Cricket can now become an Olympics sport

Vancouver, Feb 12 (IANS) The inclusion of Cricket in Olympics could now become a reality after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted official recognition to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The IOC, at its meeting here Thursday, decided to recognise the federations of cricket, sport climbing and power boating.

'They are recognised federations by us, which now means that they can take part in IOC events,' IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.

Adams added that it could be seen as a first step towards becoming an Olympic sports.

The three sports can now bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Cricket was given the provisional status of 'recognition' as an Olympic sport in 2007, for a term of two years, as a sports not in the Olympic programme but which conform to criteria such as universality.

Cricket's Twenty20 format is set to feature at this year's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, and has been in the Commonwealth Games as recently as 1998.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has welcomed the move and termed it as the first step towards cricket's inclusion in the Olympics.

Think before you download

Are you downloading your favourite game or a particular application that allows you to share pictures, videos and information? These days, we have various gaming applications and individual developers coming out with unique and interesting downloadable applications. But, you need to make sure you are not inviting virus to disrupt your mobile handset. You should know that Internet/ mobile applications, if certified, can be trusted; if not, they can hamper your mobile data.

Worms, trojans, viruses and hackers - they not just threaten for your home PC or laptop anymore. As per Trend Micro, an Internet security firm, cyber crooks are on their way into your pocket. The popularity of smartphones like the Blackberry, iPhone and the emerging Droid is on a boom and that's making them a lucrative target for cyber crooks to cause mischief.

The possibility of someone hacking cellphone became public knowledge when Paris Hilton's mobile was hacked. Unfortunately for her, numbers of all her celebrity friends were also placed on the Internet - resulting in a barrage of calls to each of them. This was one of the highlighted cases of phone hacking through extracting personal information from the mobile handset.

The ingenuity of cyber criminals to come up with new social engineering angles seems endless. Mobile worms and viruses are similar to those that infect PCs. An unsuspecting user can be tricked into installing a harmless-looking file that infects a device and seeks additional mobile phones to target, often disrupting the phone's operations.

What can a mobile hacker do? There are quite a number of things that can be done by the mobile hacker. Depending on intent, their main targets are:

Steal your number: Your phone number can be accessed and obtained by hacking. This allows them to make calls and have it charged on your account.

Extract your information: Mobile hacking allows a hacker to contact your cellphone, without your knowledge, and to download your addresses and other information you might have on your phone. Many hackers are not content to just getting your information. Some will even change all your phone numbers! Be sure that you keep a backup of your information somewhere. All you have to do is to ensure that the handset is malware-protected. Here are some quick and easy points a user should keep in mind when downloading applications on mobile phones.

First, identify the source from where you are downloading the application. A general community site that does not have any face is not contactable. For example, download.com is the worst place to get the software from. You can download applications like our P2P software on your mobile.

Check the software for security certificates. Try not to use any unsigned application. These are third-party signatures from Verisign, Symbian and Sun. Absence of any trusted signature can make the application very dangerous. The only warning that you will get is when you install and load the application. So, go for trusted applications.

Once the signature is there, visit the company site to verify application that you have downloaded. Check for warnings, known bugs and the functions that it would provide. This may help you understand the resources the application will take, such as memory, CPU, etc. Applications like file share, Voip, etc use some core OS functionality. In case of a bug, such an application can disrupt other functionalities of the phone.

Social media-based applications that download the files can also bring in a virus-infected file to your handset. In such a case, one should have some anti-virus software installed in the system or the application should check for MIME-type before it allows the download of the content. But, make sure that you protect your handset with anti-virus software to ensure that even if by chance you have downloaded a non-trusted application, security solution providers like Trend Micro or McAfee have anti-virus solutions for you.

Check for your data plan before you start to use an application that uses some sort of data transfers. An application like mBit p2p can generate huge data transfers. The user is advised to get in touch with the customer care to identify an appropriate plan for it. The user can tell the customer support about the desired application and an appropriate plan for the same.

Follow these simple steps and you'll ahve a happy downloading session. So, treat your smart phones like your laptops or computers, and not a landline phone.

The writer is CEO, mBit info-tech

Centre could triple IT spend

The government plans to spend a whopping Rs 10,000 crore, or 3% of its annual Plan budget, on e-governance projects in 2010-11. This would be more than three times the outlay for such projects in the current financial year. Stepping up expenditure on e-governance-a major focus area for the government-would prove a bonanza for IT companies that vie for large government contracts.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Nasscom summit here, IT secretary R Chandrashekhar said e-governance projects under social sector programmes would be much bigger in the coming year, and this would take total expenditure on them to 2-3% of the Plan budget. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and various education and health projects have major e-governance components.

Chandrashekhar said the government would focus on ensuring that budgetary allocations actually translate into services received by intended beneficiaries. "Now that some headway has been made in the services and the delivery platform, the focus is on actually getting the services online in the states and the Centre," he said.

Under the Rs 23,000-crore National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), the ministry has laid out 27 mission-mode projects, which include complex ones like automating land records, tax, driving licences and passports, among others. It has also mandated setting up 1 lakh common service centres, the number of which has been recently escalated to 2.5 lakh. Out of the 27 projects, 9 are central, 11 state and 7 integrated.

For the $50-billion Indian software export industry, the various e-governance projects are a huge opportunity. Industry body Nasscom has projected that government IT spend in India was around Rs 15,000 crore in 2009, and that the business opportunity in e-governance over the next three years is worth $9 billion.

Top-league IT vendors like TCS, Infosys (INFOSYS.BO : 2497.7 +26) and Wipro (WIPRO.NS : 655.7 +8) have already set up dedicated India units to tap into the huge opportunity. "There is much action in India and we want to participate in every bit of it," said P Raghuraman, executive director for Asia Pacific at Amercian technology & consulting giant Accenture.

The government has awarded contracts for five mission-mode projects so far, which include the income tax department's centralised processing centre project and an e-biz portal project, which were bagged by Infosys. TCS has the corporate affairs ministry's MCA 21 and the defence ministry's Passport Seva projects. Wipro is working on Central Board of Excise & Customs projects.

The biggest mission-mode project so far is the Unique Identification project, which is spearheaded by former Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani. Though the NeGP was announced in the first tenure of the UPA government, most of the projects have met with delays.

Chandrashekhar also said the IT ministry has recommended to the finance ministry that benefits of the Software Technology Parks of India be aligned with those under special economic zones in the forthcoming Budget. Section 10A of the Income-Tax Act provides for 100% deduction for ten years of export profits made by units set up in any STPI. This tax benefit is due to expire on March 31, 2011.

SEZs, on the other hand, have 100% tax-holiday for the first five years and 50% for the next five years, and up to 50% for a further five years, subject to creating reserves, apart from soft loans and other advantages. Chandrasekhar said IT players have been asking for "greater stability in the taxation regime".

Aerial shots of 9/11 released

  The only known aerial photographs of the World Trade Center as it collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001, were released by ABC News on Wednesday.


This photo taken Sept. 11, 2001 by the New York City Police Department and obtained by ABC News, which claims to have obtained it under the Freedom of Information Act, shows smoke and ash engulfing the area around the World Trade Center in New York. (AP Photo/NYPD via ABC News, Det. Greg Semendinger)

TCS to hire 30,000 people next fiscal

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday said it planned to hire a total of 30,000 people across India, Latin America, the U.S. and Australia, in the next fiscal starting April 1, 2010.

“We are looking at a gross addition of 30,000 in fiscal 2011. About 70 per cent will be freshers and 30 per cent will be experienced professionals,” TCS Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director N, Chandrasekaran, told reporters here.

The IT major said it would maintain its usual ratio between overseas and Indian recruitments while hiring.

“We will be hiring across various concerns like analytics, programme management and so on. About 2,000 will be recruited internationally mostly from Latin America, the US, Australia and other countries,” he said.

During the October-December quarter, TCS had a gross addition of 12,854 employees. Its total headcount across 42 countries stood at about 1,49,000, as of December 31, 2009.

Mr. Chandrasekaran said the IT environment was getting better with every passing month.

Love is in the air

It's that time of year again, when the air is charged with love, and the shops are filled with chocolates, flowers, hearts and other clichés! Valentine's Day means different things to different people. While for some it's a day for mushy expressions of love for a significant other, for others it's an opportunity to show all their loved ones how much they care. Add a special Indian touch to the festival of love this year!

There are a lot of stories about why Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. Some say it originated in a Roman pagan feast called Lupercalia when young men drew lots to choose their partners for the year. Others say the day is celebrated in memory of Saint Valentine. While history associates at least three Christian martyrs, all of them named Valentine, with February 14, most people dedicate the day to the priest who served in Rome during the 3rd century.

Saint Valentine is believed to have faithfully spread the message of God in spite of strict orders by Emperor Claudius II that only Caesar was to be worshipped. Perhaps the stress on love came about because Valentine continued to secretly conduct weddings in his Church, despite the emperor's decree banning all engagements and weddings in order to ensure his soldiers' dedication to war. It is said that Valentine, while imprisoned by Claudius, gave eyesight to the jailer's blind daughter through his prayers, and before being executed, he sent her a letter signed 'From your Valentine' - the World is still divided on whether this was a love letter or one extolling the praise of God.

Arguments about its origin are no longer paramount; it is the spirit of the festival that matters, and that spirit has caught on pretty fast world over. A decade or so ago Valentine's Day was not really celebrated in India except by a very small minority. Today it has caught the fancy of an entire new generation. Cynics view the brouhaha surrounding Valentine's Day in India as an unnecessary western influence, but for many it is merely a day to celebrate the universal concept of love.

For those of you who want to spend a special evening with a loved one, we suggest you take a break from the usual heart-shaped box of candy, bouquet of red roses, and candlelight dinner at an expensive restaurant routine, and look at a more personalised celebration.

Here are some suggestions for a magical evening at home...

* Set the mood with low lights and diyas instead of the ubiquitous candles. Light some incense sticks, and string some flowers across the room.

* Plan a special home cooked meal, even if you've never cooked before! Be adventurous - try your hand at some really simple recipes; the thought will definitely be appreciated.

* Welcome your beloved with a bunch of pretty flowers. Avoid the stereotype of red roses unless all you want to say is a simple "I love you".

* How about a special gift - something without hearts perhaps? A beautiful handmade greeting card or a diary made out of recycled paper? Maybe a special book or collection of music. Remember to write a few words expressing your deepest feelings.

* Arrange to borrow a couple of romantic movies that both of you will enjoy. If you are married, maybe you can rekindle the magic by watching your wedding photographs and videos!

It's for you to decide how to create an out of the ordinary experience that you both will remember for years. Ultimately, how perfect the evening will be depends on how well you know and understand your better half. Remember, the day is about the spirit of love and caring, and making it last. Take the time and effort to enjoy it.

The first thing you'll need to do is decide exactly what you wish to achieve as far as the ambience is concerned. Here are a few ways that you can go about getting that 'right feel':

Buy fresh rose bouquets and place them everywhere. Most florists sell roses at a reasonable price.

*Candlelight is one of the most popular symbols of romance. Go to a local craft store and stock up on red candles and candlestick holders. You can also Burn incense or scented aromatherapy candles.

*Decorate your dinner table with red satin ribbons and fake yet pretty pearls to have that classy look without going overboard on the budget.

*Balloons are a great way to say, "I love you." Buy a bunch of heart shaped red balloons and put them all over the place.

*Play your partner's favourite romantic music to create that overall effect.

How to write a love letter

Love, they say is in the air and don’t you feel you would love tell them in simple words how special they make you feel? It might get embarrassing talking about it, but imagine their pleasure when you pop them a love letter. Here are some tips that will make any love note extra special.

Take some time off, clear the clutter in your mind and concentrate on the person you love. You will be amazed to know that there are several things which you took for granted from your partner. It can be anything -as mundane as a smile you both shared after cleaning out the cupboard to being a moral support during a crisis. Once you are clear what all you would write to your love, you can really get started.

Start the note by sweet endearments – my dearest sounds quite right in this context. Of course, if you are in a long term relationship, there might be nick names you have for each other. Every thing goes, as long as it speaks about the commitment you have.

Once you are through with this, tell them about those special occasions which made all the difference to you. Make the words come from deep within the heart, the message, will then be loud and clear. Tell them how special they make you feel. In simple terms just open up and spill your heart out and do not be timid.

The main body of the letter could involve things like what made you love your partner, the things you have in common – or you don’t, the special moments you have shared, and what makes every day you spend with them special. There is a catch though, don’t go overboard with the praise, if you have some resentment; make it clear, in a sweet way.

End it on a positive note. It is just fine to talk about all those future plans you have with your partner. And don’t forget to profess your love.

India FY10 GDP growth at around 7.75 pct - Pranab Mukherjee

 

  

          The economy could grow at around 7.75 percent in the 2009/10 financial year ending in March, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday.

"With latest GDP data on 2009/10 indicating 7.9 percent growth in the second quarter, the growth outlook for the next two quarters and for the whole year is expected to be in the upper bound range of more predictions for the Indian economy," he said in a speech.

(For more news on Reuters Money visit http://www.reutersmoney.in)

Britain tightens student visa rules

Britain is to tighten the rules on immigrants entering Britain on a student visa, the government said on Sunday in a clampdown on a system which some security experts say has been exploited by Islamist militants.

Home Secretary (interior minister) Alan Johnson said the crackdown was part of a wider campaign against immigrants who apply for student visas even though they intend to work.

The tighter controls could also help to tackle security concerns over militants who enter Britain ostensibly to study. Analysts have warned for years of a threat from Islamist militants based at British universities, including foreigners on student visas.

A senior Pakistani official in London accused the British government last year of failing to co-operate with the security screening of Pakistani nationals trying to study in Britain.

The issue climbed back up the political agenda last month when it emerged that the Nigerian man accused of plotting to blow up a passenger plane over Detroit tried to re-enter Britain last April to study at a bogus college.

Johnson's department said the changes were drawn up before the alleged Christmas Day attack and are part of a wider campaign to keep a closer eye on overseas students.

"We will come down hard on those that flout the rules." Johnson said.

In a counter-terrorism operation last April, police arrested 12 people including 11 Pakistani nationals, all but one of whom were on student visas.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the case as a "very big terrorist plot", but police released all the men without charge. Eleven were later investigated by immigration officials.

Johnson said that nearly a third of immigrants seek to enter Britain on a student visa and that the country is the second most popular study destination in the world.

The government has closed down 200 bogus colleges, which help students into Britain but don't offer proper courses.

A Home Office spokesman would not confirm how many student visas are expected to be cut each year. Britain issued 236,000 student visas in 2008-09 and refused 110,000 applications.

Under the new rules, applicants from outside the European Union will need to speak better English and will face tougher restrictions on taking part-time jobs.

Immigration has long been a source of criticism for the ruling Labour, behind in polls before an election due by June.

Opposition Conservative leader David Cameron has accused ministers of allowing an unsustainable number of immigrants into Britain and has proposed a cap to keep levels down.

Conservative home affairs spokesman Chris Grayling said the government was "floundering around trying desperately to correct their own mistakes".