Yahoo! expands Web-connected TV push

LAS VEGAS:  Yahoo! announced partnerships with television and other device manufacturers as the Internet company joins others seeking to jump from the computer to the TV screen.

"Consumers are in love with their televisions, watching more TV, and demanding Internet connectivity to further enhance their viewing experience," said Arlo Rose, senior director of Yahoo! Connected TV.

Yahoo! said the online programs known as "widgets" for the increasing number of Web-capable televisions would be embedded in more models and include video on demand, social networks, games and online shopping.

One year after announcing partnerships with Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony and Vizio, Yahoo! used the annual Consumer Electronics Show here to announce tie-ups with China's Hisense, ViewSonic, MIPS Technologies and Sigma Designs.

Yahoo! also announced it was releasing a widget development kit to allow developers to create their own TV widgets.

Vizio's upcoming HDTVs will incorporate Yahoo! widgets as will Web-connected TVs from Hisense and ViewSonic's VMP80 media player.

Yahoo! said the VMP80 media player will allow HDTV owners to view movies, TV shows, Web videos, and photos and go shopping and play games with TV widgets.

"Consumers can enjoy the greatest Internet content while simultaneously viewing their favorite programming," said ViewSonic Americas vice president Jeff Volpe.

MIPS will include the Yahoo! widget platform on digital TV and set-top box applications while Sigma Designs said it will offer Yahoo! widgets on Blu-ray players and other devices.

Pakistan’s inflation will be 11 percent: IMF

NEW YORK : International Monetary Fund (IMF) hinted that Pakistan’s inflation rate will be increase from 9 to 11 percent for current fiscal year.

In an analytical report, IMF has increased the inflation rate for Pakistan from 9 percent to 11 percent for current fiscal year. The increased in the target has been made keeping in view increment in the crude oil prices and rise in power tariff. The economic growth rate will be 3 percent whereas threats to economic progress will also remain same.

The report added that there is increment in flow of remittances in Pakistan therefore, it is expected that current accounts deficit will be decline from 4.7 percent to 4.2 percent.

Alleged US airline bomber pleads not guilty

NEW YORK :  Lawyers for the young Nigerian accused of trying to blow up the U.S. plane on Christmas Day pleaded not guilty Friday, as he faced life imprisonment on six charges.

Wearing a white T-shirt and beige trousers, 23-year-old Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab spoke to confirm his name, age and that he had read a copy of the indictment against him, as a lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Abdulmutallab, son of a prominent Nigerian banker, was arrested following the botched al-Qaeda plot, in which a device allegedly stitched into his underwear failed to detonate on board a Northwest flight from Amsterdam.

The thwarted bombing has triggered U.S. and global alarm, leading the United States to adopt stringent new screening and security measures at airports around the world. Dozens of names have also been added to no-fly lists.