Microsoft enters second stage of large-scale layoffs

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

US-based Microsoft Corporation said on May 5 that the large-scale lay-off plan it had announced earlier this year has now entered its second stage.

Microsoft announced its intention to cut 5,000 jobs at the beginning of this year, accounting for over 5 percent of its entire workforce. It is the largest downsizing plan the company has adopted since it was established in 1975. Of the total layoffs, 1,400 jobs have been immediately axed, while the remaining posts will be gradually cut over the next 18 months.

Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer wrote in an e-mail sent to the employees on May 5 that Microsoft's 5,000-people downsizing plan will be essentially concluded following the completion of the second-stage. This means the number of people laid off in the second stage will be around 3,600.

Microsoft has stated that this round of layoff involves employees in the US and other countries, and all employees laid off will receive a severance package. Moreover, from now until the middle of 2010, Microsoft will create 2,000 to 3,000 new jobs, after which, some of those previously laid off may be re-employed.

Due to the drop in IT spending around the globe following the financial crisis, and sustained sluggishness in the PC business and server markets in particular, Microsoft's business revenue in the first three months of this year dropped year-on-year for the first time since it went public 23 years ago.

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LeBron James wins NBA regular MVP

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- 24-year-old LeBron James, super star of Cleveland Cavalier, was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season on Monday.

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2009.(Xinhua/ReutersPhoto)

It was announced a day before the Cavaliers begin their second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. They trounced the Detroit Pistons four games in a row in the previous round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

James, the first Cavaliers player by winning the award, finished second in voting for defensive player of the year.

At 24 years and 125 days old, he became the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79 Season. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69 Season.

James started a career-high 81 games and recorded personal bests in field-goal (49%) and free-throw (79%) percentages. He became just the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Kuznetsova sweeps Safina to claim Stuttgart title

BERLIN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- World number nine Russian tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova swept compatriot and world number one Dinara Safina in straight sets to claim the title in Sturttgart on Sunday.

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Stuttgart,May3,2009.(Xinhua/Reuters)

This is Kuznetsova's first tournament win for two years with victory in the Stuttgart final. In 2004, Kuznetsova, 24, took the title of U.S. Open.

On Sunday, Kuznetsova took 80 minutes to defeat fellow-Russian Safina, who was playing in her first tournament since being installed at the top of the world rankings in April, 6-4 6-3.

Kuznetsova, who beat another Russian -- Olympic champion and second seed Elena Dementieva in the semifinals -- needed only 43 minutes to take the opening set and had a match point at 5-2 in the second set.

Although, Safina saved that, Kuznetsova took the title on her second match point to end a dismal run of losing her last six WTA Tour finals.

"This win means a lot to me," Kuznetsova said. "It's a just reward for all the suffering. It was a difficult last year for me."

"She played very well and I didn't feel very well today," Safina said. "But I am still the No. 1."