The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, May 24, 2006

CLIMATE & WEATHER
Bad weather hits Sterlite Korba plant
Sterlite Industries India Ltd has announced that the commissioning of the 250,000 tonnes per annum aluminium smelter at Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd's Korba operations have been affected due to bad weather. "As a result of stormy weather, the ... More

Widespread rain in Kerala as monsoon build-up continues
Build-up to the onset of the southwest monsoon continued with most parts of Kerala receiving moderate to heavy rainfall during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Kochi Airport recorded seven cm of overnight rain. There has been ... More

ECONOMY
MONDAY MAYHEM
Is there a `foreign angle'?
The Morgan Stanley Emerging Market Index has been declining since May 10, when the US Fed raised the interest rate and signalled further rise. More

Kerala's financial position grim, says Minister
The financial position of Kerala is so grim that there is not enough funds to implement even one-fourth of the annual plan for 2006-07, according to Mr Thomas Isaac, Finance Minister. He said here on Tuesday that the State is on the verge of a ... More

Should inflation expectations drive monetary policy?
In recent times, it is not only concurrent inflation data, but also inflation prospects and expectations, which are widely commented upon by central banks, central bankers, economists and analysts. More

HEALTH
Mediclaim policies: Smooth settlement still far away
CII Coimbatore session with hospitals, TPAs More

MoistureLoc recall throws up need for independent reporting system
It was in February that the first signs of trouble were visible with Bausch & Lomb's MoistureLoc contact lens solution in Singapore. As cases of serious fungal eye infection - fusarium keratitis - started getting reported from Asia and the More

Doctors hopeful of adult stem cell therapy
Doctors at a city hospital have claimed that they have found signs of recovery in patients suffering from certain cardiac problems and spinal injuries after they used adult stem cells. However, it is too early to come to a conclusion on the ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE
Govt urged to strengthen infrastructure at major ports
The All-India Port and Dock Workers' Federation has stressed the need to strengthen infrastructure at major ports to achieve the cargo traffic target for 2006-07. Speaking to newspersons, Mr S.R. Kulkarni, President of the Federation, said that ... More

PSU
Delhi-Mumbai calls at 40 paise a minute
Tariff drop on MTNL tie-up with VSNL More

PETROLEUM
Oil marketing cos losing over Rs 6 per litre on petrol, diesel
Projected burden on OMCs is about Rs 73,500 cr for 2006-07 More

POWER
NTPC plans consortium route for mega projects
In talks with private and State-owned players More

Bhoopalapally power project to be ready by 2008
The Rs 2,077-crore, 500-MW Bhoopalapally project in Warangal district will be completed by November 2008. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, would lay the foundation for the thermal station on June 1, 2006. Later, ... More

Govt aims to electrify 40,000 villages this fiscal
After having electrified 10,000 villages the last fiscal, the Government has set a target of providing electricity connection to 40,000 villages in 2006-07. "We have achieved the target of providing grid connection to 10,000 unelectrified ... More

Centre favours SPV model for hydro power projects
The Centre has called for the use of the special purpose vehicles (SPV) model by State Governments and implementing agencies for expeditious development of large hydroelectric power projects in the country. The `Guidelines for development of ... More

TYRES
High rubber prices may hit MRF
Hike in tyre prices ruled out More

PERSONAL PRODUCTS
FMCGs buck inflationary pressure to post volume growth
Higher ad spends, raw material costs tell on margins More

EDUCATION
Multimedia courses evoke interest in Chennai
Java, e-commerce courses make way for animation, engineering design More

School enrolment campaign in AP
The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched a 12-day children's school enrolment campaign called `Badi-Bata', from today. School-aged children, orphan, street children, dropouts and never enrolled children would be identified and ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
`Chinese property cos better off against desi peers'
Shares of Indian real estate companies had seen a bull-run in recent times, based on the huge land banks they hold. More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
`Govt studying models for FDI in retail'
Kamal Nath allays Opposition fears More

Government studying fresh reforms package
May see greater foreign direct investment flow in retail, insurance sectors More

Govt clears first FDI proposal in retail sector
Moja Shoes-Tano India venture to set up first retail store More

HUMAN RESOURCES
ISTD Kochi chapter formed
The Kochi chapter of the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD) has been formed. This is the 38th chapter of ISTD, which was established in 1970 as a premier national organisation devoted to the development of human ... More

EVENTS
Thrashing out issues
THE PRIME MINISTER, Dr Manmohan Singh, flanked by the UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, at the UPA Coordination Committee Meeting in the Capital on Tuesday. ... More

INCOME TAX
Co-op bank delegation meets Sonia
Pressure is mounting on the Government to roll back its Budget decision of bringing certain cooperative banks under the tax net. Budget 2006-07 had withdrawn the tax benefits that were available to certain cooperative banks under Section 80 P ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Rlys may resume wheel imports
Needs to import 40,000 wheels to meet wagon procurement target More

TOURISM
Pilot project on farm tourism under way
Agri Tourism Corp eyes 12,000 visitors in first year More