My little corner

The U.S. fell two spots to fifth in a ranking of national Internet and phone systems, while China and India, which lead the world in wireless customers, were the top performers in the so-called BRIC markets, which also include Brazil and Russia. China climbed nine spots to 37th, and India leapt 11 to 43rd, helped by network investments and the decreasing cost of using services in those countries. Russia fell six spots from last year to 80th place, and Brazil's ranking was little changed at 61st, reports Economic Times. "There's a widening gap between the BRICs - China and India are growing so much," said Irene Mia, Senior Economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum and Co-editor of the report. On the other side talking about the U.S, Soumitra Dutta, Professor of Business and Technology at Insead and Co-editor of the report said, "The U.S. has to be more decisi...

Do you carry cash in your pocket for shopping, or dependent on credit or debit cards? If you are habituated to the "plastic money', it's necessary for you to know that which is better - credit cards or debit cards? While both seem to look similar, they are quite different in the way they work and the services they offer. If you do the shopping through credit card, it enables you to borrow money while making purchases. The borrowed amount is not directly debited from your account at the time of purchase. You will be getting the bill every month for the sum total of your purchases. You have an option to pay your bill either in full or in part. Paying part will attract an interest on the balance. And if you do the purchasing through debit card, it ensures that you do not spend beyond your means. As soon as you swipe the card, it gets reflected in your bank account. The term 'plastic money' is more relevant in case of debit cards since the risk of carr...

London: A new study has shown that excessive noise and lack of privacy, as well as constant distraction in open plan offices can increase the stress levels of workers. The study involving 20,000 British professionals revealed that 56 percent of the respondents complained of lack of privacy, 55 percent about poor temperature and 60 percent about lack of quiet space. Moreover, 20 percent drop in productivity was also blamed on poorly planned office space. One in three was concerned about lack of daylight and noise levels, reports dailymail.co.uk. Britons have some of the longest working hours in Europe, with one in five spending more than 45 hours a week in the office. The study was led by researchers from University College London and environment consultants BRE.

Gone are the days, when India used to look at NASA or other satellite centres to launch satellites. Today, India is the first country to orbit 10 satellites in one single mission and the facilitator for a major discovery of water molecules and water ice on the lunar surface. Also, it is one of the six in the world with capability to make satellites and launch them from its own soil. Dr. K Radhakrishnan, Chairman - Space Commission, Secretary - Department of Space and Chairman - ISRO said, "When I entered ISRO, it was in nascent phase, and now the heights we have reached in the space sector, is achieved with a shoestring budget as low as three percent of NASA's expenditures on space programmes." Adding to it, he also said that India is a front runner in the global comity playing pre-eminent roles in the International forums of space agencies and space-faring nations. According to ISRO's report, India is developing a winged reusable rocket, and the ISRO has...

No: 1 Name: William Gates III Age: 53 Fortune: self made Source: Microsoft Net Worth: $40.0 bil Country Of Citizenship: United States Residence: Medina, Washington , United States, North America Industry: Software Marital Status: married, 3 children Education: Harvard University, Drop Out Software visionary regains title as the world's richest man despite losing $18 billion in the past 12 months. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft last summer to devote his talents and riches to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Organization's assets were $30 billion in January; annual letter lauds endowment manager Michael Larson for limiting last year's losses to 20%. Gates decided to increase donations in 2009 to $3.8 billion, up 15% from 2008. Dedicated to fighting hunger in developing countries, improving education in America's high schools and developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. Appointed Microsoft Office veteran Jeffrey Raikes c...

No: 2 Name: Warren Buffett Age: 78 Fortune: self made Source: Berkshire Hathaway Net Worth: $37.0 bil Country Of Citizenship: United States Residence: Omaha, Nebraska , United States, North America Industry: Investments Marital Status: widowed, remarried, 3 children . Education: University of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts / Science Columbia University, Master of Science Last year America's most beloved investor was the world's richest man. This year he has to settle for second place after losing $25 billion in 12 months. Shares of Berkshire Hathaway down 45% since last March. Injected billions of dollars into Goldman Sachs, GE in exchange for preferred stock last fall; propped up insurance firm Swiss Re in February with $2.6 billion infusion. Admits he made some "dumb" investment mistakes in 2008. Upbeat about America's future: "Our economic system has worked extraordinarily well over time. It has unleashed human potential as no other system has,...

No: 3 Name: Carlos Slim Helu Age: 69 Years Fortune: self made Source: telecom Net Worth: $35.0 bil Country Of Citizenship: Mexico Residence: Mexico City , Mexico, Latin America Industry: Communications Marital Status: widowed, 6 children Economic downturn and plunging peso shaved $25 billion from the fortune of Latin America's richest man. Global recession testing his ability to live up to the principles he sets for his employees: "Maintain austerity in times of fat cows." Son of a Lebanese immigrant bought fixed line operator Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) in 1990; now controls 90% of Mexico's telephone landlines. Would be a billionaire based on his dividends alone. Biggest holding: $16 billion stake in America Movil, Latin America's largest mobile phone company with 173 million customers. America Movil and Telmex reportedly planning to jointly invest $4 billion to bolster telecom infrastructure in Latin America. Buying up cheap media, energy and retail as...