The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, December 08, 2005

PF interest rate fixed at 8.5% — Rs 370-cr shortfall likely
THE approximately four crore subscribers of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will have to undergo a loss of one percentage point interest, compared to last year, on their provident fund deposits. The Central Board of Trustees ... More

Indian banks cannot outsource core functions: RBI
INDIAN banks cannot outsource core banking functions including management of investment portfolio. According to the guidelines on outsourcing of banking activities issued by the Reserve Bank of India today, banks also cannot outsource the work ... More

Microsoft lines up $1.7 b investments for India — To expand R&D activities; promote IT literacy
BETTING heavily on India's IT prowess, the Microsoft Chairman, Mr Bill Gates, today announced an investment of $1.7 billion (Rs 7,858 crore) spread over the next four years to expand its research and development (R&D) activities, and strengthen . More

Gates & Murthy: They still chase a dream
THEY are rich, have a good sense of humour and come across as down to earth. Even after 30 years of making it big in the global IT scene, both Mr Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft Corporation, and Mr N. R. Narayana ... More

India on right track, says Gates
THE Microsoft Chairman, Mr Bill Gates, has said that India was moving in the "right direction" and had a huge role to play in the worldwide stage. "While software potential in India is amazing, issues such as literacy, productivity, digital ... More

Intel sets up $250-m fund for start-ups in India
CHIP maker Intel has formed a $250-million Intel India Technology Fund that would be used for venture capital investment in technology start-ups in India, according to Mr R.K. Amar Babu, Director Sales & Marketing Group, Intel South ... More

DoT clears Tata-Star DTH proposal
THE Department of Telecom (DoT) has cleared the Tata-Star Group's Direct-To-Home (DTH) proposal paving way for the company to foray into the digital television segment. The company had recently announced that it has signed an agreement with the ... More

Parliament approves Tax Tribunal Bill
THE legal decks have been cleared for the setting up of a National Tax Tribunal (NTT), with Parliament approving the National Tax Tribunal Bill 2005. The Rajya Sabha through a voice vote approved the Bill on Wednesday. The Lok Sabha had ... More

CPI(M) against FDI in retail: Karat
THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday said the party is not generally opposed to foreign direct investment, but it certainly does not buy the arguments being used to allow FDI in retail trade. Speaking at an interactive session ... More

Tropical cyclone `Fanoos' threatens south coastal Tamil Nadu
Coastal Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh are likely to receive a fresh spell of fairly widespread to widespread rains with isolated heavy falls from Thursday evening. More