The Hindu Business Line : Monday, January 15, 2007

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
`Banks can reject VRS applications'
Banks, which had introduced a `voluntary retirement scheme' (VRS), had "absolute discretion either to accept or not to accept applications of employees" to avail themselves of the scheme, the Madras High Court has held. The First Bench, ... More

Taking over
WELCOME SMILE: The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, along with the Union Law Minister, Mr H.R. Bharadwaj, and the newly sworn-in Chief Justice of India, Mr K.G. Balakrishnan, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. ... More

ECONOMY
MoUs worth Rs 4.5 lakh cr signed at Gujarat summit
The `Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors' Summit-2007' concluded here with the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, declaring that a total of 330 announcements had been made or memorandum of understanding (MoUs) signed during the two-day event, ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
Connectivity key to regional integration: PM
India is willing to engage ASEAN in a discussion on an open skies policy, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, told ASEAN leaders at the summit meeting here today. "Greater connectivity is central to the idea of regional economic integration," ... More

`Goa, a powerful agent to bring India, Portugal closer'
As a member of the European Union, Portugal is also a platform for providing access to a consolidated market of 500 million consumers More

Assam's Sutharkandi gets trade centre
Assam's first International Trade Centre at Sutharkandi border point (with Bangladesh) was opened on Friday by the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh. The Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation has set up ... More

Malaysia pitches for Bollywood
Bollywood got an unexpected reference at the talks India had with ASEAN leaders at the annual summit meeting here. Briefing newspersons after the talks, the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, revealed that there was a suggestion by one of ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE
Madhucon SPV achieves financial closure
The special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Madhucon Projects for undertaking the 129-km stretch of the National Highway between Madurai and Tuticorin achieved financial closure. According to a press release, a consortium led ... More

PETROLEUM
Pipeline for Rajasthan crude: ONGC, Cairn near consensus
A consensus seems to be emerging between state-owned ONGC and Cairn India Ltd to build a pipeline to transport crude oil found in Barmer, Rajasthan to a nearby port city. This could put to an end to the speculations on how the crude from the ... More

Crude prices dip to 19-month low
Forecast of warmer-than-normal winter in US More

Oil marketing cos seek discounts from standalone refiners again
To offset under-recovery on petro products sale More

POWER
NTPC-Simhadri strike called off
The contract workers in the NTPC Simhadri thermal power station here called off their 12-day-old strike seeking higher allowances, after reaching an agreement with the management and contractors on Saturday. The workers were ... More

SSI
`Small-scale sector must seize biz opportunities'
The small-scale sector should seize the business opportunities emerging from the improving economic conditions and the congenial business environment in the long-neglected Latin American Countries (LAC), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) ... More

EDUCATION
`Universities must foster individual's spiritual growth'
Universities have an important role and big responsibility to bring about a qualitative change in the contemporary values of youths, according to Mr Soli J. Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India. Delivering the convocation address at the ... More

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING
Food processing: `Retail boom to boost demand'
Investments to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore expected More

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS & HOSPITALS
Healthcare spending could contribute 6% of GDP by 2012: Study
Shortfall of doctors, nurses worrisome: FICCI-E&Y study More

GOLD & SILVER
Gold futures may decline
Gold futures recovered sharply higher on Friday, supported by fund buying and a recovery in all other commodities. Holiday in the US markets on Monday also prompted players to unwind short positions ahead of the long weekend. Despite weakness ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
`Japan to consider funding network project of India'
The Japanese Government would "positively" consider funding the Rs 1,500-crore national high-speed gigabyte network project of India, according to Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology. This network ... More

EVENTS
TMA bid to evolve vision for the city
The annual convention of the Trivandrum Management Association (TMA) will be held in the city on January 27. Called `TRIMA 2007', the event will focus on the theme `A New Vision - Capital Region Development', says a TMA press release. TRIMA ... More

Getting ready for Davos 2007
It is the sheer concentration of individuals with power, wealth and knowledge that makes the WEF so desirable to its participants More

Agenda for the week

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Govt to help exporters financially to contest dumping cases abroad
Also to assist in anti-money laundering law compliance litigations More

TOURISM
Call to promote tourism in coastal Karnataka
To fully exploit potential of the area More