San Francisco  - Microsoft has long been accused of copying the computer innovations of its smaller competitor Apple. Now it is also copying parts of Apple's retail model.

The software giant plans to start its own chain of retail stores highlighting its products, following the success of Apple's 251 stores in engaging customers and boosting Apple's profile.

The Microsoft announcement on Friday did not include details of the retail rollout but it will not be the company's first attempt to open up a retail shop. The company opened a Microsoft store in Sony's Metreon centre in San Francisco in 1999, in which it showcased technology from Microsoft and its partners, but the store closed in 2002.

Event :Kimberly Perry at American Country Awards 2011 - Arrivals

Event :Sylvia Miles at "War Horse" World Premiere - Arrivals

What’s up with Neil Nitin Mukesh? He’s just one film( ‘Johhny Gaddar’) old and he’s acting pricey already. Maybe he’s basing it all on the films he signed thereafter- ‘New York’ and ‘Aa Dekhen Zara’.

Nagesh Kukunoor is the one who’s bearing the brunt of his highhandedness.

There was a time when newcomers would fight hard to be a part of a Nagesh Kukunoor film. But that now is a thing of the past.

Nagesh is currently trying hard to get two of his films- ‘8 x 10 Tasveer’ and ‘Aashayein’ to see the light of the day.

Event: Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Mattel Showroom in New York
Venue & Location: Mattel Showroom / New York City, NY, USA
Event Date: 2/15/2008
Photographer: © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the largest insurance organizations in the country is all set to open a representative office in Singapore next month.

According to the source, the upcoming office will initially explore opportunity for selling insurance products to the people of Indian origin.

Additionally, the insurance giant is also planning to expand its footprints into Australia and New Zealand. At present, LIC has international operations in seven countries - UK, Mauritius, Fiji, Nepal, Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Bangkok - Tens-of-thousands of anti-government protestors, some of them armed with sticks, marched on Parliament Monday in what has been dubbed a "final battle" to topple the cabinet by Wednesday.

Sondhi Limthongkul, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that has been leading an anti-government campaign in Bangkok since May, launched the march from Government House to Parliament at 6:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday).

Health care services remain unutilized in Himachal Pradesh.

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) had been allocated funds to provide healthcare facilities in Himachal Pradesh but 75% of the funds remain unutilized.

The Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) said, that this health mission funds were not utilized because of the non availability of 24 hour healthcare facilities.

Event : outside the ITV studios
Venue & Location : London, England
Event Date : 07.09.10
Credit:IANS-WENN

New Delhi: According to Health Ministry sources, the AIIMS convocation in which the medical students were to be granted degree certificates has been delayed to October.

Now, the students were to be honored their degree certificates by Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, on September 25.

The sourced stated, “The Minister has prior appointment on September 25 and the date of convocation was fixed without his consent.”

Abu Dhabi - The United Arab Emirates said on Friday it would provide emergency aid to those affected by flooding in Yemen that has left at least 20 people dead, the official WAM news agency reported.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan said he would provide "emergency aid as a relief to those hit by the flood in Yemen," without stating the amount of the aid, the agency reported.

At least 20 people died and dozens more were missing after floods from heavy rains hit two provinces in Yemen on Friday. Yemeni officials told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that nearly 400 homes were destroyed in the south-eastern province of Hadhramout, some 900 kilometres from the capital Sana'a.

Johannesburg  - The furore over South Africa's refusal to grant the Dalai Lama a visa to attend a peace conference in Johannesburg later this week grew with former president and Nobel laureate FW de Klerk announcing Monday he was boycotting the meeting.

"Mr De Klerk will reluctantly not participate in the peace conference on March 27 and its associated activities if a visa is not granted to enable the Dalai Lama to attend the conference as well," the FW de Klerk foundation said in a statement Monday.

Los Angeles  - The Los Angeles coroner has found that Michael Jackson died from a lethal dose of the tightly controlled hospital anaesthetic propofol, according to court documents released Monday.

The finding was contained in the search warrant for the home of Jackson's physician, Dr Conrad Murray, 50, whose Houston, Texas, home was searched by law enforcement officials on July 22, looking for evidence of manslaughter.

Event : Jason Gedrick at  HBO's "Luck" Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals

Event:Global Green USA's 6th Annual Pre-Oscar Party Benefiting Green Schools - Arrivals
Venue & Location:Avalon Hollywood / Hollywood, CA, USA
Event Date:2/19/2009
Photographer:Bob Charlotte / PR Photos

Bangalore, Sept. 13 : Taking Friday’s demand of “nationalizing the route of the Amarnath yatra” forward on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) once again reiterated and declared that no part of India would be allowed to secede, whether it was in the opposition or, in power.

The message coming through its political resolution here today on developments in Jammu and Kashmir, was – deal with separatist elements in the Kashmir Valley and their patrons across the border with a “very heavy hand”.

Washington, Oct 10 - Describing India as "an important ally", the White House has noted that the US continues to be engaged with the Indians to bring about peace in an important region of the world.

"I think it goes without saying that India is an important ally," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Friday when asked if after winning the Nobel Peace Prize President Barack Obama, who has often mentioned Mahatma Gandhi in his speeches, would work harder than ever for global peace, including in the Indian subcontinent.

Event:"Signorina Effe" Rome Photocall
Venue & Location:Casa del Cinema / Rome, Italy
Event Date:1/16/2008
Photographer:© Insidefoto / PR Photos

Event : London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 - Ozwald Boateng - Arrivals
Venue & Location : Odeon Leicester Square / London, UK
Event Date : 09/22/2010
Photographer : Landmark / PR Photos