Intel forecasts India's tablet demand at 16 pc of APAC & Japan

     
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Intel today said tablet demand in
India is forecast at 16 per cent of the Asia Pacific and Japan
demand (excluding-China) for 2014.
        "Intel estimates the overall tablet demand in Asia
Pacific and Japan will be up 32 per cent year-on-year in
2014," Intel Asia Pacific and Japan Director- Software and
Services group Narendra Bhandari told reporters here.
        Speaking at the Annual Intel Mobility Roadshow, he said
"In particular, India, Indonesia, Japan and Australia will
equate to 59 per cent of tablet demand."
     "Tablet demand in India is forecast at 16 per cent of the
Asia Pacific and Japan (excluding-China) demand for 2014," he
added.
     Bhandari said there are over 200 million middle-class
potential customers in India alone for different screen sizes
across different price points.
     "We are seeing lot of traction in 7 to 9 inch space. We
are working with our OEM partners to bring Intel- based
tablets starting Rs 10,000," he added.
     Bhandari also pointed out that "Intel is aggressive in
customising its solutions for the enterprise as well as
manifesto driven state governments and working with developers
to drive localised applications."
     Intel officials said the company's strategy is to
accelerate growth in India, driven by an increased focus on
new mobile form factors like 2 in 1s and tablets. PTI KSU

Toll protest: villagers will get concession, CM

       
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Amid persistent protests against
the toll hike on the National Highway leading to international
airport, Chief Minister Siddaramaih today said there will be
concession on toll for villagers within the proximity of the
highway.
        "Toll will be collected at concession rate from villagers
in about 40 km radius, that is Rs 220 per month for any number
of trips they commute," he told reporters here.
     Villagers within a five kilometre radius need not pay any
toll, he said.
        Siddaramaih said service road should be made available for
the sake of local villagers next to tolled road, adding that
he is in touch with Union Minister for Road Transport and
Highways Oscar Fernandes over the toll issue.
     Meanwhile, Karnataka State Lorry Owner's and Agent's
association has called for agitation tomorrow, demanding
rollback of toll hike. They are likely to be joined by taxi
drivers and several pro-Kannada organisations.
        Private taxi drivers and transporters are up in arms
against the nearly four-fold hike on the 22-km stretch of the
elevated road to the Kempegowda International airport but the
increase has been justified by NHAI citing the relevant
provisions under the National Highway Fee (Determination of
Rates and Collection) Rules.
        The toll for a return journey by car or other such
vehicles has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 115 with effect
from Saturday last. The concessionaire of the public-private
partnership project has been allowed to hike the toll in
accordance with provisions of the agreement with NHAI.
        Both BJP and JDS have protested against the toll hike.
PTI KSU 

Karnataka CM directs officials to speed up drought relief

       
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Facing flak over handling of the
drought situation, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today
directed top officials to ensure relief works on a war footing
in the state where 125 taluks have been declared drought-hit.
        Addressing top officials of different departments in the
presence of senior ministers, Siddaramaiah said funds were not
a constraint for providing drinking water and fodder and added
that Rs 516 crore had been released so far for drought relief
works.
        Governor H R Bhardwaj had last week openly expressed his
unhappiness over the government's handling and said the Chief
Minister must activate the administration to deal with the
drought conditions.
        KPCC Chief G Parameshwara had also asked the Chief
Minister to speed up relief works by taking "proactive steps."
        Principal opposition BJP had in a memorandum to the
Governor yesterday had accused the government of "gross
negligence" and sought his intervention to "wake up
Siddaramiah and his cabinet colleagues from their deep slumber
and focus their attention on combating drought with all
seriousness."
        In the meeting today, Siddaramaiah said 10,163 villages
in 125 taluks were facing scarcity conditions, of which 1086
villages were hit severely. Badly affected villages were being
water through tankers.
    Fodder banks had been opened and there was enough stock to
meet the needs for the next 26 weeks, he said.
        Rural and Panchayatraj Development Minister H K Patil,
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Law and Animal Husbandry
Minister T B Jayachandra and Revenue Minister V Srinivasa
Prasad and senior officials of the departments concerned were
present at the meeting. 

RCB's top six batsmen have to convert the starts: Albie Morkel

By B D Narayankar

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore allrounder Albie Morkel has said that at least one of their top six batsmen would need to score a big one in Friday's match if they are keen to get the better of indomitable Kings XI Punjab.
"Most of our batsmen got good starts. But we didn't convert. The best innings was of AB (de Villiers) who hit 89. And if you want to win T20 games, out of the top 5-6 batsmen, one has to go out and score a big one.
"30s and 40s can win you games on occasions. From our batting point of view, we are aiming that somebody should score a big one," Morkel told reporters on the eve of the match.

The team needs to win at least five out of the seven remaining games, and the South African allrounder said, "We have seven games to play and have to win five to qualify for semifinals. Certainly, our goal is to play well in the next seven games."

Morkel said RCB would try to take advantage of the home conditions and win three consecutive matches in Bangalore.
"It is a blessing in disguise to play three matches (in Bangalore). If you want to qualify, you have to win home matches. We will go out and try to win all three. We are proud of our record here," said Morkel.
"We are playing Punjab tomorrow. It is going to be a tough contest. They have a few dangerous batsmen. But we are taking things game by game. We haven't yet peaked. Hopefully, that happens tomorrow.
"We all know Virat Kohli is a feisty character and he will be up for it (to win five out of seven games). I think the team will respond very well. It is going to be a good contest. We are prepared like any other game. Hopefully, we recharge ourselves," he said.
Morkel said his team is a very competitive but the batting hasn't clicked as expected.
"We have been doing so many things right and were close to winning games. I think our batting unit probably has not done well as expected," he said.
Replying to a query, Morkel said quite a few niggles were
there, but nothing to worry.
     "There are few niggles. Those are not new injuries. They
have been carrying for a while now. They can play with it.
Just they have to manage it well. For tomorrow's game, I think
everyone is fit. The physio is working overtime. We would
entertain the people and 'Gaylestorm' is around," he said.
     On Mitchell Starc and Kieron Pollard's ugly on-field
spat, Morkel said "both players went wrong and from RCB's
point of view, we don't want this to be repeated".
     "It should not have happened," he said.
     Morkel also said that such incidents always happen in
Mumbai as the crowd gets behind the opposition teams.
     "It always happens when you play in Mumbai. The games I
played for Chennai, the matches in Mumbai were always heated.
The crowd gets behind them," he pointed out. 

Legislature session likely after June 15, Council chairman

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 8 (PTI): The month-long monsoon session of the state legislature is likely to be held after June 15, Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said today. 

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has told me that the government will for the first time hold a 30 working day legislature session. It is likely to be held after June 15," he told reporters here. 

Shankaramurthy said the renovation work, which was taken up to give a new and modern touch to the majestic Council Hall, will be completed by June 12. 

"All civil and electrical works would be completed by June 12 and the renovated hall would be ready to host the monsoon session," he said. 

The Public Works Department had invited tenders for taking up renovation work, which included installation of the latest electrical and audio-video systems, Shankaramurthy said. Renovation work was pending for the last two years. 

Latest earphones and lighting system would be installed as per specifications, he said. 

To a query, he said the Election Commission will announce the dates for conducting polls to the Upper House. The process of elections and nominations will be held to choose 16 MLCs, of which three are already vacant and the rest will fall vacant by June end. 

Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda of BJP and former Union Minister M V Rajasekaran of Congress are retiring. In the 75-member strong Council, BJP has 39 members including Shankaramurthy, Congress 19, JD(S) 12, Independents 2 and three vacant posts. 

Of the 13 retiring members, nine are from BJP, three from JD(S) and one from Congress, he said. Of 16 vacancies, seven members will be elected from the assembly, five members would be nominated by the government, and four seats, two each from graduate and teachers' constituency, will witness an electoral battle, Shankarmurthy said.

A B de Villiers sensational blitz helps RCB beat SRH

By B D Narayankar
   
Bangalore, May 4 (PTI) A B de Villiers produced one of
the most devastating Twenty20 innings as he smashed an
unbeaten 89 from just 42 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore
pulled off a sensational four-wicket victory over Sunrisers
Hyderabad in a dramatic IPL match here today.
     De Villiers butchered Hyderabad bowlers with six fours
and eight sixes as he single-handedly took Bangalore to
victory after Bangalore suffered early jolts after fine
bowling show by Karn Sharma (3/17) and  Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(2/16).
     Chasing 156 for six, Bangalore seemingly lost the plot as
they were reduced to 59 for four in the 11th over and then
were down 95 for five when Yuvraj Singh (14) was out, needing
61 from 5.3 overs.
     But de Villiers took on from there and played a memorable
innings to take Bangalore to 158 for six with one ball to
spare. He stitched 57 runs for the sixth wicket with Mitchell
Starc who could score just five.
     In the process, de Villiers dented the reputation of his
South African compatriot fast bowler Dale Steyn who bled 39
runs without a wicket in his four overs.
     Bangalore needed 28 runs runs off last two overs and de
Villiers came into the act and hammered Steyn for 24 runs in
the 19th over with three scintillating sixes and a four, which
turned the tables against Hyderabad, leaving the home side
just four runs to score in the last over bowled Pathan.
     Fittingly, de Villiers hit the winning runs, a four off
Pathan, to take Bangalore to their first victory at home in
IPL 7 in front of wildly cheering crowd at the Chinnaswamy
Stadium.
     This was Bangalore's third win in IPL 7 and they are now
at the fourth spot with six points from six matches.
     The only blemish in de Villiers' incredible innings was
when Karn Sharma failed to hold onto a tough chance in the
14th over off the bowling of Irfan Pathan when the batsman was
on 32.
     After restricting Hyderabad for 155 for six in 20 overs,
Bangalore top order, however, could not click as per
expectations as they were reduced to 38 for three 6.4 overs.
     Opener Parthiv Patel, who had a good start in couple of
matches, failed yet again as he was castled by Bhuvneshwar
Kumar for just three in the second over.
     Captain Virat Kohli, who was a bit low in confidence in
this year's IPL, did not bother the scorers, as he
irresponsibly flashed at Kumar to give a simple catch to Naman
Ojha behind the stumps.
     Chris Gayle (27) showed the glimpse of his batting
prowess for a short while by hammering India pacer Ishant
Sharma for two sixes and a boundary in the fifth over, but
threw his wicket away when he tried to slog Karn Sharma.
     The West Indian batsman scored an entertaining 27 off 19
balls with three fours and two massive sixes, but failed to
shore up Bangalore's chase from troubled waters. When he left
the scene, the home side was deep in trouble, struggling 38
for three.
     South African Rilee Rossouw, a replacement for the Nick
Maddinson, looked out of sorts playing on the Indian
conditions. He scored a laborious 14 runs off 23 balls with
one boundary, before he was trapped by leggie Karn Sharma in
11th over, leaving the home side tottering at 59 for four.
     Left to steady the ship forward, Yuvraj, with de
Villiers, added valuable 36 runs for fifth wicket before he
fell to Karn Sharma.
     Earlier, David Warner's fighting knock of 61 off 49 balls
helped Hyderabad post a challenging 155 for six after being
put into bat.
     Warner hit four boundaries and three sixes as he steadied
Hyderabad innings, along with captain Shikhar Dhawan (37 off
36 balls) with a 62-run partnership for third wicket.
     Put into bat, Hyderabad lost their in-form opener Aaron
Finch (13) and Lokesh Rahul (6) early as they were reduced to
29 for two in four overs. Mitchel Starc and Ashoke Dinda
(1/39) accounted for both the batsmen.
     Australian pacer Starc (2/21) had Finch caught behind by
Parthiv Patel and then Dinda sent back local lad Rahul as he
fished at an out-going bowl to Chris Gayle at first slip.
     Warner, who survived a scare while on six when he played
an uppish shot, and Dhawan provided stability for the visitors
by adding 62 runs for third wicket in the next nine overs.
     Both played some effective shots during their partnership
and prominent among those were the boundaries scored off Varun
Aaron (2/33) and Harshel Patel (1/29).
     A moment of indiscretion cost Dhawan his wicket as he
pulled one off Aaron straight into the hands of A B de
Villiers who was standing at deep mid-wicket after making 37
off 36 balls with four hits to the fence.
     But Warner continued to fight as he smashed Yuzvendra
Chahal for a six over the bowler's head and followed it up by
accumulating seven more runs. He was ultimately castled by
Starc in the last over of the innings.
     Darren Sammy then smashed a flat over long-off for a six
to prop up Hyderabad's innings but was holed out by Starc off
Harshal Patel in deep mid-wicket for eight in as many balls in
16th over.
     Naman Ojha looked in good nick and contributed 15 runs
off 11 balls, which included a gentle guide into the Hyderabad
dug-out for a boundary and a six, before he was caught by
Starc at third-man fence off Aaron. 

Steel Authority of India's hot metal capacity to reach 19 million tonne by September end

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 4 (PTI) After the operationalisation of a new blast furnace at Burnpur steel plant, Steel Authority of India Ltd’s hot metal capacity would go up to 19 million tonnes by September-end, company Chairman C S Verma today said.

Now, the capacity is 14 mt per annum.

The new blast furnace at Burnpur steel plant will be commissioned in August, Verma said. In addition, the “first heat” in the new converter in Rourkela plant will be made on May 10.

“The converter in Rourkela steel plant — first heat — we are taking on May 10, and in the next three months, in August, SAIL is going to commence one more blast furnace in Burnpur steel plant,” he said.

The country’s largest blast furnace is operating in Rourkela steel plant and the volume there is 4,060 cubic meter, he added.

He said the company has also drawn up its “Vision 2025” plan to ramp up its hot metal capacity from 24 mt to 50 mt with an additional capital outlay of Rs 1,50,000 crore.

Verma said the steel company has the total investment of Rs 72,000 crore for the ongoing expansion, of which Rs 55,000 crore had been spent on modernisation plan. 

"This is an ongoing expansion which we have been discussing many a time. All these special programmes were started three years back. Total investment is 72,000 crore. Already Rs 55,000 crore has been spent," he added.