Agriculture
Kurien enlivens cattle prattle
ICRISAT symposiums can be dry for the layman. But some people can milk the juice even at such occasions, especially when he is the `Milk King of India'.
Airlines
Lufthansa launches contest on Web
LUFTHANSA announced the launch of `mind and money' contest on its India specific Web site (www.lufthansa-india.com).
`AI, IA privatisation by this fiscal'
THE Government is hopeful of completing the privatisation of Air India and Indian Airlines before the end of the current financial year, the Minister for Disinvestment in-charge of the Disinvestment Department, Mr Arun Shourie, has said.
Automobiles
Mood upbeat at HM earth moving equipment unit
HOPES and expectations are running high among workers at the Hindustan Motors' (HM) Earth Moving Equipment Division (EED) at Tiruvallur near here as they await the finalisation of the sale of their division to Caterpillar Inc.
Banking and Finance
Cabinet meet to discuss bank Bill tomorrow
UNDAUNTED by the nation-wide strike called by the bank unions on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance has decided to go ahead with the proposed Bill allowing the reduction of Government equity in public sector banks to 33 per cent.
No bank agents in drawing rooms
IF you were thinking of using your coffee table as a bank counter to open an account with that affable sales representative from the bank fawning over you... filling up the forms... taking down your preferences -- forget it. It's not happening any more.
The Reserve Bank of India has banned it.
Keki Mistry new MD of HDFC
MR Keki Mistry will be the new Managing Director of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).
Corporate
FIs seek exemption from compulsory disclosures
THE financial institutions (FIs) have sought exemption from having to make compulsory disclosures on holdings and have argued that they should not be treated at par with `acquirers'.
Australian lottery firm lands to tap `quick money' craze
NOTWITHSTANDING the TV game shows that whet the Indians' passion for quick money, an Australian lottery company has entered the scene with its wares.
Plan for tribunal to deal with insolvency of cos
THE Government is proposing to set up a national tribunal as a one-stop shop to deal with insolvency and winding up of companies. In one stroke, the body would replace as well as take over the powers of the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstructi
on (BIFR), the Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (AAIFR), the Company Law Board (CLB) and the Benches dealing with company matters at various high courts.
Panel moots `competition fund' -- Endorses suggestion to repeal MRTP Act
THE concept Bill on Competition, drafted by a core group set up by the Department of Company Affairs (DCA), seeks to empower the proposed Competition Commission of India (CCI) with sweeping powers to inquire into various forms of `combinations', includin
g acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures.
Economy
World Bank rider for raising aid
THE World Bank President, Mr James D. Wolfensohn, today said that he was prepared to expand the Bank's annual lending commitments to India beyond the existing $3-billion level.
Environment
Need to balance technology and green concerns: Kant
PARLIAMENTARIANS from over 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have converged at Hyderabad to thrash out an agenda for environment and development which is expected to take the shape of Hyderabad Declaration.
Foreign Trade
NEPZ exports rise 28 pc in April-Oct
EXPORTS from the Noida Export Processing Zone (NEPZ) have touched a level of about Rs 480 crore during April-October 2000, a 28 per cent increase over the Rs 375 crore recorded in the same period during the previous year.
Dumping probe on imported POY
THE Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry has initiated anti-dumping probe into imported partially-oriented yarn (POY) from Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.
Information Technology
Indian experience: In a world of dotcoms, dot IN is out
EVERYBODY wants a dot-com. And nobody needs a dot-in. Well, that is what is happening in India these days, as the country's domain code name of .IN still remains largely unpopular in the cyberspace compared to the .COM and other generic domains.
DD bags award for news coverage
DOORDARSHAN has won Asiavision's fourth annual Dennis Anthony Memorial Award for its ongoing news coverage of natural disasters during the past year.
Online Media to pick up stake in Shiva Online
ONLINE Media Solutions Ltd, a Hyderabad-based company engaged in digital media solutions, is set pick up 51 per cent stake in Shiva Online Services (P) Ltd, engaged in cable Internet access.
Socia-economic data portal
INDIASTAT.COM, a portal on socio-economic statistical data of the country, was launched here on Tuesday.
Shahrukh Khan launches portal
ARYAN Informatics (I) Pvt.Ltd, a company promoted by film stars, Mr Shahrukh Khan and Ms Juhi Chawala, has launched an entertainment portal,`www.srkworld.com'.
PSU
Cabinet panel to take up new divestment cases
THE Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment will consider ``new cases'' for its approval when it meets on November 17, the Minister in-charge of the Disinvestment Department, Mr Arun Shourie, has said.
Plantations
It's `coffee war' with Hanoi
IF the new US slogan is `Vietnam is not war, it is a country', the Indian coffee industry's cry is the other way around.
Power
Power projects: Crisis group to meet today
THE principal lenders to power generation projects -- the financial institutions and State Bank of India -- are close to sorting out the issue of first charge on the receivables of the State electricity boards.
Mangalore Power seeks more time for financial package
MANGALORE Power Company (MPC) has sought an extension of the deadline for the submission of the firm financial package (FFP) from the Central Electricity Authority.
States
WBPCB to reward `red' category industries
THE West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has devised a scheme for rewarding the heavily polluting `red' category industries for good environment management.
AP poverty reduction plan outlay at Rs 2,231.54 cr
THE World Bank-funded Rural Poverty Reduction Project, which was announced during the Bank President, Mr James D. Wolfensohn's visit here, aims at reducing poverty through a holistic approach, focussing on social mobilisation and empowerment, enhancing o
pportunities, and promoting security with focus on the most vulnerable with support groups promoting solidarity among poor through risk pooling.
Beedi workers' convention
MANGALORE: The workers of the beleaguered beedi industry owing allegiance to the All-India Beedi, Cigar & Tobacco Workers' Federation affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) are to hold their eighth national convention in Mangalore from
January 19 to 21, 2001.
CEPZ: Directive to police authorities
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the police authorities to render adequate protection for the smooth functioning of various industrial units in the Cochin Export Processing Zone.
`France keen on tech support to AP'
FRANCE is interested in offering its technology to Andhra Pradesh for use in areas such as power transmission and distribution, biotechnology, communications, water treatment, waste management, IT and food processing, Mr Bruno Durieux, Chairman of the Na
tional Committee for Foreign Trade of France, has said.
Stocks
Sensex up on bull run
STOCKS bounced back as bulls charged on the Dalal Street on Tuesday and the benchmark BSE-30 sensitive index made good all the previous day's losses. Pivotals firmed up following massive short covering due to end-of-account considerations on the National
Stock Exchange and fresh speculative purchases in select counters, dealers said.
Tea
Williamson Magor tea outfits unveil plans
THE boards of two Williamson Magor group tea outfits -- Bishnauth Tea Company Ltd and George Williamson (Assam) Ltd -- met here today with contrasting principal agenda. The operative parts of the respective decisions were: Bishnauth would sell a few not-
so-profitable gardens to tone up its balance sheet; the financially sound GW(A) would buy ``some'' estates in Assam to enhance its export potential.
Telecommunications
Tatafone to be hived
TATAFONE, a division of Tata Telecom Ltd, is being hived off into a separate company and would be a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Tata group, said Mr R. Natarajan, Vice-President, Operations, Tatafone Division.
