The Hindu Business Line : Friday, June 08, 2007

CLIMATE & WEATHER
Running into bad weather
The reported move by the Indian Met Department to provide weather inputs to the BCCI before it fixes match schedules seems to have come a cropper. The Met Department had stuck its neck out to predict the weather in Bangladesh when India played ... More

Climate change challenges
This year's World Environment Day focuses on the effects that climate change can have on ecosystems and communities such as Kerala, whose coastal zones could be irreparably damaged, resulting in a loss of tourist traffic. More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
Govt cannot review decisions relating to judicial officers: HC
The Government has no power to review decisions in respect of judicial officers, and high courts alone had control over them, the Madras High Court has held. This has been the ruling in various decisions, the court added. The Governor could ... More

ECONOMY
In pursuit of work
Poor yields and huge debts force small farmers to migrate to cities, where there is little succour available. More

ENVIRONMENT
Fortis, UNDP tie up for carbon trading projects
The UNDP on Wednesday announced that Fortis would be the financial services provider for UNDP's MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Carbon Facility. Under the terms of the partnership, UNDP will help developing countries conceive projects ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Port curbs on Lanka quota tea imports off
The Finance Ministry has done away with port restrictions on imports of quota tea from Sri Lanka at a concessional rate under the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade agreement (FTA). Under the FTA, up to 15 million kg of tea from Sri Lanka can be ... More

HEALTH
GSK's diabetes drug may need addl warning
Cos await regulator's directive More

`Clinical studies are subject to very strict rules and guidelines'
India works out to be a cheaper option as the cost of conducting a trial here is lower by 50-75 per cent, than in the US or the EU. More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Advinus collaborates with local cos for research
Domestic drug makers are forging global alliances not just with overseas companies, but they are also partnering with local companies to undertake research for the development of new drugs, said Dr Rashmi H. Barbhaiya of Advinus Therapeutics. ... More

POWER
High-energy guidelines
A colleague covering the Power Ministry had a sorry tale recently. On a Sunday, the Government announced with much fanfare building guidelines that would result in energy savings. To publicise the event, the Power Ministry put in a lot of effort ... More

KSEB signs pact with pvt producer
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has signed an agreement with Viyyat Power (Pvt) Ltd for the purchase of power from a small hydel project being set up by the latter at Vellathooval panchayat in Idukki district. The project will have an ... More

TAXATION
VAT panel to meet in Kashmir on June 15
State Finance Ministers are to meet in Jammu and Kashmir on June 15 to take forward the discussions on the introduction of goods and services tax (GST) and also review the VAT implementation in the country. The Central Government has already ... More

Apr-May direct tax collections up
The Centre's net direct tax collections grew 71.42 per cent in April-May 2007 to Rs 13,335 crore compared to Rs 7,779 crore in the corresponding previous period. While net corporate tax collection stood at Rs 4,835 crore (Rs ... More

SSI
Codissia's consumer fair in October
The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) has joined hands with event promoters - Innovative Concepts India Private Ltd (ICE) for organising the `Codissia ICE' Consumer Fair at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex between ... More

SAP bets big on SMEs for growth in India
Of the company's target client base of 15,000 by year 2010, 12,000 will be SME clients and 3,000 large enterprise clients, said Mr Alan Sedghi, President and CEO of SAP, Indian Subcontinent. He was speaking at a news conference on the opening ... More

COAL
`Green year' at Central Coalfields
Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) is observing 2007-08 as Environmental Conservation Year, says a press release. During the year, CCL has planned to carry out afforestation of 8 lakh saplings. CCL has already planted 26.69 lakhs ... More

EDUCATION
Biocon ties up with Australian varsity
Biocon Ltd has signed an MoU with Australia's Deakin University for collaboration in research and education. The two will set up the Deakin Research Institute in Bangalore. They will jointly develop a mammalian cell bio-processing facility at ... More

Caught in the `Net'
One section of the journalist community in the capital is pretty unhappy with the advance of Internet in the country. Colleagues in the photo section of the newspaper have a lament that Class 10 and 12 results these days do not translate into a ... More

`Upgrade Bengal engg varsity'
The Global Alumni Association of Bengal Engineering & Science University (GAABESU), Shibpur, has urged the West Bengal Government to upgrade BESU to an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology before November, ... More

ICFAI, Australian varsity in pact
ICFAI University has signed a memorandum of understanding with Monash University, Australia, for academic collaboration that may include joint research and training programmes, faculty and student exchange, joint proposals for ... More

HCV/LCV/TRACTORS
Mahindra launches Pik-Up in Australia
Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the launch of the utility vehicle Mahindra Pik-Up in Australia in partnership with TMI Pacific. The Pik-Up has a 2.5-l common rail turbo diesel engine, which meets the Euro-4 emission standards. The vehicle ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Pune realty co building `Continuous care' homes
The projects will be coming up in Pune, Mumbai, Hinjewadi, Bhugaon More

CREDAI realty expo
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) and Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) propose to hold a realty expo, `India Property Fair 2007,' in Dubai and London. The exhibition will be held at the ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
CII delegation to take up visa issue with US
H-1B visa issue to figure in talks More

BIO-TECH & GENETICS
Biotech seeks STPI-like prop to boost growth
`We must make the pitch for weaning back talent to India, by creating the environment for biotech professionals... ' Sector should look at boosting agriculture: Chidambaram More

`India will figure prominently in Biolink Forum 2007'
To be held in Yokohoma, Japan in September More

Karnataka leads $2-b biotech industry
Karnataka's 183-strong industry accounts for Rs 2,200 crore of the turnover and Rs 1,000 crore in exports. More

DISINVESTMENT
74% stake in new railways rolling stock joint ventures to private sector mooted
More

IPR
Balancing trade security and facilitation
A correct balance between prudent trade security measures and international trade flows is not only feasible, but expedient. A very close link there is between trade security and trade facilitation, mutually reinforcing, as better trade ... More

HUMAN RESOURCES
Fides Global plans Coimbatore office
Fides is currently doing a 120-hour industry orientation programme for these candidates. More

EVENTS
Little power in the meet
Veteran scribes who have been covering the meetings of the National Development Council (NDC) — billed as the highest policy-making body in the country since the Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues as well as all Chief ... More

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The key to success
Your belief is your own reality, says this motivational speaker. More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Vaghela hints at relief for rupee-hit textile exporters
Interest subsidy outstanding under TUFS may be released More

India-China trade tops $11.4 b in first 4 months
Ties have reached `fast-track growth' stage More

Re appreciation: FIEO chief meets Commerce Secy
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has made a slew of suggestions to the Government to help soften the blow of appreciating rupee on the exporting community. In his meeting with the Commerce Secretary, Mr G. K. Pillai, here on ... More

`Leverage supply chain through tech product exports'
India must focus on production efficiency than low labour costs More

MMTC floats 50,000 t wheat import tender
Barely a week after the scrapping of a 10-lakh tonne (lt) wheat import tender by the State Trading Corporation of India (STC), it is the turn of the other parastatal, MMTC Ltd, to float a tender for 50,000 tonnes. Unlike STC, which was buying ... More

VENTURE CAPITAL
Helping dreams come true
Mentoring fledgling enterprises and those in transition. More

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
Herbal medicines: Call for export promotion zones
To boost exports to Rs 12,000 cr More