Patna blasts: state BJP chief blames UPA for indifference

Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma on Tuesday held the Congress-led UPA government responsible for the "indifference" shown to the security arrangements at Narendra Modi's rally in Patna.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharma alleged that the Centre had the intelligence input but did nothing, which was against the democratic principles.

"The prime ministerial candidate should be given security keeping in mind his position in the opposition party, which is most significant for a democracy, but the Congress is behaving immaturely which shows its increased level of frustration," Sharma said.

He criticised the Congress for "having levelled allegations" against Modi that he was instigating the minorities, adding that it was in fact the UPA government that had tried to "gag" social activists like Anna Hazare and his associates by arresting them.

He said, "People will give their verdict against the highhandedness and corrupt practices of the Congress in the forthcoming parliamentary polls.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/ludhiana/patna-blasts-state-bjp-chief-blames-upa-for-indifference/article1-1144976.aspx

Reports: Google close to manufacturing a smartwatch

Google could be a few months away from mass production of a smartwatch, a move that would put it in competition with vendors Pebble Technology, Sony and Samsung Electronics, according to media reports. Apple is widely expected to enter the fray soon as well.

Smartwatches can typically run simple applications by themselves, but are most useful when paired with a smartphone over a low-power Bluetooth link, allowing them to relay information from the phone's applications and Internet connection.

Samsung launched its Galaxy Gear, a companion device for its most recent Galaxy smartphones, last month while the Sony SmartWatch is already on its second version. The Pebble, featuring an e-paper screen, made it to market after its designers raised US$10 million via crowdfunding site Kickstarter in May 2012. Apple, too, is rumored to be working on a smartwatch.

Google has almost completed development of its smartwatch and is negotiating with Asian companies to manufacture it, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
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The device will run Android, and will connect to Android phones to pull information from Google Now, the search engine's personalized information service.

Existing smartwatches have been criticized for needing frequent charging, and Google has been working to extend the battery life of its smartwatch, the Journal reported.

Samsung's Gear will run for a day or two between charges, reviewers say. Its main competitors fare better, but neither run for more than a week: Sony's SmartWatch 2 lasts three to four days, while the Pebble's manufacturer says it will run for five to seven days.

Google already has some experience with wearable computing devices, as it works with developers and early adopters to find uses for Google Glass. The head-mounted device has a forward-facing camera, a microphone, an earpiece and a tiny heads-up display, all connected to a miniature computer running Android, and needs to be linked to a smartphone via Bluetooth to gather data from the Internet.

More: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2058880/reports-google-close-to-manufacturing-a-smartwatch.html

RBI asks banks to charge for SMS alerts on actual usage basis

The RBI today asked banks to charge customers for transaction SMS alerts on the basis of usage, instead of imposing a fixed fee, to ensure equity and be reasonable. "Banks are advised to leverage the technology available with them and the telecom service providers to ensure that such (SMS) charges are levied on all customers on actual usage basis," the Reserve Bank of India said in its Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14.

It said fees based on actual usage are necessary to ensure reasonableness and equity in charges levied by banks.

In March 2011, the RBI had set guidelines for banks to send online alerts to customers for all types of transactions, irrespective of the amount. However, the central bank had not issued rules on charging customers for these alerts.

Earlier in the year, State Bank of India imposed an annual charge of Rs 60 for SMS alerts, a step followed by lenders such as Canara Bank. Other PSU banks, including Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Patiala, IDBI and Vijaya Bank, have also been levying a fee for SMS alerts.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-rbi-asks-banks-to-charge-for-sms-alerts-on-actual-usage-basis-1910730

US to fine Infosys $35 mn for visa violations

The US is expected to fine Infosys $35 million on Wednesday in a case of visa violations often cited by those who use it to accuse Indian tech firms of taking away American jobs.

Infosys is alleged to have manipulated travel documents to enable workers from India serve long tenures to US in violation of visa rules, as cheaper alternatives to American workers.

US attorney office of eastern district of Texas said a news conference had been called for Wednesday morning to announce the deal that will end the case.

But the Wall Street Journal said quoting unnamed officials that the government could announce a fine of $35 million at that news conference, to finally resolve the case.

Kenneth J Mendelsohn, counsel of Jay Palmer, Infosys employee whose allegations in 2011 triggered a probe, refused to comment, directing questions to US attorney.

The resolution, whatever the outcome -- a fine or something more drastic, may have a bearing on the larger debate taking place in the US on immigration reforms.

Many in US feel the visa regime ought to be tightened to deny Indian IT firms unfettered access to cheaper workers brought from home on temporary visas.

The current mood seems hostile with US economy struggling with indifferent employment numbers. A bill passed by senate punishes Indian firms dependent on Hi-B visas.

The House of Representatives, which is being pushed by President Barack Obama to pass a version of the senate bill -- any avatar -- has taken a milder view.

But it’s an open issue now, causing much grief in India.

Palmer had in 2011 alleged he was harassed by Infoys, and denied routine service benefits because he had pointed to irregularities in hiring of Indian co-workers.

Two years later, his allegations, which had started an investigation by the state department and the department of homeland security, formed the basis for another case.

A Wisconsin resident sued Infosys for discriminating against non-Indian and non-Asian workers earlier this year. More complainants have since joined the suit.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/us-to-fine-infosys-35-mn-for-visa-violations/article1-1144957.aspx