Biz - News !

Intex becomes first Indian company to launch 'Octacore' smartphone NEW DELHI: Computer peripherals maker Intex Technologies said Monday that it had become the first local handset maker to begin selling Octacore smartphone in India which will allow users to do more with their smartphones as it offers faster processing speeds. Octacore essentially means eight processing cores built in together, which allows users to run multiple applications at the same time without the phone coming to stand still or heating up. Multi-core chipsets are made by several companies including China's MediaTek, US-based QualComm, NVidia and BroadCom. Delhi-based Intex has tied up with MediaTek and aims to bring the commercial form of the device in January 2014. Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, business head for mobile phones, told ET that the company was likely to price the 6-inch dual-SIM smartphone with a 7 mm thickness for around Rs 20,000. ET has learnt that Micromax Informatics is also planning to come out with the news of launching an octa-core device sometime next year. The company did not comment on ET's queries about the device plans. Octacore is small but fast growing segment within smartphones after Samsung launched the S4 with the Exynos 5 octa-core processor early this year. Rival handset maker Huawei, which has little presence in India, also plans to come out with smartphones on the ultra-fast processor. International media reports quoted Huawei's president Xu Xin Quan as he wrote on his Weibo account, that the next version of the Ascend P6, the P6S, will come with a new octa-core processor. With Indian handset makers entering the high processing game, prices of high-end handsets could come down substantially. However, it remains to be seen how many octa-core smartphones ultimately come out from the local device makers to drive any kind of scale

UC DESCRIPTION !

NEW UC BROWSER Descriptions UC Browser for Android provides you FAST and SMOOTH Web surfing experience. It's a totally free mobile browser. Adaptable configuration helps you adjust your way of browsing under different network connections, allowing you to reduce data costs and speed up page loading with compression. Android 4.3 is supported in the newest version. New Features: 1. AutoPager Create a seamless reading experience with the next page being automatically loaded when you reach the end of your current page. It works on the lite version of popular sites like Google, Twitter, Facebook and more. 2. Speed Mode II An upgraded Speed Mode which automatically fetches the most suitable versions of webpages depending on your network condition. 3. Increased Download Speeds Improved efficiency of network connections to double download speeds. 4. Download Photos from Facebook Now you can download your favorite photos on Facebook and save to your phone. 5. Save Page Add-on The Save Page add-on is updated, and you can download it on UC Add-on Center or Google Play. 6. Facebook Video Uploader Try this new Add-on that allows convenient uploading of videos to Facebook. 7. General Improvements Optimization of typing, and Hindi support. • Best Mobile Browser Awards 2011 – About.com • Best Android Browser Awards 2012 -- About.com • Top Downloaded Android Browser on Google Play in India • The choice of 400 million users worldwide, UC Browser is definitely the most popular Web browser in the world. Reviews from users:"Best browser I've used in a while. I've tried dolphin, chrome, Firefox, boat browser, opera mini and many others and I could never find one that satisfied like dolphin used before its incredible performance slowdown. But now this browser is even better than dolphin was, currently loving it on HTC Rezound" "Excellent! Finally a browser that actually works in my Samsung phone! I've downloaded so many other browsers that had so many different issues and they all don't measure up dolphin, opera, chrome, Firefox, to name a few. This I'd the complete package and it's so fast, look you don't have to take my word for it just download and see for yourself, it's extremely effective absolutely love it.... " You may be using Chrome or Firefox as your PC browser. However, for your Android devices, UC Browser is the best choice. Download for free and try the best Android browser now.

Biz - UC BROWSER !

UC Browser 9.4 for Android Now Available For Free Download with Multiple Features UCWeb, a Chinese browser company, has launched its latest 9.4 version of the UC Browser for Android devices which brings a host of improvements and enhances users' browsing experience. Going by the details, among all, the UC Browser now comes with an Auto Pager feature, an upgraded Speed Mode, and increased download speeds. The Auto Pager feature will enable the browser to automatically load the next page in case the content is divided into multiple pages. Thus when you reach the end of your current page, Auto Pager will automatically load the next one, without having the need to press "Next Page". The Speed Mode II feature detects the type of Internet connection the users are using, the device they are using, the webpage, and fetches the most suitable version of the webpage for users like Desktop version, Mobile version, or a Lite version. UC Web claims that the new version of the browser downloads webpage content faster with the average download speed under 3G network double than that of the previous iteration of the browser. In addition to the speed improvements, the version 9.4 of the UC Browser allows users to easily save pictures from Facebook by long pressing on them and storing them via a pop-up menu. Additionally, the UC Browser 9.4 also offers a Facebook Video Uploader, for recording and uploading videos to Facebook in a simple one single step process. Further, it also comes with Android 4.4 support, typing optimisation, and additional Hindi support. Recently, the company also released it's browser app for the Windows Phone devices as well. The app comes with features like background download, enhanced Download Management, UDisk branded cloud storage service, optimized Preloading, improved UI, and more.

Biz - Starbucks !

Starbucks taking Indian Coffee to its outlets across globe Opening its first store in south India here, American coffee giant Starbucks today said it is taking the Indian grown coffee to its 19,000 stores across theworld. "In India, the coffee (that) farmers grow...we not only sell the coffee in our stores here in India, but also take that coffee around the world -- around 19,000 stores that we have across different countries we are operating," Starbucks Group president - China and Asia Pacific (Channel Development and Emerging Brands) John Culver told reporters here. "What we discovered over the last year is, there is very top quality Arabica coffee that is grown here in India. We tested that coffee, we roasted that and we now serve it in our stores as our Indian espresso." He said there is a bigger opportunity to take Indian coffee across the globe "in our stores in other countries. So we are working for doing that -- we are very optimistic about that opportunity and we are very excited about it". Stating that coffee sold in Starbucks outlets in the country will also be made of Indian espresso, Avani Davda, CEO, Tata Starbucks Ltd, said the company has launched a product- "India Estates Blend" sourced from South India. Tata Starbucks, the 50/50 joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages Ltd, opened its 30th store in the market- at Koramangala in Bangalore, adding Bangalore to its list of cities, which includes Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Pune. The company will open two more stores by the end of the year at Phoenix Market City and Orion Mall at Brigade Gateway in Bangalore.

Newz - HTC ONE MAX !

Launch: HTC One Max with fingerprint scanner priced at Rs 56,490 Hot on the heels of Apple iPhone 5S, Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has launched a phone with a fingerprint scanner. HTC One Max's fingerprint scanner is placed at the back, just under the camera. Unlike the one on iPhone 5S, this fingerprint scanner can be used for more than just unlocking the phone. HTC says users can assign different applications to various fingers. For instance, users can configure the scanner to open the camera app when they use the left index finger and a browser with the right thumb. HTC One Max is the largest and most expensive of the One series of phones, with a price tag of Rs 56,490. This phone has a 5.9-inch screen and weighs 217 grams. This is available in two storage sizes, 16 GB and 32 GB. HTC has not announced the price of the 32 GB variant yet. This phone runs Android 4.3 and features improvements to HTC's customised Sense user interface. Users can now pin RSS feeds to BlinkFeed, which displays news and social network feeds on the homescreen. The processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.7 GHz quad-core and the phone has 2 GB RAM. HTC claims that the phone's 3,300 mAh battery gives up to 25 hours of talk time. HTC also launched a couple of accessories – HTC Fetch and HTC Mini+. The Fetch can be paired to your HTC smartphone through Bluetooth and is programmed to alert you whenever you go out of range. This means that if you forget your phone in office or at home, an alert tone will remind you to fetch the phone. The Fetch is priced at Rs 2,399. The Mini+, when paired with your HTC phone via Bluetooth, can be used to send text messages and make calls. HTC says this is useful for long calls as users may not always want to hold big phones for hours while talking. Another use of Mini+, HTC claims, is when users want to keep watching a video or playing music on the phone while talking.

Biz - Apple-Samsung Rivalry !

US jury orders Samsung to pay Apple $290 million SAN JOSE, California: A Silicon Valley jury on Thursday ordered Samsung Electronics to pay Apple $290 million for copying vital iPhone and iPad features. The verdict covers 13 older Samsung devices that a previous jury found were among 26 Samsung products that infringed Apple patents. The previous jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion. But US District Judge Lucy Koh ordered the new trial and tossed out $450 million of the damages after concluding the previous jury miscalculated the amount Samsung owed. Samsung appealed that verdict and is expected to appeal the latest verdict. A third trial is scheduled for March to consider Apple's claims that Samsung's newest devices on the market also copied Apple's technology. Apple and Samsung are the world's two biggest smartphone makers. The bitter rivals have been waging a global battle for supremacy of the $300 billion worldwide market. Apple has argued in courts, government tribunals and regulatory agencies around the world that Samsung's Android-based phones copy vital iPhone features. Samsung is fighting back with its own complaints that some key Apple patents are invalid and Apple has copied Samsung's technology. Samsung lawyer William Price argued Apple is misconstruing the breadth of its patents to include such things as the basic rectangle shape of most smartphones today. "Apple doesn't own beautiful and sexy," Price told the San Jose jury. Apple attorney William Lee told the jury that Samsung used Apple's technology to lift it from an also-ran in the smartphone market three years ago to the biggest seller of them in the world today. "Apple can never get back to where it should have been in 2010," Lee told the jury Tuesday at the conclusion of the weeklong trial. The fight in San Jose is particularly contentious. The courtroom is a 15-minute drive from Apple's Cupertino headquarters, and several prospective jurors were dismissed because of their ties to the company. The South Korean-based Samsung has twice sought to stop the trial, accusing Apple on Tuesday of unfairly trying to inflame patriotic passions by urging jurors to help protect American companies from overseas competitors. The judge denied Samsung's request for a mistrial, but did reread to reread an instruction ordering them to put aside their dislikes and biases in deciding the case. On Wednesday, Samsung again demanded a halt to the trial after the US Patent and Trademark Office told Apple it was planning to invalidate a patent protecting the "pinch- to-zoom" feature at issue in the jury's deliberation. The judge ordered more briefing while declining to stop the trial.

Biz - HTC !

HTC to unveil HTC One Max priced at Rs 56,500 in India HTC One Max is powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor with 2GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system supported by Sense 5.5 UI. It comes in two internal storage variants, 16GB and 32GB, which can be expanded to up to 64GB using a microSD card. The dimensions of the phone are 164.5x82.5x10.29mm and it weighs around 217 grams. The handset packs in HTC's UltraPixel rear camera along with a 2.1- megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of connectivity, features on the HTC One Max offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, DLNA and HTC Connect. The device fosters a 3300mAh battery which delivers up to 25 hours talk time and 585 hours standby time while using 3G networks. Key Specifications: • 5.9 inch full-HD LCD display • 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor • 2GB of RAM • Android 4.3 Jelly Bean • Sense 5.5 UI • UltraPixel rear camera • 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera

WhatsApp now available on Nokia Asha platform WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging service, is now officially available on the Nokia Asha platform. From Thursday, all Nokia Asha 501 users can download the application through a software update. The new software also comes with a smarter camera experience through ‘swipe’ and one‐touch social sharing. “Asha 501 will be the first device on the Asha Platform to support WhatsApp. The updated software will offer Asha consumers with a more social experience, building on the previous Fastlane experience. The new interface comes with a single swipe camera, single touch share to Facebook and ability to track Facebook comments and likes right from your Fastlane screen,” Viral Oza, Director- Marketing, Nokia India, said. The updated software with WhatsApp will come installed in all new Nokia Asha 501 handsets, set to hit the stores on December 5. Existing users can update the software through an over‐the‐air update. WhatsApp currently has over 350 million monthly active users.

Biz - Google !

Google sets itself a tough goal: Get 50 million women online! "Internet ke liye koi madat chahiye toh hum hai na..." That is a pretty strange welcoming statement for any helpline. But then this is not any helpline. This is the first helpline set up to help women go online. One that starts at the very basics, asking if you know how to switch on a computer. For the first time anywhere in the world, Google has started an initiative to get more women online. There is a strong reason for starting the project from India. Of the 200 million internet users in what is poised to become the second largest Internet market in the world, just about 30 per cent are woman. The Help Women Go Online initiative being pushed by Google hopes to correct this gender imbalance by getting 50 million women online in the next 12 months. Yonca Brunini, who leads Tech for Good for Google, accepts that it is a tough challenge given the culture. "They don't see a reason to go online and they don't have access. But it is an audacious , yet worthy goal," she said at the launch event in India. There will have to be content that is local gives women a reason to go online, and there will have to be more affordable devices like smartphone that let them do so, she added. "We have no commercial goal in doing this. This is not a problem specific to India, but the scale of it here is large," she said, adding that the project will for sure improve the economic status of those who are impacted. But Debjani Ghosh, managing director of Intel South Asia, puts things in perspective by quoting a recent Ernst Young study that puts women as the second largest market after emerging countries. Google has already tested the project in Rajasthan's Bhilwara town where it exposed 1,00,000 women to the Internet for the first time. "The project ran for three months and covered the town as well as 50 villages around it," explains Sandeep Menon, Google's country marketing manager. It was a learning experience for Google too. "When I explained to them the concept of e- commerce, they wanted to know if they could order fodder sitting at home using their newly found tool," adds Neha, a young local trainer for the pilot project. Menon says the problem is three-pronged. "There is a lack of knowledge, awareness and access. That is what we are trying to tackle at different levels," he says. Google has roped in Intel, Hindustan Unilever and Axis Bank as partners and all are chipping in with different types of help to achieve the 50 million goal. While mobile will be the primary access point for most first time female users, Google is also exploring the feasibility of using its own devices to give access. "Women don't want to go to cyber cafes as they are not considered to be safe," explains Menon. "Now there is no compelling reason for them to go online," explains Rajan Anandan, Vice President & Managing Director, Google India. That could come in the form of local content relevant to them, as well as success stories of people who have made it big thanks to the Internet. For first time users, Google has already set up a website, hwgo.com, to help with the basics. National Innovation Council chairman Sam Pitroda says this inclusion of women in the digital revolution is imperative. "They have a lot of answers to our problems. We need them to make the online conversations more relevant."

Biz - Yum!

Yum Brands to combine KFC, Pizza Hut but keep them separate in India Yum Brands Inc said it would combine the US and international divisions of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and keep its China and India units separate as part of a reorganization. The reorganization will be effective from January 1 and beginning fiscal year 2014, the company will report results for KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and for its China and India divisions. "We believe that having 100 per cent focused brand teams will enable us to more aggressively accelerate growth," Chief Executive David Novak said. The China and India units will remain separate given their "strategic importance and enormous growth potential", the company said. Yum is the biggest U.S. restaurant operator in China and that market traditionally accounts for more than half of the company's operating profit. But sales at restaurants in China have taken a beating since chemical residues were found in chicken from some of its poultry suppliers in China late last year. The company has also been investing heavily in India.

Biz - NewZ !

India expected to have a good third quarter: World Bank chief WASHINGTON: World Bank president Jim Young Kim has said India was expected to have a good third quarter, which is in line with finance minister P Chidambaram's observations that the country's economy is now picking up. "If you look at some of the biggest countries, it looks like India is going to have a good third quarter," Kim said at Wall Street Journal CEO Forum meeting. He was responding to questions on slowed growth in developing countries. "China came in at an annualised rate of 9.3 per cent in the third quarter. And you know, there are all kinds of downside risks the biggest one being what's going to happen here in this country when February rolls around." "But we think that, over the next year, growth in the emerging markets is going to be over 5 per cent, and we think that's going to continue," the World Bank president said. Last week, Chidambaram had exuded confidence that the economy will pick up in the second half and record a growth of 5-5.5 per cent in 2013-14. "I am confident that the greenshoots that are visible here and there will multiply and that the economy will revive. There will be an upturn in the second half of this year," Chidambaram said in an address to bankers at Bancon 2013 in Mumbai. "It's quite possible that the estimates made by the Reserve Bank or the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council or the government about growth being between 5 and 5.5 per cent will be realised," Chidambaram said. However, the World Bank president acknowledged that the developing countries are unlikely to go back to the 10 plus growth rate which was experienced before the economic recession in the US. "You're not going to see, I don't think, the 10-plus per cent growth rate that you saw prior to 2008, but you know, a lot of the fundamentals in these countries are in much, much better shape than we even knew. In 2008, we thought that Africa was going to go off the deep end with the financial crisis, but then kept a 5-plus per cent growth rate all the way through," he said.

Biz - Tata Group!

Tata Consultancy Services opens SEZ in Gandhinagar AHMEDABAD: In a move that could spur employment in Gujarat's IT industry, Tata Consultancy Services launched its 10,000-seat software development facility in Gandhinagar on Saturday. Called 'Garima Park', the approved special economic zone has been developed over 25.5 acres with a built-up area of 1.6 million square feet. The facility was inaugurated by chief minister Narendra Modi along with Cyrus P Mistry, chairman, Tata Group and N Chandrasekaran, chief executive officer and managing director. "In Gujarat, any development in IT brings the same joy that a family feels when a child is born after several years of marriage. Gujarat is always perceived as a state that missed the IT bus when there was development elsewhere in this sector. But IT applications in the state, especially egovernance, is changing that perception," Modi said. On Tata group's association with the state, Mistry said that in the last decade, TCS has built sustainable relationships in the state and the park will put Gandhinagar on the global map. "TCS has played a pioneering role in making Gujarat an attractive IT destination for global companies and also helped drive technology- led growth by investing in talented youth of the state and building long-term partnerships with state institutions," Chandrasekaran said.

Biz - NewZ !

Saudis emerge as top Tweeters, India at 21st position In an unexpected finding, Saudis have emerged as the world’s largest active Twitter users, while Indians ranked among the lowest tweeters on the microblogging site, according to new research. According to PeerReach, one-third or 32 per cent of the Saudi’s online population are active monthly Twitter users. However, countries such as India, Nigeria and Germany seem to have very little to tweet with only one per cent active Twitter users in each nation. The study considers active Twitter users to be those who tweet, rather than Twitter’s metric of those who log in to the service, ‘Mashable’ reported. Interestingly, US, the home of the microblogging platform, ranks eighth on the list. The top five countries are non English speaking nations, with Saudi Arabia having over 32 per cent active twitter users, PeerReach said on its website. Saudi and Indonesia are two countries known for the fact that most internet users don’t have a PC, but access the internet through mobile. “Our graph with Twitter penetration numbers clearly shows a number of green fields for Twitter. In big countries like Nigeria, Germany and India Twitter usage is still low,” the study said. China is not listed because Twitter is banned from China and therefore the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo has no competition. “Twitter users are young, on average 24 years. The average male is 26 years old, the average female 22 years old. Teenagers dominate Twitter. Only 20 per cent of the tweeps are older than 30,” according to the study. The top ten countries with highest active monthly users of Twitter are: 1 Saudi Arabia, 2 Indonesia, 3 Spain, 4 Venezuela, 5 Argentina, 6 UK, 7 Netherlands, 8 US, 9 Japan and 10 Colombia.

Biz - TechNewZ!

Now, sunglasses to power your smartphone What can you do with your sunglasses when the Sun goes down? You can use them to charge your smartphone! An Indian designer based in the US has turned a pair of sunglasses into a smartphone charging device by adding solar panels to them. Sayalee Kaluskar's The Ray-Ban Shama Shades are part of a project at Miami Ad School - San Francisco, CNET reported. The shades have a small solar panel on each arm, and that's apparently enough to charge a smartphone when the Sun goes down. According to PSFK.com, Kaluskar placed small solar panels on each side of the frame, allowing the sunglasses to harness solar energy during the day. At night, the frames can be detached and used to charge a smartphone, the report said. Kaluskar worked with Ramiro Ramirez on the project as part of their student work. Experts say people are keen on tapping solar energy on the go, provided they can harness enough of it to be useful.

Biz- Newz America !

Obama Thanks lakshmi Mittal For Investing In America The steel you make in Cleveland is some of the strongest you’ll find anywhere in the world, says the U.S. President U.S. President Barack Obama has thanked London-based Indian steel baron Lakshmi Mittal for investing in recession-hit America and creating jobs, as he visited a key ArcelorMittal unit, which is the largest supplier of steel to the auto sector in this country. “I want to thank your CEO, Lakshmi Mittal, for investing in America and the Cleveland area,” Mr. Obama said during his visit to the ArcelorMittal Cleveland Steel Factory, Ohio, on Thursday. This year alone, the company had invested $70 million, resulting in creation of 150 new jobs, Mr. Mittal said. “It’s a great honour for all of us at ArcelorMittal Cleveland to welcome President Obama here. We’ve been making steel in Cleveland for one hundred years,” he said in his welcome address. “The link between Cleveland’s success and our investment in advanced high strength steel has been important to our success,” Mr. Mittal said. He said, in the coming years, “We will help our automotive customers meet the demanding fuel-efficiency standards that will be required in the run up to 2025.” In a novel gesture, Mr. Mittal handed over the mike to his employee Tom Scott, who has worked for ArcelorMittal Cleveland for 40 years as a crane operator, to introduce the President. In his remarks, Mr. Obama praised ArcelorMittal for turning around the factory, which was almost shutdown during the economic recession at the beginning of his career.

Biz NewZ - IDBI

IDBI Bank Will Raise Up to Rs.1200 Cr Through QIP State-run IDBI Bank on Saturday said it will raise up to Rs. 1,200 crore through institutional placement of shares. The bank needs an additional Rs. 3,000 this fiscal, of which Rs. 1,800 crore will come from the government and the rest will have to be raised via qualified institutional placement (QIP) route, IDBI Bank Chairman and Managing Director M.S. Raghavan told reporters here. Speaking on sidelines of the annual banking conference (Bancon), he said, “Rs. 3,000 crore is the amount we foresee, of which Rs. 1,800 crore has been allotted by the government. So, Rs. 1,200 crore is the rough estimate which will come through QIP.” The lender had been allotted Rs. 1,800 crore in support from the largest shareholder, the government, as part of the Centre’s Rs. 14,000-crore capital infusion programme for banks during this fiscal. Asked if IDBI Bank would also look at tier-II capital raising, Mr. Raghavan said it was very comfortable in that front and will not be doing any debt raising for the next two years. Mr. Raghavan, who took over as CMD recently, said his main objective is to achieve the priority sector lending (PSL) target so that funds yield better margins for the lender. IDBI started out as a dedicated financial institution for corporate finance and turned into a full-fledged lender around a decade back.

‘Mobile presents huge scope for advertisers’ Over 80 per cent of domestic smartphone users click on mobile advertisements intentionally, while 30 per cent of them use the devices to make pre-purchase decisions, presenting a huge opportunity for brands to connect with consumers, according to a survey. The survey, Getting Mobile Right, by Yahoo and global media and marketing services firm Mindshare, released on Friday offers insights that can help brands develop a more informed mobile strategy to effectively meet their marketing goals. “Given the mobile growth in India, the potential for brands to engage with their consumers via smart devices is tremendous,” Yahoo! Head Insights (India and Southeast Asia) David Jeffs said here. The survey states that smartphone and tablet users in India feel ideal mobile u should be informative, creatively eye-catching and enhance their social standing. “Sixty seven per cent of the respondents desire ads that allow for creative expression, while 61 per cent prefer advertisements that enhances their social standing,” the survey says. Besides, 60 per cent of the respondents said theyu would prefer ads that could be shared with their friends, family and the like, whereas, 58 per cent would go for ads that have something interesting to talk about. The survey also reveals that smartphones and tablets users are avid consumers of news, especially political news. The survey was conducted in July-August, covered 504 smartphone and 101 tablet users in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. “Smart devices have transformed consumer behaviour and how they interact with their brands. India is poised to grow its smart device penetration at a dramatic pace, which means marketers have to prepare their brands for this opportunity,” Mindshare Leader Business Planning Asia Pacific Deepika Nikhilender said.

Biz- Report!

World leaders need to focus on economic challenges in 2014: WEF New Delhi: Widening income disparities, persistent unemployment, diminishing confidence in economic policies and a lack of values in leadership are some of the top 10 trends that world leaders will need to focus attention on in 2014, the World Economic Forum’s Outlook on the Global Agenda 2014 report released Friday said. “Tensions in the Middle East and North Africa and inaction on climate change (are) also rated as top concerns,” according to a press release on the outlook, which is based on a survey of more than 1,500 global experts. These economic trends are accompanied by challenges such as an intensification of cyber threats, Asia’s expanding middle class, the growth of megacities and the rapid spread of misinformation online “that demonstrate the complexity and interrelatedness of the challenges for leaders in the year ahead”, the release said. “As well as indicating the emerging trends for the year ahead, the survey also attempts to map the connections between them, with the aim of helping leaders and policy-makers formulate effective responses,” it said. “The year 2014 is absolutely not the year for complacency,” Martina Gmür, senior director, head of the network of Global Agenda Councils, World Economic Forum, was quoted as saying by the release emailed from Geneva. “The global economy may be recovering from the global economic downturn but this survey shows there is an incredible amount of work to be done to turn the world to a sustainable footing, economically, politically and environmentally.” Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman, World Economic Forum, said the “complexity of the trends that will shape the global agenda in 2014 and the nature of their interaction clearly demonstrate the need for cooperation on a global level... Such cooperation must be pursued as a matter of urgency if we are to mitigate the harshest effects of these trends and channel their positive momentum.” According to the report, widening income disparity was among the top three concerns across regions—North America, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Sub Saharan Africa. Unemployment was a major concern in Europe, Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa and Latin America. Rising social tensions was a top concern in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Europe, North America and Sub Saharan Africa, the report said. Pro-democracy protests in North Africa and the Middle East beginning late 2010— also known as the Arab Spring—swept across the region and toppled dictatorial governments in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. “In light of the growing political instability since, many have started to question these assumptions, and both the regional outlook and individual national trajectories have become more uncertain. There is now a growing consensus that the region is facing a time of heightened uncertainty, at the root of which is societal polarisation.” The Survey on the Global Agenda supports this viewpoint, revealing that experts all over the world consider rising social tensions in the Middle East and North Africa to be the biggest challenge facing the world in 2014, the report says. The effects of growing income inequality are also being seen within major nations, from large emerging markets like China and India to developed nations in the West, according to the survey. “Increasing inequality is the number one challenge facing North America. The incredible wealth created over the last decade in the US has gone to a smaller and smaller portion of the population, and this disparity stems from many of the same roots as in developing nations,” the report says. “First among them is a lack of access to high quality basic primary and secondary education for all segments of our society. Additionally, it has become prohibitively expensive for the average middle-income family to send their child to college in the US; higher education, once seen as the great equaliser and engine for economic mobility, is becoming unaffordable for far too many,” it says. On the issue of lack of faith in leadership, the survey finds that it is young people who “tend to have the strongest feelings on this issue; respondents under 40 told the Survey that they’re not at all satisfied with the attention governments give to a lack of values in leadership. And they have every reason to be critical. They look around them, they see where the nation is heading and they don’t want to go there. And yet they find they have no way of changing that direction because they’re considered too young and inexperienced to be important.” In the case of diminishing confidence in economic policies, the survey finds that “younger people tend to be especially critical of today’s economic policies– the Survey found that respondents under 50 think this issue is more significant than respondents over 50 and it’s the 18-29-year-olds who ascribe it the greatest significance. It makes sense that the boomers out there might not be quite so concerned personally—they stand to benefit from some very favourable government-supplied pensions and they’ve certainly done better than previous generations in terms of public healthcare and other welfare measures.”

Biz- Corporate NewZ!

Ratan Tata is Sachin Tendulkar of corporate India, says P Chidambaram Honouring Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata for his contributions to industry and society,Finance Minister P Chidambaram said th industrialist is Sachin Tendulkar of corporate India. With a large gathering of corporate leaders in attendance at the function in Mumbai even as the master blaster plays his last test match at the nearby Wankhede Stadium, the finance minister said: "Ratan (Tata) is as big a draw as Sachin." Stating that Tata was the most suitable candidate for the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President's award, Chidambaram said it's a no- brainer that the jury chose the renowned industrialist as such an award can only be given to Tata. "I admire Ratan for his frugality...I admire him for his few words, for creating millions of jobs in the country and thousands abroad...I admire Ratan for drawing a sand line between corporate management and control. Industrial houses should emulate what Ratan has established in his Group." Among those honouring the legendary entrepreneur were ONGC chief Sudhir Vasudeva, Kris Gopalakrishnan of Infosys, ITC's Y V Deveshwar, Azim Premji of Wipro, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej and S Ramadorai of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Appreciating Tata's contribution to the industry and the society, Chidambaram said: "Men like Ratan don't retire. They just discover new things to do.... I admire Ratan for his passion to make a small car and his passion to make a new airline." About the award, Godrej, the previous president of CII, said: "The award has been instituted to be given to an eminent industry representative for his overall contribution to the industry and society and also for his global repute. As such, the award represents the highest recognition that industry can accord to its members. I am advised by the jury that our first award did not require much brainstorming and that the decision on selecting Tata was unanimous." Godrej further said that Tata has been awarded for redefining the business model "from individualisation to institutionalisation, from profit to community transformation and sustainability, for setting and converging the highest standards of business probity and ethics and the highest standards of personal morality and character and for innovating constantly." Tata said he was humbled by the honour and recalled how late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had appreciated the role of the CII in transforming the country. Recalling his statement about not wanting to be taken out of Bombay House, the Tata Group headquarters, in a coffin as there is life beyond the boardroom - the reason for his decision to retire at 75 - Tata said he is happy he could meet his commitment to call it a day when he was in good health. Even after pleas by shareholders to reverse his decision, Tata stood his ground and retired as Chairman of the salt-to-software group on December 28, 2012. Later, talking to the media, Tata said he is confident that the economy and the country will continue to march on the path of progress.

Biz - Tipz Pepsico Women !

Stay calm during turbulent times: Indra Nooyi Turbulence is the beginning of a fruitful process of transformation, PepsiCo Chairperson and CEO Indra Nooyi said here on Friday. Speaking on ‘Managing uncertainty: leadership in turbulent times’ at the CII National Council here,Ms. Nooyi narrated the leadership and foresight with which PepsiCo handled the turbulent times during the recent global slowdown and financial crisis. Ms. Nooyi spoke about five lessons that PepsiCo learnt while dealing with the crisis. “First, accept that turbulence is here to stay. Most successful companies are those that stay calm and think down to earth rather than showing aggressiveness to shorten the crisis period,” she said. “Don’t take an eye on the short term but think long,” is the second lesson. She further said that in turbulent times, leaders need to handle the crisis with courage and conviction, while the fourth lesson learnt through the turbulent phases is “one should not shy away from creating an environment of adaptability”. Last but not the least, “You cannot deliver value unless you anchor the company’s values. Values make an unsinkable ship,’’ said Ms. Nooyi.

Can't believe life between 22 yards has come to an end: Sachin Tendulkar MUMBAI: A teary-eyed Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday brought the curtains down on his phenomenal career by giving a heart- warming speech to thank his family, coaches, teammates, friends and fans, saying it was hard to believe that his life between "22 yards in the last 24 years" has come to end. Trying hard to control his emotions, Tendulkar had the Wankhede crowd spell- bound with a thanks-giving speech every word of which drew applause. "Friends please settle down, I'll get more emotional! It's hard to believe my wonderful journey is coming to an end," Tendulkar said immediately after his 200th and final Test which India won by an innings and 126 runs. Handed the microphone at the end of the presentation ceremony, the 40-year-old struggled to keep his composure as he took out a list of people to thank at the end of a remarkable journey. "I have got a list of people to thank because sometimes I forget," he joked. "The first is my father (Ramesh Tendulkar), who passed away in 1999. Without his guidance I wouldn't be standing in front of you. He said 'chase your dreams, don't give up, the path will be difficult.' I miss him today," said Tendulkar, who always looked heavenwards after every big knock in memory of his father. Next in the list was his mother Rajni, who came to watch him for the first time in his farewell match and the other immediate family members. "I don't know how she managed a naughty child like me. She just prayed and prayed from the day I started playing the game. For four years I stayed with my uncle and aunt when in school, they treated me like their own son," he said. "My eldest brother Nitin doesn't like to talk much but he said, 'whatever you do, I know you will give 100 per cent'. My first cricket bat was presented to me by my sister Savita. It was a Kashmir willow. She still continues to fast while I bat," he said. "Ajit my brother, we have lived this dream together. He sacrificed his career for me, he took me to (Ramakant) Achrekar sir first. Even last night he called me to discuss my dismissal. Even when I'm not playing we will still be discussing technique. If that hadn't happened, I would have been a lesser cricketer," he added. Tendulkar then thanked wife Anjali for being the best partner that life could have given him. "The most beautiful thing happened to me when I met Anjali in 1990. I know that being a doctor there was a big career in front of her. When we had a family, she decided that I should continue playing and she took care of the children. Thanks for bearing with me for all the nonsense I've said. You are the best partnership that I had in my life," Tendulkar said as an emotionally- overwhelmed Anjali cried in the presentation area. Tendulkar's two kids, son Arjun (14) and daughter Sara (16), were also present at the ceremony and Tendulkar promised them a lion's share of his time now as reward for being patient when he missed their special days for cricket. "The two precious diamonds of my life Sara and Arjun. I've missed out on several birthdays, holidays, annual days. I know for 14-16 years I've not spent enough time with you. But I promise you that the next 16 and the many more after that are yours," he said. Tendulkar also thanked his in-laws for, most importantly for letting him marry Anjali! He also did not forget to thank his friends but didn't name anyone in particular. "My in-laws - I've discussed several things with them. The most important thing they did was to allow me to marry Anjali. So, thank you for that," he said, lightening the heavy atmosphere surrounding his farewell. "In the last 24 years my friends have made terrific contributions. They have been with me while I was stressed. They have been with me even at 3am when I was injured. Thanks for being there for me," he said. Not to forget his first coach Ramakant Achrekar, who came down to the stadium for the first time to watch him in action, and the BCCI for supporting him. "My career started when I was 11. I was extremely delighted to see Achrekar sir in the stands. I used to ride on his scooter and play two matches a day. Sir took me along to make sure I played. On a lighter note, Sir never said 'well played' because he didn't want me to be complacent. You can push your luck now, Sir, since I'm not playing cricket anymore," he joked. "The BCCI was fantastic from my debut. Thanks to the selectors. You were right with me making sure my treatment was taken care of," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar also thanked his fellow cricketers and the support staff, especially the doctors and trainers. "Thanks to all the senior cricketers who have played with me. We see on the screen Rahul (Dravid), VVS (Laxman), Sourav (Ganguly), Anil (Kumble) who is not here. All the coaches," he said. "I know when MS (Dhoni) presented the 200th Test cap, I had a message to the team - I said 'we are all so proud to be representing the nation. I hope to continue to serve the nation with dignity. I have full faith that you will serve the country in the right spirit'. "I will be failing in my duty if I didn't thank the doctors who have kept me fit. Given the injuries I have suffered. They have treated me in odd hours," he said. "My dear friend the late Mark Mascarenhas. I miss him. My current management team WSG, for continuing what Mark has done. Someone who has worked closely with me for 14 years is my friend Vinay Nayudu," he added. "The media has backed me a lot, since my school days. Even today. Thank you. Thanks to the photographers for capturing those moments." In the end, Tendulkar thanked the millions of adoring fans by saying that the chants of 'Sachin, Sachin' that resonated in the stadiums would remain with him till the last moment of his life. "I know my speech has become long. I want to thank people who have flown in from different parts of the world here. I want to thank my fans from the bottom of my heart. 'Sachin, Sachin' will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing," he said, drawing a deafening applause from the crowd.