The Week Gone By

• WHO raises the alert level of Swine flu(H1N1) to its highest level, declaring it as global pandemic.The last flu pandemic was declared 41 years ago, when H3N1 virus strain killed an estimated 1 million people in 1968.
• Iran incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returns to power, amidst riots by opposition supporters and complaints of cheating from his rivals.
• Satyam decided to send home 7,000 to 10,000 of its employees for six months with immediate effect.They will receive their basic pay (40 per cent of the gross salary) in addition to provident fund and medical insurance.Based on business requirements, they may be recalled to work on full pay and benefits
• Richest Lord of kaliyuga, Lord Venkateshwara, was offered his seventh crown as a gift.
  The staggering Rs 42 crore diamond-studded 2.5 feet tall crown was gifted by Karnataka tourism minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.
• The Producers Council of Tollywood has asked film-makers not to shoot in Australia in immediate future, in the wake of recent attacks against Indians.
• Apple unveiled its new iPhone.
  iPhone 3G S claims to be much faster than its previous versions and comes with some 100 new features. The 3GS will cost $199 for 16 GB of memory, and $299 for 32 GB of memory.The existing iPhone 3G will get an immediate price cut to $99.