ENVIRONMENT
`Aliens can eat into world's food supply'
ALIEN is no sci-fi stuff, but a real threat to biodiversity, according to a recent update from World Bank. The alert is not about men from Mars or women from Venus but "invasive plants, animals and other organisms" that put the world's food ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
EU to upgrade relations with India
THE European Union (EU) has proposed to firm up "a strategic partnership" with India at the forthcoming EU-India summit in the Hague, Netherlands on November 8. Disclosing this to newspersons here, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr Eric ... More

New South Wales woos Indian power companies
THE Australian State of New South Wales (NSW) is wooing Indian energy companies to tap NSW expertise in providing reliable power to consumers. The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr, has invited Indian companies during the signing of a contract ... More

HEALTH
Seven-year long legal battle over ESI cover before apex court
EVEN as the Government is making efforts to strengthen the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), employees of a large number of big corporates as well as a few public sector enterprises (PSEs) want to opt out of its health scheme cover. ... More

Centre to spend more on primary healthcare: Minister
EFFORTS are on to raise the public spending on primary healthcare to 2-3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Receipts, translating into an expenditure of Rs 1,12,639 crore, said Health Minister, Dr A. Ramadoss. Speaking at the Social Editors' ... More

`Social vaccine is best bet against AIDS'
UNAIDS, a joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS, has said that a social vaccine rather than a vaccine far away can effectively tackle the disease. Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said that Government-sponsored large-scale social awareness ... More

PETROLEUM
LPG to cost more; petrol dearer by Rs 2.20, diesel Rs 2.10
THE UPA Government has decided to increase the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG from midnight tonight. While the price of LPG is to be increased by Rs 20 per cylinder with immediate effect and subsequently by Rs 5 each month, the new prices of ... More

Bullish on crude, bullish on bonds
If the crude oil price rises in the coming year it is bound to drag down economic activity rather than stoke consumer price inflation. More

PHARMACEUTICALS
What the Bush prescription means for pharma firms
FOUR more years in office for the US President, Mr George W. Bush, may not directly have an impact on the Indian pharmaceutical industry. But with healthcare and affordability of medicines being key issues in the presidential debates, the ... More

POWER
DVC asked to change location of proposed plant
THE Central Pollution Control Board has thrown a spanner into the wheels of the Damodar Valley Corporation's (DVC) plans to set up a 1000-mega watt (MW) thermal power plant at Durgapur. In a recent communication, the Ministry of Environment ... More

Govt plans 10,000 MW capacity through renewable sources
THE Government is planning to install around 10,000 mega watts of power generating capacity through renewable energy sources during the Tenth and Eleventh Five Year Plan periods. "We expect to install 10 per cent of the additional power ... More

MANAGEMENT
Innovation Exchange: A marketplace for students' biz ideas
The N.S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and CII Young Indians will soon kick off a marketplace for great business ideas. The Innovation Exchange will be launched over the weekend at ... More

RADIO/TV
Star News now in US
MUMBAI: Star News on Thursday announced the launch of its services in the US. Star News has a footprint across Asia, West Asia, the UK and now in the US. The channel, according to Star News CEO, Mr Uday Shankar, will provide a link ... More

Reality TV to get desi touch
REALITY TV, the 24-hour channel featuring real life action and dramas, plans to get aggressive in the Indian market. The channel is planning to add Indian content, besides embarking on a large-scale brand building exercise. Ms Flecka Picardo, ... More

EDUCATION
Nalsar varsity to hold convocation tomorrow
THE National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law is holding its second annual convocation at the Justice City campus located at Shameerpet near here on Saturday. The Union Minister for Law, Justice and Company ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
CalPERS eyeing investments in real estate in India
"Though CalPERS does not want to be the most significant player in the equity market, it is looking at opportunities to augment its investments in private equity and real estate." More

Inox Leisure plans to invest Rs 100 cr in phase II expansion
INOX Leisure Ltd plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the second phase of its expansion plan, which includes setting up multiplexes in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Allahabad. In the first phase, Inox had made an initial ... More

METALS
Ore exporters, steel units urged to invest in wagons
THE General Manager of South Eastern Railway (SER), Mr R.R. Bhandari, said here that iron ore exporters and steel manufacturers should invest in wagons to ensure that there was no delay in the movement of raw materials. Speaking at the Metals ... More

PAPER, BOARD & NEWSPRINT
Paper prices set to rise again by Jan
THE domestic paper industry could be in for another round of surge in prices around January next year. Despite the two rounds of price increases earlier this year, industry players concur that coated paper prices have still not peaked and ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Nasscom President moots opening up accountancy sector
THE Nasscom President, Mr Kiran Karnik, on Thursday called for liberalisation of the accountancy sector saying it should face challenges of globalisation. Inaugurating national conference on `New challenges new solutions in IT and WTO era' ... More

PRINTING
Autoprint Machinery witnessing robust growth
THE growth in literacy rate and the search for new avenues to disseminate information seem to be propelling the growth of the mini offset printing (MOP) machinery manufacturing industry in the country. The Coimbatore-based Autoprint Machinery ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FICCI calls for review of controlled financial deals
"If we are looking at attracting FDI into the country then we have to create a conducive environment and do away with legal bottlenecks," FICCI said. More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

EVENTS
`Cos unaware of innovations in raising funds'
A NUMBER of innovations are taking place in the financial market, giving means for cheaper finance to companies. But the market is perhaps not fully aware of them, said a speaker today at The India Finance Forum 2004, a conference on `Emerging ... More

Kolkata fair complex to be ready in a year
THE permanent trade fair complex coming up in Kolkata in the Salt Lake area, in the vicinity of the Science City, will be completed within the next 12 months. Making this announcement at the inaugural session of the Consumer-2004 Fair, ... More

Seminar on rural business hubs today
IN an effort to introduce the Panchayati Raj community to the enterprise community, the Government will organise a National Seminar on Rural Business Hubs in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on November 5. This was ... More

INCOME TAX
I-T collection target of Rs 958 cr set for Mangalore division
THE Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax, Goa, Mr B. Ramkumar, has said that the department has set a target of collecting Rs 958 crore income tax in Mangalore division during the current financial year. Addressing the members of the Kanara ... More

Withdraw Sec. 277A in IT Act: Chamber
THE PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has sought the withdrawal of the new Section 277A in the Income Tax Act that provides powers to the tax authorities to fine any person aiding in tax evasion. In a representation to the Finance ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Tecumseh India's exports touch 4 lakh units
TECUMSEH Products India Ltd (TPIL) reached a milestone on Wednesday by exporting its 400,000th compressor in the current year (January 1-November 3, 2004). Mr Todd W. Herrick, Chairman and CEO of Tecumseh Products Company USA, which owns TPIL, ... More

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
Emami forays into baby care segment
EMAMI, the personal and healthcare major, has announced the launch of Sona Chandi ayurvedic baby massage oil, marking its foray into the baby care segment. . According to a press release, this is the first of its kind baby oil, which not only ... More

ECONOMIC OFFENCES
Somasekhara panel resumes probe into Yeleru land scam
Justice Somasekhara has said that he would submit interim reports and try to finish the probe within the allotted time. More