Google To Buy Motorola Mobility For $12.5 Billion

Google Inc. is buying cell phone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for $12.5 billion in cash. It's by far Google's biggest acquisition and a sign the online search leader is serious about expanding beyond its core Internet business and setting the agenda in the fast-growing mobile market.

Google will pay $40.00 per share, a 63 percent premium to Motorola's closing price on Friday.

Google's Android operating system runs smartphones that compete with iPhones, BlackBerrys and Windows-based mobile devices. Motorola Mobility was separated from the rest of Motorola in January. The company has remade itself as a maker of smartphones based on Android, but has struggled against Apple Inc. and Asian smartphone makers.

"Motorola Mobility's total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies," said Google CEO Larry Page in a statement. "Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers."

The acquisition has the approval of both companies' boards and is expected to close by the end of this year or early 2012. That may be overly ambitious, however, as the deal is likely to face regulatory scrutiny. It dwarfs Google's previous biggest deal, the 2008 purchase of DoubleClick for $3.2 billion, which took a year to get approval.

What Google likely wants from the acquisition is Motorola's trove of more than 17,000 patents on phone technology. Google recently lost out to a consortium that included Microsoft Corp., Apple and Research In Motion Ltd. in bidding for thousands of patents from Novell Inc., a maker of computer-networking software, and Nortel Networks, a Canadian telecom gear maker that is bankrupt and is selling itself off in pieces.

Motorola has nearly three times more patents than Nortel.

In premarket trading, shares of Motorola Mobility soared 60 percent, or $14.72, to $39.19. Shares of Google, meanwhile, fell $14.68, or 2.6 percent, to $549.95.

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Mahindra Satyam to develop IRDA's IT project

Mahindra Satyam has been selected by insurance regulator IRDA to develop and implement an IT system for monitoring surveyors.

"... Mahindra Satyam has been selected as an implementing agency for the development and implementation of Integrated Surveyor Licence Management System (ISLMS)," IRDA said on Tuesday.

The selection was made following a detailed scrutiny of the commercial proposals submitted by shortlisted IT firms and further evaluation, the regulator said.

The other shortlisted firms included, Tata Consultancy Services, CMC, NSE IT, NIIT Technology, R Systems International and L&T Infotech.

In order to have an effective licence generation, renewal and monitoring mechanism, IRDA intends to create ISLMS to facilitate the surveyor to register online and see their licence issuance and renewal status.

IRDA hopes ISLMS would further create an environment for non-Life companies to not only display the list of their empanelled surveyors but also update their performance periodically.

At present, the records of trainees and licensed surveyors and loss assessors are maintained in excel formats.

As of now, there is no web-based integrated system for monitoring the performance of surveyors, empanelled companies and claims handled by them.

Besides, the regulator also desires to create and maintain a repository system of all the matters related to licensed surveyors.

ISLMS would also mean complete access and control to the regulator for monitoring the surveyor licensing mechanism, IRDA had said while inviting bid from reputed IT firm for the project.

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Pakistan Gave China Access To Us Chopper Wreckage: Nyt Report

Chinese military engineers were "probably" given access by Pakistan to the wreckage of the US stealth helicopter that had crashed in Osama bin Laden's compound during the Abbottabad raid and Chinese engineers might even have walked away with samples, a media report said.

The US Navy SEALs who conducted the May 2 operation that killed the Al Qaeda leader had tried to destroy the chopper after it malfunctioned but its tail section had remained largely intact.

The crashed helicopter appeared to have never-before-seen superior technology, including a special coating designed to elude air defences and radars.
"American spy agencies have concluded that it is likely that Chinese engineers at the invitation of Pakistani intelligence operatives took detailed photographs of the severed tail of the Black Hawk helicopter equipped with classified technology designed to elude radar," a report in the New York Times said.

Citing American officials familiar with classified intelligence assessments, the report said "such cooperation with China would be provocative, providing further evidence of the depths of Pakistan's anger over the Bin Laden raid, which was carried out without Pakistan's approval".

"In the days after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, Pakistan's intelligence service probably allowed Chinese military engineers to examine the wreckage of a stealth American helicopter," the report said.

A person with knowledge of the intelligence assessments said that the American case was based mostly on "intercepted conversations" in which Pakistani officials discussed inviting the Chinese to the crash site.

The person familiar with the matter characterised intelligence officials as being "certain" that Chinese engineers were able to photograph the helicopter and even walk away with samples of the wreckage.

American officials however cautioned that they did not yet have "definitive proof" that the Chinese were allowed to visit Abbottabad even though Pakistani officials had been directly confronted about the American intelligence.

Pakistani officials had denied showing the advanced helicopter technology to other foreign governments, the report added. Pakistan has a close military relationship with China, and large numbers of Chinese engineers work at military bases inside Pakistan.

Pakistani officials have even suggested that the Chinese Navy might eventually have its own base along Pakistan's coastline, it said. The US had been worried about the secret technology being leaked to Pakistan.

Pakistani officials had also made a high-profile trip to Beijing shortly after the Abbottabad raid, "part of a not-so-subtle campaign to show the strength of Pakistan's alliance with China amid faltering relations between Washington and Islamabad," the report said.

The wreckage of the helicopter had been shipped back to the United States, according to American officials.

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Priyanka Chopra In The Company Of Jay Sean

Priyanka Chopra is telling the whole world about the new man in her life. She was spotted with UK based R & B singer Jay Sean. The actress was seen wining and dining at a popular Juhu nightspot with the multi-talented British singer-songwriter.

She is not hesitant about tweeting her outing with Jay. Her tweet read: "We had a good time. Jaysean was in town." We know, Priyanka is keen on acquiring the pop star image.

Maybe, that's the reason she wants to be seen with the internationally known rock and pop singers more than her fellow actors. Priyanka and Sean looked very comfortable each other's company. They were in the nightclub for two and half hours. Hope her association with Sean serves her purpose.

Posted in: Breaking News

'Local' Bodyguards For Salman-Kareena On Promotion Tours

Makers of Bodyguard have adopted a novel way to publicise their film - any local can become a bodyguard for a day to both lead stars Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor separately while they travel to various cities to promote the movie.
Directed by Siddique and produced by brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, the film will see Salman essaying the role of Kareena's bodyguard as her life is under threat.

According to sources, one can be a bodyguard to Salman and Kareena for a day in every city they travel. The idea is to make people live a life of a bodyguard. The selected person will be a shadow to Salman or Kareena in each city they travel to.

"We are traveling to around 15 cities. Both Salman and Kareena individually will be traveling and promoting the film.

In every city they would have a local as their 'personal bodyguard' for the day. It is an extremely enriching experience," Agnihotri said.

Bodyguard, the remake of a 2010 Malayalam movie with the same name, is set to hit theatres on August 31.

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Tata Motors Hits 52-Week Low In Morning Trade, Falls 3 Per Cent On Bourses

Shares of Tata Motors dropped by nearly 3 per cent to hit a one-year low on the bourses in morning trade on Wednesday after the company's global sales declined by 6 per cent in July vis-a-vis the same month last year.

The company's scrip fell by 2.71 per cent to hit a 52-week low of Rs 780 on the BSE. Similarly, on the NSE, the stock went down by 2.70 per cent to touch a one-year low of Rs 779.85.

Tata Motors on Tuesday said its global sales stood at 85,392 units in July, down 6 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Sales of luxury vehicles from the Jaguar Land Rover stable were flat, at 19,119 vehicles in July.

The decline in the stock was in sharp contrast to the surge in the broader market with the BSE benchmark Sensex trading higher by 150.87 points at 16,881.81 at 1010 hours.

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Volkswagen Launches All-New Jetta Starting At Rs 14.12 Lakh

German auto major Volkswagen on Wednesday launched its upgraded version all-new Jetta 2 litre in diesel variant starting at Rs 14.12 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi).

The New Jetta will be available in four variants - trendline, comfortline and highline manual and DSG gearbox.

It is equipped with four cylinder CRDi engine with a six speed gear box in both manual and automatic transmission.

"With the introduction of the New Jetta our entire carline from the Polo to the Passat now offers the latest and the best to our customers," Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India, Neeraj Garg said.

The company had sold 32,000 units across all models in India last year and 45,000 units since last seven months.

"We have sold good number of Passat and Jetta in the last seven months. Despite economic slowdown we hope this New Jetta will help to increase our market share in coming days," he said.

Posted in: Breaking News

Ind Vs Eng: Seniors' Guidance Missing, Says Kapil

Former captain Kapil Dev has lashed out at the Indian players for lacking team spirit in the ongoing Test series against England and also criticised senior cricketers, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, for not motivating the youngsters in the team.

The former all-rounder, who led India to their maiden World Cup title in 1983, slammed Dhoni's men for going through the motions during the ongoing four-Test series which England have already pocketed 3- 0 with one match left.

"Indian players did not play as a team. I am not trying to blame anybody but I think they played too much cricket. Within four days of winning the World Cup you play the IPL. They then travel to West Indies for a tour and then from there (go) to England. I think our players were going through the motions more than their love for the game," Kapil said.

Asked whether there were any other reason for the humiliating defeat against England that has dislodged India from the number one position, Kapil said the seniors have not played a role in guiding the youngsters during the tour.

"No cricketer walked up to young bowlers to advise them on what line to bowl. Dhoni could go up to Ishant (Sharma) and tell this. Media termed him as 'Captain Cool'. He says everybody should know their job," he said.

"In Indian sports, we have not reached that level where all the players know what they should do. We still look up to captain and senior players. We need somebody with aggression. All the senior players have become so senior that they do not want to be aggressive." Asked for his take on Dhoni and the team spirit, Kapil said seniors players like Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman are not sharing their experience with bowlers.

"If you ask Sehwag who is your guru, he will say Sachin. If you ask Yuvraj, he will say Sachin.

But I've never seen Sehwag or Sachin or Laxman, with their bundle of experience in batting, walking up to the bowlers to advise them the correct line to bowl," he said.

"I do not know whether I am making sense or not. But in my opinion, the new theory in Indian cricket is that bowlers have to work themselves and batsmen need to do everything by themselves.

"The required guidance is not there. Maybe, I cannot see that what they talk about. I was not on the ground or in the dressing room. My observations are totally based on what I see (during matches) on television."

Kapil said tiredness couldn't be cited as an excuse. "No. Not tiredness. When you play well there is nothing like you are tired. When you don't play well then all those negative thinking sets in your mind," he said.

"England played very good cricket, perhaps it is after 15 or 20 years that England looks like an English team in every sense.

The difference between England and India is that England has great allrounders who can bat and bowl well. They are the trump cards in their team and they are the strength. Unfortunately our team looked totally lost because we do not have a single all- rounder."

Posted in: Breaking News

Ind Vs Eng: A Look At The India Vs England 4th Test

India will be out to salvage anything it can from a series in which it has been completely overwhelmed by a rampant England. A powerful seam attack and determined batsmen snatched the No. 1 crown from a weary India in the third Test at Edgbaston.

The fourth Test takes place at The Oval, a heavy scoring ground, and if India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni can lift morale he has enough world-class batsmen to restore pride to his deposed team.

Rahul Dravid has scored two hundreds in the series and Sachin Tendulkar is still looking for his first to reach the magical 100 international hundreds. His highest score in three Tests at The Oval is 82 in 2007, when India won the toss and batted for 170 overs to score 664 in a drawn game.

Suresh Raina's place is under threat after making 105 runs in six innings in the series. Left-armer RP Singh arrived after problems with his visa and may replace Sreesanth, who has been expensive with five wickets in two tests at 74 apiece.

England's stated ambition is to win the series 4-0. It has won all the Tests in a four- or five-match series only twice: Against India in 1959 and against West Indies in 2004.

It has won eight out of its last 12 tests, including six by an innings, with three draws and one defeat.

India last lost every Test in a series against Australia in 1999-2000, when it lost 3-0.

The gap between the teams shows up in the stats: In this series England has had nine 100-run partnerships, India one.

England batsmen have scored five hundreds, while for India, Dravid has the only two.

England has taken 60 wickets in the series, India 41.

James Anderson has tightness in his right quadriceps, and in the absence of the still-injured Chris Tremlett the question will be whether to play Steve Finn or Graham Onions. Finn was included in the squad for the second and third Tests and earlier replaced Anderson against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Lord's when Anderson had a minor side strain. Finn took four wickets in that match and was leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series with 14 at 33.14 after three tests, when he was dropped in favor of Tim Bresnan.

Onions has been recalled after an absence of 18 months and has recovered from surgery to insert metal pins in his spine. Recent history suggests the selectors will stick with Finn, the youngest England bowler to take 50 wickets.

The two Andrews, Flower and Strauss, could take the view that Ravi Bopara is dispensable. He scored 7 in England's total of 710-7 declared at Edgbaston and did not bowl. He gets another chance because Jonathan Trott has not recovered from his shoulder injury.

Head to head

Played 102: England 37, India 19, Drawn 46.

In England 51: England 26, India 5, Drawn 20.

At The Oval

England: Played 93, Won, 38 Lost 19, Drawn 36.

It has won five of the last eight matches, with two draws, though lost to Pakistan last year after being 2-0 up in the series. England was 70-5 at lunch on the first day and Wahab Riaz went on to take 5-63 on debut.

India: Played 10, Won 1 Lost 2, Drawn 7.

Its only win was by four wickets in 1971, when spinner Chandrasekhar took 8-114 in the match. The last five matches since then have all been drawn.

The average first innings score at The Oval is 346, though in matches since the millennium that figure rises to 396.

Surrey appointed a new head groundsman, Scott Patterson, in January and most wickets at The Oval this season have been on the slow side.

Star player

England

Tim Bresnan is sometimes overlooked, but he has played a key part in two of England's last three series wins. He has taken the last wicket in both of England's biggest recent successes. He dismissed Sreesanth at Edgbaston and took the wicket of Ben Hilfenhaus in the fourth test at Melbourne in December as England retained the Ashes.

England has won all nine tests when he has played, a record for an England player from debut. He has scored 318 runs at 45.42 with three half-centuries, and taken 37 wickets at 23.89. In this series he has 12 wickets at 14.75, including Dravid and VVS Laxman twice each when set.

India

India's bowling has not been much to write home about, but Praveen Kumar stands out as a wholehearted trier. He has something of a fighter about him as befits a man coming from a family of wrestlers. He is India's leading wicket-taker in the series, with 15 at 29.53. He took 12 at 21.16 during the tour of West Indies, just before this tour. As India slumped to defeat at Edgbaston he smashed 40 off 18 balls, despite a nasty blow on the thumb.

Milestones

Ian Bell is averaging 100.00 in six tests this summer, with three centuries and two fifties from nine innings.

Graham Gooch scored 1,058 from six tests in 1990. He has worked on Alastair Cook's batting, and Cook needs 296 to become the second batsman to top a thousand in an English season.

Graeme Swann needs six wickets for 150.

Matt Prior needs four dismissals for 150.

Dravid, India's best batsman in the series, has already batted for 17 hours, 22 minutes. On the 2002 tour of England he batted for 31 hours, 1 one minute, in the four-test series and will look to beat his own record. When he plays another 208 balls he will become the first man to face 30,000 balls in tests, the equivalent of 5,000 overs.

Tendulkar scored his 99th international hundred against South Africa at Nagpur on March 12 and has played 10 innings for India since then. He needs 28 to become the first man to score 33,000 international runs; Ricky Ponting is second on 26,313.

If Dravid and Tendulkar score 18 more runs together in partnership they will overtake Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes to become the most prolific partnership in history. They already hold the record for the most hundred stands.

Dhoni needs three dismissals to pass Syed Kirmani's 198 and become the leading wicketkeeper for India.

Posted in: Breaking News

Govt-Anna Hazare Deadlock Persists Over Terms For Fast; Govt Gets The Stick In Ls, Rs

Fasting anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare was on Wednesday expected to walk out of Delhi's Tihar Jail following his release orders the previous night but a deadlock in negotiations over the conditions for his fast persisted. Hazare's controversial arrest on Tuesday by the Delhi Police also sparked off a showdown between the Congress and the Opposition in Parliament. (Hazare-govt face-off: Day 1 coverage)

Hazare was expected to come out of Tihar Jail and head for his fast - against the version of Lokpal Bill tabled in Parliament - as soon as the terms and conditions were agreed upon by his team and the government.

It is learnt that the Delhi Police proposed a seven-day fast at Ramlila Maidan, which Hazare rejected. Team Anna wanted at least a month-long fast. Both the parties agreed to the Ramlila Maidan as an alternative venue to the Jai Prakash Narain Park chosen earlier.

It was earlier being said that the police had lifted restrictions on the number of people who could join the fast. But now a maximum of 25,000 people were being allowed.

Thousands of Hazare's supporters waited for him outside the jail premises, waving the Tricolour and chanting slogans. Many of them had been camping since Tuesday evening, when Hazare was brought to the jail.

Prashant Bhushan, a key associate of Hazare, told the swelling crowd at Tihar that the activist was ready to leave the jail premises only if allowed to fast unconditionally.

"Else, he says he will continue his fast inside Tihar. The police and government were looking into his demand," Bhushan said.

Spiritual leaders Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravishankar met Hazare inside his Tihar cell. Ramdev slammed the government and also submitted a memorandum against Hazare's arrest to President Pratibha Patil.
Govt sets terms for fast
Sources said the government was insisting on a set of terms for allowing Hazare to fast. Among them were that the fast cannot be one 'unto death', loudspeakers cannot be used beyond 10 pm and government doctors will be monitoring Hazare's health.

Team Anna was holding a vigil at India Gate in the evening in support of its version of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Hazare had spent Tuesday night in Tihar despite being freed, insisting on an unconditional release and permission to fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park. But Tihar officials told him this morning that he would not be allowed to stay inside the jail any longer.

Lok Sabha: PM defends action on Hazare
In Parliament, BJP MPs gunned for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after he defended the arrest of Hazare and his associates and accused the activists of foisting their version of the Lokpal Bill on Parliament.

In a statement marred by slogan-shouting by Opposition MPs, Singh said that Hazare and his supporters would have been allowed to hold their protest if they had agreed to give an undertaking as sought by the Delhi Police.

"On August 16 morning, the Delhi Police concluded that Hazare and his supporters would be committing a cognisable offence by proceeding with the agitation," Singh said.

Singh said that Hazare may be "inspired by higher ideals" to form a strong Lokpal but the path chosen by him was inappropriate. "Anna Hazare wants to impose his Jan Lokpal Bill on Parliament," said Singh, adding that only Parliament had the right to enact laws.

Sushma rejects PM's statement
Reacting to Singh's statement, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj accused the government of suppressing the Fundamental Rights of citizens.

She said the PM's statement did not reflect the truth on the Hazare episode and the government's attitude in dealing with corruption was beyond comprehension. The government ignored the entire Opposition while initaiting talks with the civil society over the Lokpal Bill, she said.

Sushma alleged that the PM was okay with Kashmiri separatists holding a conference in Delhi but a peaceful protest (by Baba Ramdev in June) had become a problem for him.

A slanging match was witnessed between the Congress and BJP MPs throughout the debate, forcing adjournment of Lok Sabha twice.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad, however, slammed the civil society protesters. "I am hurt at civil society targeting politicians," he said and accused Baba Ramdev of surrendering his anti-corruption movement to communal forces.

Rajya Sabha: People tired of corruption, says Jaitley
Reacting to the PM's statement in Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Arun Jaitley said that the people of India were exasperated by corruption and the government's inaction on it. He said the government's conditions on Hazare's protest fast were unreasonable.

"The civil society has a right to protest and dissent. The PM's statement on Hazare's arrest does not inspire confidence," Jaitley said.

PM, Cong strategy on Anna
Earlier in the day, Singh called a meeting of senior ministers and Congress leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, at his residence to discuss the strategy on Hazare.
The Congress Core Group too met. It was attended by the prime minister, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel, the political secretary of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

A meeting was also held at the home ministry.

Crowd swells outside Tihar, Patkar joins in
The roads outside Tihar Jail on Wednesday morning remained swarmed with Hazare's supporters, who had been camping there through the night. More people were seen joining the crowds outside prison gate no. 1. Heavy police presence, barricades and water cannons were seen.

Social activist Medha Patkar arrived outside Tihar Jail and said: "It is unfortunate that the government isn't allowing space in the city for a non-violent protest. It's a nationwide protest and the government must listen to the voice of the people."

Hazare's Tihar stay
The police had arrested Hazare on Tuesday morning ahead of his fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park. Later in the day, he refused to seek bail and was sent to seven days in judicial custody at Tihar, but the authorities backtracked by late evening and ordered his release.
But Hazare spent the night in jail, insisting on an unconditional release and permission to launch his fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park. Hazare was offered released on Tuesday night after the Delhi Police issued warrants of release for him and seven of his associates.

Posted in: Breaking News