Indian National Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and soft drink giant PepsiCo's India-born Chairman Indra Nooyi have been named among the world's 10 most powerful women by the US-based business magazine Forbes.

Gandhi has jumped to sixth rank this year, up from 13th in 2006, with the magazine attributing the election of her choice Pratibha Patil as the country's President another testimony of her growing power. Nooyi has been ranked at the fifth position, down from fourth last year.

"The 100 Most Powerful Women" list compiled by Forbes has been topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the second year in a row.

Another Indian-origin businesswoman Vidya Chhabria, Chairman of UAE-based Jumbo Group, was ranked 97 in the list.

However, two other Indian women -- Lalita Gupte and Kalpana Morparia of ICICI Bank, ranked at 93rd position last year, have moved out of this year's list. Vidya Chhabria has also moved down two ranks from 95th position last year.

In an accompanying list, Forbes named President Pratibha Patil among the most powerful "Women Behind Women", whom it described as those women wielding behind-the-scenes power. The magazine said as female leaders were making it increasingly into the public eye, a growing number of their aides were female too.

"Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of India's most powerful political party, has come far since entering politics in the 1990s. Lawmakers recently elected Gandhi's choice for president, Pratibha Patil, in a historic vote seen as a step forward for India's women and girls who endure daily discrimination," Forbes said.

Forbes added that "Gandhi is widely revered by her fellow countrymen, especially among India's poor as well as its vast agricultural population. Gandhi is continuously concerned that India's rapid economic growth is leaving the poor behind, and that her country is not doing enough to help its farmers.

"She has opposed a government plan to introduce special economic zones to encourage foreign investment in the country. Recently Gandhi stood up to politically powerful opponents in blocking their attempt to nullify an anti-corruption law meant to curb corruption among the country's massive bureaucracy," it added.

Talking about Nooyi, Forbes noted that she has "pushed PepsiCo to move beyond soda, first by helping to start the company's fast-food chains in 1997, and later by spearheading the purchase of Tropicana in 1998. In an effort to offset slowing business in the Gatorade division, Nooyi advocates vitamin and energy-infused water drinks".

The magazine also named Dawn Hudson, President and CEO of PepsiCo North America, in the list of "women behind women" for bringing a "vast store of talent to assist Indra Nooyi".

Nooyi and Gandhi have been ranked ahead of Queen Elizabeth II (23rd), Bill Gates' wife Melinda Gates (24th), talk show celebrity Oprah Winfrey (21st), eBay chairperson Margaret Whitman (22nd), US president aspirant Hillary Clinton (25th), US First Lady Laura Bush (60th) and Jordan's Queen Rania (82nd).

At the top of the list, Angela Merkel is followed by China's Vice Premier Wu Yi (2nd), Singapore government's investment arm Temasek Holdings' CEO Ho Ching (3rd) and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (4th).

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

Specialised blogs are abuzz this week with rumours that Internet giant Google will soon launch the "Google Phone" or "GPhone," a cheap mobile phone equipped with Google's operating system.

High-tech product specialist Engadget said a Google announcement would come nextweek, adding that a Google operating system would be tailor-made for the new cell phone.

According to another blog, CrunchGear, "Google is currently assessing over twenty (of Taiwan's) HTC models" and plans to launch its cell phone between January amd March of 2008.

Photographs of Google's touch-screen handset are already on the Internet, and according to Rizzn.com, it will cost a mere 100 dollars.

CrunchGear said the HTC/Google phone would have Google Talk enabled, allowing users to make free Internet phone calls.

The blog said the Google phone will not only be able to surf the net but also will include "special version of Google Maps, compatible with built-in GPS, and compatibility with Gmail, Google's email service."

According to The Wall Street Journal, Google has already shown its prototype to US companies AT & T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, making it seem clear the Google Phone's launch will definitely take place in the United States.

Indian blog Rediff said the GPhone will be launched in two weeks simultaneously in the United States and Europe, adding that Google was talking with Indian telephone operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, and that Bharat Sanchar Nigam could be one of the manufacturers.

Google has refused to make any comment on the rumours.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com