Google, the world's most popular Internet search firm, is planning to connect as many as one billion more people from remote areas of the world to Internet using blimps, masts and satellites.

The Internet search giant is reportedly working on creating high-speed wireless networks in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia with the help of high-altitude blimps, masts and satellites capable of transmitting signals across hundreds of square kilometers.

With the rumored March 7 unveiling-date for the iPad 3 drawing closer, a new Apple. pro report has revealed that the shipments of the next-generation Apple tablet are apparently on their way to the US from Foxconn in China.

The report, seemingly based on some official documentation, has claimed that Foxconn has already dispatched several shipments of the much-rumored and highly-awaited iPad 3 to the US. The shipments, which reportedly will arrive at three US airports - in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York - on March 9, are supposedly under very high security.

Philip Lowe, assistant governor of Reserve Bank of Australia, said that Asia remained more successful than other regions of the world in providing a resilient and strong financial system.

Philip Lowe said that Asian countries depends less on financial markets and more on financial institutions.

Mr. Lowe described the term ‘global financial crisis’ as a misnomer because the crisis did not affect Asian countries.

UK insurer Prudential's new chief executive Tidjane Thiam has high hopes from Asian region as third quarter sales from Asia showed recovery and helped the insurer counterbalance drop in UK sales.

Tidjane Thiam said that third quarter sales from Asia jumped 4 per cent to settle at £293 million, the highest since June 2008.

Speaking on the Asian results, Tidjane Thiam said, "We are becoming progressively more optimistic about the economic situation in Asia following the turbulence of the previous 12 months."

Royal Bank of Scotland is very near to hit a deal worth £200 million to sell off its Asian assets. As per a confirmed report, Royal Bank of Scotland has been considering to sell off its assets in India, China and Malaysia to Standard Chartered.