The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Heavy rains hit AP, families evacuated
Incessant rains over the last few days have caused havoc in the border districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, forcing authorities to evacuate families from the affected areas to safer places. Rains in the catchment areas of the Nagavalli ... More

NRIS
Banks hike FCNR, NRE deposit rates
ICICI Bank said it has raised the interest rates on rupee and foreign currency-denominated deposits held by non-residents. The new rates take effect immediately, the bank said in a statement. It didn't say what prompted the revision in rates. The ... More

AUTOMOBILES
`TN auto industry size will be $15-20 b by 2015'
Industry will generate 5 lakh new jobs, says CII study More

ECONOMY
8.5 % GDP growth viable, say northern States
CMs urge Centre to intervene to ensure even development More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Govt cuts duties on SAFTA imports
380 tariff lines covered under trade liberalisation programme More

FOREIGN TRADE
Spain keen on tie-ups in education, tech sectors
Spanish President invites India to face global challenges together More

HEALTH
Dr Reddy's launches new drug in urology segment
Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd has announced the launch of alfuzosin hydrochloride - indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In a press release on Monday, the company said alfuzosin hydrochloride ... More

PSU
Public sector driving IT spend in APAC: IDC
China, India to expand e-governance, lead push for ICT adoption More

PETROLEUM
IFC clears $150-m loan to Cairn for Rajasthan project
To alleviate energy shortage in India, Bangladesh More

Deora lauds 8 States on ST cut in fuel
The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, has complimented eight States, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, and their Chief Ministers for accepting his request to forego the sales tax revenue on ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Hyderabad cos corner bulk of IPs on vaccines
Indian companies, especially those from Hyderabad, have cornered the bulk of intellectual property (IP) on vaccines, that the National Institute of Health (NIH), United States decided to out licence during 2003-05. Shantha Biotechnics Ltd, ... More

STEEL
SAIL plans SC/ST quota in selection of dealers
The Ministry of Steel has decided to introduce quota system in selection of dealers for State-owned steel companies. The Minister for Steel, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, has directed SAIL to implement the quota system for members of Scheduled Castes ... More

TAXATION
Hearing on INSA's petition adjourned to July 31
The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned till July 31, the hearing on the writ petition filed by the Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA) in connection with the claims issued by the Director General of Central Excise Intelligence ... More

TEXTILES
CII workshop on dyeing at Coimbatore
An international workshop on `Implications of EU directives on REACH (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals) norms on Indian textile and dye industry' will be held here on July 5. The workshop intended to focus ... More

SSI
German SMEs in engg sector keen on India
A German delegation from the State of Baden Wurttemberg is on visit to India from July 1-9. The delegation organised by the Association of Industrial Enterprises Baden (WVIB) comprises small and medium companies in the engineering sector, said ... More

GVFL to raise Rs 100 cr for SME Fund
GVFL Ltd is coming up with its largest-ever fund of Rs 100 crore by this year-end for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to address their needs for adequate and timely finance to achieve global competitiveness. The company is also in the ... More

SMBs are goldmine, says Oracle
Oracle India considers the mid-market segment a goldmine for its applications. The company has, through its road shows, reached 1,500 customers and tied up with 70 new partners between March and April 2006. An IDC report reveals that there are ... More

COAL
MetalJunction-NCDEX may launch coal futures
Pact with MMTC, Adani for sourcing thermal coal More

BREWERIES
France to promote wine, food in India
Betting on the Indo-French food and wine trade to double in the next two years, the Indian arm of Sopexa, the French food and beverage promotion board, is planning to hold nationwide events to make the French wine to have `top of the mind ... More

RADIO/TV
WorldSpace unveils new signature tune
Satellite-based digital radio services company WorldSpace on Monday unveiled a new signature tune developed by musician Mr A.R. Rahman. Rahman, who is WorldSpace's brand ambassador in India, has developed the tune, to be used in an integrated ... More

EDUCATION
Creative craft curriculum launched
Pidilite has launched its Creative Craft Curriculum, a one-stop solution for schools in the field of art and craft. The company said it would partner schools and help them to develop and nurture students with all round ... More

ICAI to start new curriculum for CAs
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will introduce the new curriculum for Chartered Accountancy this September. The Government has approved the draft scheme for the same, said Mr T.N. Manoharan, President, ICAI. Under the ... More

AIR-CONDITIONERS & REFRIGERATORS
Training programme on refrigeration
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and City and Guilds (South Asia) have launched a three-month skill training programme in air-conditioning and refrigeration in a tie-up with AMK Technological Polytechnic College, ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
IMC to launch centenary year celebrations
The Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC), which is entering its centenary year, will launch its celebrations on July 18 in the presence of the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The chamber proposes to provide a global platform to Indian business ... More

BIO-TECH & GENETICS
Faster approval process for GM crops
`Event based approval system' to be put in place More

COKE & METALURGICAL COKE
Gujarat NRE MD to be on NZ coal company's board soon
Pike River investment will extend co's Australian interests to New Zealand More

DISINVESTMENT
PM assures shares to NLC staff
Employees not enthusiastic, call indefinite strike from today More

IPR
Patent rights to auto injector device
The CII-Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDC) has facilitated the grant of patent rights to a unique auto injector device, which has immense applications in military and civil applications. The ... More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
TRAI hauls up BSNL for ignoring orders
Blames BSNL for increase in congestion levels More

EVENTS
Lenzing-Lakshmi Mills seminar
A technical seminar on enhancing cotton with the use of `Lenzing' fibres will be held here tomorrow. The seminar is being jointly organised by the city-based Lakshmi Mills Company Ltd and the European man-made fibre company ... More

INCOME TAX
I-T chiefs' meet begins today
The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, will inaugurate the 22nd annual conference of Chief Commissioners of Income-Tax and Directors-General of Income-Tax (DGITs) on Tuesday. Speaking to newspersons, the Chairman of the Central ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
EU tightens basmati import norms
DNA testing, `authenticity certification' made mandatory More

Banks refuse discounting of bills sans ECGC cover
Exporters' argument for `with recourse' funding rejected More

Poultry team for West Asia to allay bird flu fears
To press for lifting of import ban on poultry products More

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Rains hit Mumbai, JN ports' operations
The blow out in the skies over Mumbai on Monday crippled cargo handling operations and ship movements at Mumbai port and the neighbouring Jawaharlal Nehru port. The worst affected was Mumbai port, as bulk cargoes, which cannot be handled during ... More

Fiat shifts cars from Kurla to Ranjangaon
Takes monsoon disaster prevention plan More