest score in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Vancouver scores well across all categories in the survey and the forthcoming Winter Games contribute to a strong score in the cultural and sporting events category," said Jon Copestake, editor of the report, in a statement.
"Johannesburg has had well-documented crime problems, but performs better in other categories, with the highest overall liveability rating in sub-Saharan Africa."
The Economist Intelligence Unit survey ranked 140 cities on 30 factors such as healthcare, culture and environment, and education and personal safety, using research involving resident experts and its own analysts.
It said in a statement that these rankings were used by employers assigning hardship allowances as part of expatriate relocation packages.
New York was ranked 56th, two slots behind London which was at number 54, while Los Angeles ranked at number 47.
Zimbabwe's capital Harare scored the least, making it the list's worst city, with a rating of 37.5.
Following is a list of the top 10 most liveable cities as ranked by The Economist:
1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Helsinki, Finland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Perth, Australia
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand
The bottom 10 cities were:
1. Harare, Zimbabwe
2. Dhaka , Bangladesh
3. Algiers , Algeria
4. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
5. Lagos, Nigeria
6. Karachi, Pakistan
7. Douala, Cameroon
8. Kathmandu, Nepal
9. Colombo, Sri Lanka
10. Dakar, Senegal
Bollywood film sparks militant Hindu rage in India
Rina Chandran
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Theatres in Mumbai turned fortresses on Friday for release of a Bollywood film whose star is locked in a duel with a radical Hindu group, sparking worries India's financial hub is being undermined by parochial politics.
Most cinemas began showing 'My Name is Khan' by afternoon after initial reluctance for fear of attacks by the hard-line Shiv Sena party.
"This is a slap in the face of the Sena," said a woman exiting a Mumbai multiplex, giving the thumbs-up sign.
The controversy was sparked by the film's hero Shah Rukh Khan's recent criticism that no Pakistani cricketers had been picked for the Indian Premier League.
Thousands of police in riot gear were deployed to protect cinemas with plainclothesmen also inside the halls. Police detained 2,000 Shiv Sena members as a precaution, and beat back protesters outside some theatres.
Protests also spread to some other Indian cities.
Analysts and politicians have warned the Sena's tactics may hurt Mumbai's image as a cosmopolitan city and its efforts to model itself as an international financial center like Dubai or Singapore. Mumbai is also home to the Bollywood film industry.
Shiv Sena, which runs the Mumbai municipality, draws political sustenance from hard-line Hinduism and an ultra-nationalism that includes strident opposition to Pakistan.
"I came to see the movie because it's been so controversial, and because I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan," said Subhash Kandrep who was waiting for the first show at Inox in Mumbai.
"I don't see why a movie should not be shown just because some people are protesting over what Khan said."
The Sena, which upholds the rights of Mumbai's indigenous Marathi community, has in recent weeks also turned its ire on industrialist billionaire Mukesh Ambani and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for remarks the Sena perceived as being anti-Mumbai.
The Sena's stance has triggered a heated debate across the country, with politicians, film stars and businesses weighing in.
Khan, arguably Bollywood's most successful star, plays an autistic man subject to racial bias in the United States after the September 11 terror attacks.
He kept up a torrent of tweets through the night from the Berlin film festival where his movie is showing. It was ironic, he said, that a film made for peace "has led to so much angst in my own house. My city. My country. Am I political or politically incorrect?"
Trade analysts say about 1.2 billion rupees ($26 million) is at stake, with Mumbai and Maharashtra state typically accounting for more than a quarter of a Bollywood film's revenues.
The skirmish in Mumbai comes as local politics have also rattled other cities in India, including the IT hub of Hyderabad, home to Indian operations of multinationals including Microsoft and Amazon, which has been repeatedly shut down over protests for the creation of a new state carved out of Andhra Pradesh state.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Theatres in Mumbai turned fortresses on Friday for release of a Bollywood film whose star is locked in a duel with a radical Hindu group, sparking worries India's financial hub is being undermined by parochial politics.
Most cinemas began showing 'My Name is Khan' by afternoon after initial reluctance for fear of attacks by the hard-line Shiv Sena party.
"This is a slap in the face of the Sena," said a woman exiting a Mumbai multiplex, giving the thumbs-up sign.
The controversy was sparked by the film's hero Shah Rukh Khan's recent criticism that no Pakistani cricketers had been picked for the Indian Premier League.
Thousands of police in riot gear were deployed to protect cinemas with plainclothesmen also inside the halls. Police detained 2,000 Shiv Sena members as a precaution, and beat back protesters outside some theatres.
Protests also spread to some other Indian cities.
Analysts and politicians have warned the Sena's tactics may hurt Mumbai's image as a cosmopolitan city and its efforts to model itself as an international financial center like Dubai or Singapore. Mumbai is also home to the Bollywood film industry.
Shiv Sena, which runs the Mumbai municipality, draws political sustenance from hard-line Hinduism and an ultra-nationalism that includes strident opposition to Pakistan.
"I came to see the movie because it's been so controversial, and because I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan," said Subhash Kandrep who was waiting for the first show at Inox in Mumbai.
"I don't see why a movie should not be shown just because some people are protesting over what Khan said."
The Sena, which upholds the rights of Mumbai's indigenous Marathi community, has in recent weeks also turned its ire on industrialist billionaire Mukesh Ambani and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for remarks the Sena perceived as being anti-Mumbai.
The Sena's stance has triggered a heated debate across the country, with politicians, film stars and businesses weighing in.
Khan, arguably Bollywood's most successful star, plays an autistic man subject to racial bias in the United States after the September 11 terror attacks.
He kept up a torrent of tweets through the night from the Berlin film festival where his movie is showing. It was ironic, he said, that a film made for peace "has led to so much angst in my own house. My city. My country. Am I political or politically incorrect?"
Trade analysts say about 1.2 billion rupees ($26 million) is at stake, with Mumbai and Maharashtra state typically accounting for more than a quarter of a Bollywood film's revenues.
The skirmish in Mumbai comes as local politics have also rattled other cities in India, including the IT hub of Hyderabad, home to Indian operations of multinationals including Microsoft and Amazon, which has been repeatedly shut down over protests for the creation of a new state carved out of Andhra Pradesh state.
Google to build high-speed Internet network
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google Inc plans to build a super-fast Internet network for up to half a million people, a project that could pressure telecommunications companies to loosen their control of Web access in the United States.
The Internet company has locked horns with the likes of AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc over the issue of net neutrality: Google wants telephone companies to permit consumers to run any Web application they want, while carriers do not want to lose control of networks they have invested billions of dollars to build.
In building the test network, Google wants to demonstrate a carrier could easily manage complex applications that use a lot of bandwidth without sacrificing performance.
Google said on Wednesday it does not plan to build a nationwide network and its goal is only to develop a trial service at a "competitive price" to 50,000 to 500,000 people, offering Web speeds of up to 100 times faster than most consumers get today.
"In a big way, this is about Google wanting to make a case for net neutrality," said PRTM consultant Daniel Hays, adding that Google wants to "demonstrate these services can be provided profitably at satisfactory levels of performance."
In a blog describing the new network, Google imagined a doctor discussing and looking at three-dimensional medical images with a patient far away, students joining a class from various locations in 3-D, or someone downloading a high-definition movie very quickly.
Google said the network would run on fiber optic lines to homes, but declined to give more details.
FCC WELCOMES MOVE
Google asked cities and states interested in joining the experiment to apply to Google by March 26 and said it eventually would build the network in a number of U.S. locations. here th-gig-our-experimental.htm
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski immediately hailed the move, saying "big broadband creates big opportunities." The FCC is about a month away from submitting a national broadband plan to Congress.
Google's "significant trial will provide an American test bed for the next generation of innovative, high-speed Internet apps, devices and services," Genachowski said in a statement.
Google has long argued it can sell more Web ads -- the way it makes money -- by encouraging Internet use.
Analysts said they did not think Google would end up competing directly with carriers as it would cost the Internet company hundreds of billions of dollars to build a nationwide broadband network from scratch.
"If somehow they were able to widely deploy this, it would be bad for the cable and telecom folks. I'm skeptical the economics will work to allow them to deploy it widely," said Hudson Square Research analyst Todd Rethemeier.
A Verizon spokesman described the Google move as a "new paragraph" in the "exciting story" of Internet development.
AT&T declined to comment.
Google has had mixed success in previous attempts to become an Internet service provider. In 2006, it partnered with EarthLink Inc in an attempt to provide free wireless Internet access to the entire city of San Francisco. The plan fell through in 2007 over financial concerns.
At the same time, however, Google built a free wireless network across its headquarter's city of Mountain View, Calif.
Each of those attempts, however, leveraged wireless broadband access. This time, Google is dealing in hard lines.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?
Oppenheimer & Co analyst Timothy Horan said he suspected building out the trial broadband network would cost Google about $1,000 to $2,000 per subscriber if it bought unused fiber lines already underneath many cities.
"They can buy a lot of this stuff fairly inexpensively that's out there already," he said, adding that communications service providers, such as Level 3 Communications Inc, would have lines to sell to Google.
Google said it would pay for building the network itself without seeking financial partners or government subsidies and then charge consumer and business customers.
"We'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections," Google product managers Minnie Ingersoll and James Kelly wrote in the blog.
Google said it wanted the project to become an open-access network, enabling products such as Internet telephony.
"I think there are a lot of partnership opportunities and we are definitely interested in having those discussions," Ingersoll said.
The Internet company has locked horns with the likes of AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc over the issue of net neutrality: Google wants telephone companies to permit consumers to run any Web application they want, while carriers do not want to lose control of networks they have invested billions of dollars to build.
In building the test network, Google wants to demonstrate a carrier could easily manage complex applications that use a lot of bandwidth without sacrificing performance.
Google said on Wednesday it does not plan to build a nationwide network and its goal is only to develop a trial service at a "competitive price" to 50,000 to 500,000 people, offering Web speeds of up to 100 times faster than most consumers get today.
"In a big way, this is about Google wanting to make a case for net neutrality," said PRTM consultant Daniel Hays, adding that Google wants to "demonstrate these services can be provided profitably at satisfactory levels of performance."
In a blog describing the new network, Google imagined a doctor discussing and looking at three-dimensional medical images with a patient far away, students joining a class from various locations in 3-D, or someone downloading a high-definition movie very quickly.
Google said the network would run on fiber optic lines to homes, but declined to give more details.
FCC WELCOMES MOVE
Google asked cities and states interested in joining the experiment to apply to Google by March 26 and said it eventually would build the network in a number of U.S. locations. here th-gig-our-experimental.htm
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski immediately hailed the move, saying "big broadband creates big opportunities." The FCC is about a month away from submitting a national broadband plan to Congress.
Google's "significant trial will provide an American test bed for the next generation of innovative, high-speed Internet apps, devices and services," Genachowski said in a statement.
Google has long argued it can sell more Web ads -- the way it makes money -- by encouraging Internet use.
Analysts said they did not think Google would end up competing directly with carriers as it would cost the Internet company hundreds of billions of dollars to build a nationwide broadband network from scratch.
"If somehow they were able to widely deploy this, it would be bad for the cable and telecom folks. I'm skeptical the economics will work to allow them to deploy it widely," said Hudson Square Research analyst Todd Rethemeier.
A Verizon spokesman described the Google move as a "new paragraph" in the "exciting story" of Internet development.
AT&T declined to comment.
Google has had mixed success in previous attempts to become an Internet service provider. In 2006, it partnered with EarthLink Inc in an attempt to provide free wireless Internet access to the entire city of San Francisco. The plan fell through in 2007 over financial concerns.
At the same time, however, Google built a free wireless network across its headquarter's city of Mountain View, Calif.
Each of those attempts, however, leveraged wireless broadband access. This time, Google is dealing in hard lines.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?
Oppenheimer & Co analyst Timothy Horan said he suspected building out the trial broadband network would cost Google about $1,000 to $2,000 per subscriber if it bought unused fiber lines already underneath many cities.
"They can buy a lot of this stuff fairly inexpensively that's out there already," he said, adding that communications service providers, such as Level 3 Communications Inc, would have lines to sell to Google.
Google said it would pay for building the network itself without seeking financial partners or government subsidies and then charge consumer and business customers.
"We'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections," Google product managers Minnie Ingersoll and James Kelly wrote in the blog.
Google said it wanted the project to become an open-access network, enabling products such as Internet telephony.
"I think there are a lot of partnership opportunities and we are definitely interested in having those discussions," Ingersoll said.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Gisele Gives $1.5 Million to Haiti Relief Efforts
(US Magazine.com) Gisele Bundchen has written a $1.5 million check to the Red Cross to aid the relief effort in Haiti, which was rocked Tuesday by a 7.0 earthquake that is believed to have killed at least 100,000 people.
The model -- who reportedly earned $35 million last year -- was prompted to pitch in after seeing the devastation done by this week’s earthquake, according to The Boston Globe.
Who are Hollywood's most generous celebs?
Other stars who are helping:
Haiti-born Wyclef Jean: He has already raised more than $1 million through his Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.
Madonna: She has pledged $250,000. In a statement, she said told UsMagazine.com: "My prayers are with the people of Haiti. I can't imagine the terrible pain and suffering they are experiencing. Sadly the depths of the tragedy are just becoming known and the need for our support grows more urgent with every passing moment."
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: They are donating $1 million to Doctors Without Borders. Pitt's international advocacy group, Not On Our Watch - which he founded with George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and producer Jerry Weintraub - also gave $1 million.
Lance Armstrong: His LiveStrong Foundation has pledged $250,000. Money will go to Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health founded by Harvard professor Paul Farmer.
Alyssa Milano: The goodwill ambassador for UNICEF wrote a $50,000 check to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is asking U.S. corporations to match her donation.
Tyler Perry: $250,000
Ben Stiller: He's raising money for a school in Ceverine in Haiti through Save the Children. He also is asking fans for $10 donations charged to phone bills by texting "Haiti" to 90999.
See today's top celeb news photos
George Clooney: As Us reported Thursday, he is hosting a telethon Jan. 22 on MTV to raise funds.
David Blaine: The magician, who once shot a TV special in Haiti in 1999, is working with the Red Cross to raise funds for Haitian earthquake victims by performing his street magic for 72 hours non-stop, starting Friday at 9 a.m. in Times Square.
India’s Tata Communications Launches IP Exchange (IPX) to Enable Universal Service Interoperability for Mobile Network Operators
(Reuters) Tata Communications, a leading provider of the new world of communications, today announced the launch of its IP Exchange (IPX) solution, which will enable mobile service providers to seamlessly and efficiently route all communication traffic, including voice, IP and signaling solutions, via one IP pipe while supporting end-to-end QoS, security, multilateral connectivity, and cascading payments.
With commoditization of voice and messaging driving down ARPUs, service providers are under increasing pressure to control costs. Moving to an IPX platform provides one IP gateway for many services and this helps mobile operators to protect their margins on roaming and international traffic termination.
As a universal service gateway, IPX also reduces overhead costs on network maintenance and service development as well as helps manage complexity from voice routing, service testing and partnerships. In addition, the network optimization provided by IPX empowers mobile network providers to make the tough migration to the new world of IP connectivity allowing increased bandwidth flexibility, global reach and ensured quality for converged services.
Currently, the interconnection of IP is optimized for public Internet, and service providers are unable to distinguish between voice and data services or guarantee quality connectivity to their end users. Tata Communications IPX creates a flexible ecosystem that allows mobile operators to tap into the company`s global MPLS network as an IP backbone for the secure transport of any form of application and rich media via any access network with varying service quality levels.
"Tata Communications IPX service provides an efficient, cost-effective and future-proof converged IP transport solution for MNOs to help them address their key challenges of protecting margins and growing revenues," said Christian Michaud, Senior Vice President, Product and Business Development, Global Voice Solutions, Tata Communications. "As the industry moves towards universal service interoperability, IPX will help service providers to optimize profitability and long-term growth by providing one connection for many services."
Tata Communications is a key member of the IP Interworking Alliance (IPIA), which engages operators and carriers in technical specifications and commercial templates for the IPX with the ultimate goal of facilitating global interworking of IP services.
"End-to-end delivery of innovative multimedia services calls for the efficient inter-working of fixed and mobile networks and the adoption of new business models. The IPX architecture provides a comprehensive commercial and technical solution to the interconnection, management and billing of IP traffic. IPX solutions like those from Tata Communications can help service providers balance their needs to ensure high service quality and to reduce costs," said David James, Principal Analyst Wholesale Telecoms at Ovum.
About Tata Communications
Tata Communications is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.
The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.
Tata Communications` depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in operators in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited), Nepal (United Telecom Limited), and subject to approval by the Chinese government, China (China Enterprise Communications).
Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Sunday, January 10, 2010
India beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets
India booked its birth in the finals of tri-nation cricket tournament on Sunday (January 10) after crushing Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
India chased the target of 214 runs in 32.4 overs.
Indian batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli made 71 run each.
India’s left hand seamer Zaheer Khan and legspinner Amit Mishra took three wickets.
Zaheer Khan was adjudged the man of the match award.
India will take on to Sri Lanka in the finals.
India chased the target of 214 runs in 32.4 overs.
Indian batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli made 71 run each.
India’s left hand seamer Zaheer Khan and legspinner Amit Mishra took three wickets.
Zaheer Khan was adjudged the man of the match award.
India will take on to Sri Lanka in the finals.
United States has plan to deal with Iran's nuclear program, says Top US commander
Florida: The United States of America has developed contingency plans regarding Iran’s nuclear facility, Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command said on Sunday (January 10).
"It would be almost literally irresponsible if CENTCOM were not to have been thinking about the various 'what ifs' and to make plans for a whole variety of different contingencies," Gen. David Petraeus told CNN in Tampa.
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States and Western European governments but was halted after the Islamic revolution in the country.
The US said that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb in its secret-nuclear facilities. Whereas, the Islamic Republic of Iran says that its programme is for peaceful purposes.
"It would be almost literally irresponsible if CENTCOM were not to have been thinking about the various 'what ifs' and to make plans for a whole variety of different contingencies," Gen. David Petraeus told CNN in Tampa.
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States and Western European governments but was halted after the Islamic revolution in the country.
The US said that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb in its secret-nuclear facilities. Whereas, the Islamic Republic of Iran says that its programme is for peaceful purposes.
Israel has called Iran's nuclear program the major threat facing its nation.
Iran is holding out on a United Nations-backed deal on its nuclear program that includes enriching uranium. The country had until the end of 2009 to accept the deal offered by the "P5 plus one" -- permanent U.N. Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany. Instead, Iran countered, giving the West until the end of January to accept its own proposal.
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