Numbers of note

$5.5 MILLION
The income of America's first couple, President Barack and Michelle Obama, in 2009. Most of it came from Barack's book sales. President Pratibha Patil, in contrast, takes home about Rs 18 lakh (USD 40,500 approx).

30,000
The number of people tech bellwether Infosys plans to hire this financial year. 27,000 people were hired last year.

4.56cr
The price at which Head Studies of the Mahishasura, a painting by Tyeb Mehta, was sold at an Osian's art auction. Gestation, a painting by S.H. Raza, was sold at Rs 5.48 crore in a Christie's auction in New York.

545mn
The number of cellphones India has. However, only 366 million people (31 per cent of the population) have access to sanitation, according to a UN report.

$2bn
The estimated cumulative loss to airlines across the world due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Flights in and out of Europe had been grounded.