Google Chrome making good grounds in browser market

“Every rise has a downfall”, it’s an old saying but fits very much for recent victory of Google Chrome over Internet Explorer in terms of market share.

Google Chrome enjoying growth in browser market

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8, which was considered as the undoubted king of browsing and once the holder of ‘world’s most-used browser’ tag, has lost its supremacy in browsing field to its toughest rival Google Chrome.

According to statistics and figures by StatCounter, a Web Analytic firm, Internet Explorer 8, after been trailed slightly by Google chrome in last week of November, has lost significant share of market until now.

The statistics shows that in last week of November, Internet Explorer 8 was capturing 23.5% of browser market share as compared to 23.6% of Google Chrome leaving a gap of just 0.1%; but the latest stats have shown that the gap has widened to 3% with browser market share of 22% and 25% for Internet Explorer 8 and Google Chrome respectively.

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Exclusive Video -- Kim Jong-Un paid last respect to deceased N Korean leader Kim Jong-Il

PYONGYANG, North Korea (Dec. 20) – Kim Jong-Un, the son and likely successor of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, has visited the memorial palace on Tuesday to pay his last respect to country’s long-time ruler. He was reportedly accompanied by top military and Workers' Party officials.

Body of Kim Jong-Il lies in state for last respect

According to state media the body of deceased leader was laid out in a memorial palace for the weeping North Korean public to pay their last tributes to their leader passed away this weekend. The ceremony was called as “Solemn Ceremony”.

Kim Jong-Un, in his 20s, entered the room to see his father’s body as somber music played, state media said. He observed a moment of silence, and then bowed his head, followed by other officials accompanied him

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Kim Jong Il died of a massive heart attack on Saturday caused by overwork and stress, according to the North's media. He was 69.

North Korean state media have given clear indications that Kim Jong-Un will succeed his father.

Watch video below as Kim Jong-Un pays his last respect to his father and long-time ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-Il.

Video and Images: State of National Calamity Declared by Philippines after More Than 1,000 Killed by Washi (Sendong)

MANILA, Philippines (Dec. 20) – State of national calamity has been declared by the Philippines government after the flash floods triggered by Sendong (Washi) storm during last week that left more than 1,000 dead.

State of National Calamity Declared by Philippines

The storm and floods not only caused the huge number of deaths but it has left more than 338,000 people stranded after losing their homes, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. The national disaster has also prompted a health crisis over the disposing off of the dead to stop disease from spreading.

Most of the sufferers have been in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in the Mindanao region.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says more than 338,000 people in 13 provinces have been affected by typhoon Washi, with nearly 43,000 others still in evacuation centers.

Watch the video below containing the latest images of disaster in Philippines:

Turning Point for Secret Taliban-U.S. Talks -- Will it help ending Afghan war?

WASHINGTON, DC – According to a senior US official; the top secret talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgents have already on the conclusion points after 10-month long dialogue process. The ultimate outcome of the dialogue will not only decide the future of US presence in Afghanistan but it will also lead to end the Afghan war.

Afghanistan future depends upon the outcomes of secret Taliban-U.S. Talks

U.S. are already thinking to shift certain number of Taliban prisoners from their military prison in Guantanamo Bay into Afghan government custody just to accelerate the dialogue process and to get the desirable outcome, reported by Reuters.

In return U.S. and Afghan government definitely need Taliban to match that confidence-building measure like condemnation of international terrorism and a public compliance to begin formal political talks with the government headed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Afghanistan diplomacy, already in a delicate phase, needs some extraordinary steps to restore the confidence for those who don’t like U.S. presence in the region. One of the most significant snags, which can restrain to attain the positive outcome, is the U.S. plan to withdraw the troops by the end of 2014 that potentially reduces the motivation for the Taliban to negotiate.

The subjected secret talks, even with the possible doubtful outcome, are considered as the most important part of President Obama’s backhand Afghan policy, U.S. senior officials said sharing the new details on the condition of anonymity.

The officials further revealed that U.S. officials have been involved in about half a dozen meetings with the representatives of Taliban insurgents close to Mullah Omar - leader of the Taliban's Quetta Shura - mainly in Germany and Doha.

The stakes in the diplomatic effort could not be more as the collapse would possibly deepen the Afghanistan conflict, which might lead to civil war, after NATO coalition start delegating security tasks to hamid Karzai's weak government by the end of 2014.

On the other hand; success would mean a political end to the 10-yeal long Afghan war and the likelihood that parts of the Taliban - some stricter ones seem prone to reject the talks - could be reconciled.

All these secret diplomatic efforts are now at a deciding point.

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased $300 million stakes in Twitter

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, - nephew of Saudi King who earlier this month was declared as the Arab world’s richest business man - announced the purchase of a $300 million stakes in microblogging site Twitter.

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased $300 million stakes in Twitter 

According to an emailed statement from Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Company; the huge investment in Twitter by the company is part of a drive “to invest in promising, high-growth businesses with a global impact.”

Prince Alwaleed’s stake is equivalent to 3.6% of the Twitter’s total value of $8.4 billion estimated by the analysts in October this year.

Microblogging site Twitter - allows users to send messages called ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters each – has achieved recently a land mark of 100 million active users who send 250 million tweets per day.

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Floating Oil Rig Capsized and Sank in Russia -- 7 Killed, 46 Missing: Emergencies Ministry

MOSCOW, Russia (Dec. 19) – At least seven reported killed and dozens feared dead after missing due to floating oil rig capsized and sank off Russia's east coast, officials said on Monday.

Floating Oil Rig Capsized and Sank off Russia east Coast

The accident took place on Sunday morning and as a result of immediate rescue operations 14 workers were saved while 7 bodies have been recovered. About 46 persons are still missing in the ice-cold waters, spokesperson of Emergencies Ministry said.

The accident could easily be described as the deadliest offshore oil accident in Russia, which produces most of its oil onshore.

The oil platform capsized as it was being towed about 200 kilometers (120 miles) off the Coast of Sakhalin Island amid a fierce storm.

Even though the survival chances of missing persons are trifling, but rescuers are continuing to search for them.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-II Dies at 69 -- North and South Korea at the Brink of War?

SEOUL, South Korea (Dec. 19) – South Korean military is kept on alert after the revelation of death news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-II on Monday. Although the South Korean President Myung-Bak Lee has advised the nation to stay calm while the country’s military has increased the air surveillance of borders.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-II Dies at 69

President Lee had a 2-hour long phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama after Kim's death was announced by the North Korea's state media at noon (03:00 GMT).

"The two leaders agreed to closely co-operate and monitor the situation together," a presidential spokesperson said.

According to Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson; Seoul also wanted its U.S. ally, which places 28,500 troops in the South, to enhance surveillance by planes and satellites.

A defence ministry spokesperson ahs also confirmed the situation telling that their military was keeping an eye over the North Korea’s military movements and the monitoring and defense on the borders has been strengthened.

"All commanders are on alert and the South and U.S. are beefing up the sharing of military intelligence. There have been no particular moves by the North's military yet," spokesperson said further.

All government officials have been put on emergency response status, according to President Lee, which means that they can’t take leave and restricted from traveling.

The North Korea's state media reported earlier on Monday that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack on Saturday while on board a train during one of his field trips.

Lee called a National Security Council meeting at the presidential Blue House and an emergency cabinet meeting was to begin at 15:00 (06:00 GMT). "All Blue House officials are in emergency mode," his spokesperson said.

North and South Korea have remained technically at war since their three-year Korean conflict ended only in an armistice in 1953.

Relations have been especially tense since the South accused the North of sinking a warship in March 2010 with the loss of 46 lives.

The North denied involvement in the sinking but shelled a South Korean island in November 2010, killing four people.

Many units in the North's 1.1 million-strong armed forces are stationed close to the heavily fortified border, along with thousands of missiles.

US troops have been based in the South since 1953 to bolster the South's military, which currently numbers 650 000.