Business News – Newsletter for January 2, 2011

CII proposes bio-diesel price hike

NEW DELHI – The government should raise the price of bio-diesel obtained from the jatropha plant to support the bio-diesel industry’s sustainability efforts, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) says.

In a proposal submitted to the ministry of new and renewable energy, the industry lobby suggested the price could be increased from Rs.26.50 per litre …. Read the original article  : here.

Assocham proposes national poll fund for parties

NEW DELHI – In a bid to stem out corruption and inflow of black money during election campaigns, an industry lobby has asked the government to create a national fund supported by budgetary provisions for political parties.

The suggestion was made by Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) to Finance Minister Pranab …. Source article  : Assocham proposes national poll fund for parties.

CPI-M leader stuns party over GM crops

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Deviating from his party’s stand, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai staunchly supported GM crops at an agriculture seminar here.

Pillai, who inaugurated the three-day seminar “Agriculture in the era of Globalization”, declared that opposition to GM seeds was superstitious.
He said that the use of GM … Read more : CPI-M leader stuns party over GM crops.

Second generation of Apple TV to cross million sales mark

BERLIN – Apple’s set-top box TV system Apple TV has long since passed the phase where it’s the domain of hobbyists, according to Apple head Steve Jobs.

That’s because the second generation of the Apple TV system is set to surpass the million sales mark in the next weeks, if it hasn’t done so already.
… Read more : Second generation of Apple TV to cross million sales mark.

Google TV faces hurdles

NEW YORK – Google’s foray into internet television is not going quite as planned.

Google plans to rework the software for Google TV before more manufacturers bring devices to market with that programming installed, reported US media recently. That’s after critics savaged the first take of the system.
Google TV is designed to operate on … Read more >>>.

Microsoft plans new Windows operating system for mobile devices

SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft is working on a new Windows system for mobile devices like tablet computers, according to reports.

The system would focus on devices using energy-saving chips designed by the British company ARM. Many of ARM’s chips are currently used in both the iPad and iPhone from Apple.
Now Windows will reportedly offer …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Microsoft plans new Windows operating system for mobile devices.

UAE ministry sets up committees to guide farmers

Dubai, Jan 1 (IANS/WAM) The UAE Environment and Water Ministry has set up two new technical committees to guide the farmers on agricultural and livestock affairs, it was announced Saturday.

The move is to strengthen security of vital food and livestock resources. The committees will be responsible for giving proper guidance to farmers …. Read the original article  : UAE ministry sets up committees to guide farmers.

CNG gets dearer, to cost Rs.29 per kg

NEW DELHI – Delhi will have to pay more for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as the rates of the fuel have been revised upward to Rs.29 per kg in the capital with effect from midnight of Jan 1, an official said Saturday.

The price was currently Rs.27.75, an official of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) said.
…. Original source  : CNG gets dearer, to cost Rs.29 per kg.

India has to address governance, ethical deficits: Chidambaram

CHENNAI – India has to address three major deficits – governance, regulatory and ethical- if the country has to progress, the economy continue to log nine percent growth and the gains of last two decades are not lost, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Saturday.

“We were slow to realise that when the economy grows at …. Read the original article  : here.

Buddhadeb inaugurates social security fortnight for workers

KOLKATA – In a bid to draw more unorganised and organised sector workers into the government’s social security network ahead of next assembly polls, the West Bengal government Saturday launched the Social Security Fortnight to raise awareness about the schemes.

The social security network, formulated by the state labour department and implemented by the State … Original source on Gaea Times at : Buddhadeb inaugurates social security fortnight for workers.

40,000 Chinese apply for car licence plates on New Year

BEIJING – Nearly 40,000 online applications for car licence plates were received by the Beijing municipal government in the first 11 hours of the new year, as new traffic rules took effect here Saturday, Xinhua reports.

As of 11 a.m., the website for application of licence plates accepted 36,138 applications, an official with the …. Read the original article  : 40,000 Chinese apply for car licence plates on New Year.

NTC land in Gujarat fetches Rs.145.93 crore

GANDHINAGAR – Hitting a New Year jackpot, the National Textiles Corporation (NTC) has sold through an e-auction two closed mills in Gujarat for a combined price of Rs.145.93 crore ($32.6 million) against a total reserve price of Rs.68.74 crore, a statement said here Saturday.

In a keenly-fought three-day auction that went on nearly till the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : NTC land in Gujarat fetches Rs.145.93 crore.

Telecos paid Rs.73.73 crore penalty for late 2G rollout: Sibal

NEW DELHI – Communications Minister Kapil Sibal Saturday said telecom operators who missed the deadlines for the rollout of 2G services paid Rs.73.73 crore penalty and the government had not ruled out cancelling their licences.

“We had generated demand for over Rs.78 crore, of which the operators have submitted Rs.73.73 crore,” Sibal told reporters here.
…. Source article  : Telecos paid Rs.73.73 crore penalty for late 2G rollout: Sibal.

Indian automobile firms close 2010 with stellar sales figures (Roundup)

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI – Prompted by a growing economy, increasing disposable incomes and low interest rates, Indian automobile manufacturers Saturday reported stellar sales figures for the calender year 2010.

Chennai-based car manufacturer Hyundai Motor India, the country’s second largest car manufacturer, saw its domestic sales grow by 23.1 percent, while exports saw a down slide of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indian automobile firms close 2010 with stellar sales figures (Roundup).

Hyundai, Ford close 2010 with higher sales

CHENNAI – The city-based car manufacturers Hyundai Motor India and Ford India closed 2010 with higher sales compared to 2009.

Hyundai, the country’s second largest car manufacturer, saw its domestic sales grow by 23.1 percent while exports saw a downslide of 8.5 percent, a company official said Saturday.
It logged a cumulative growth of … Read more »»».

Toyota Kirloskar’s 2010 sales up 38 percent

NEW DELHI – Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Saturday reported a growth of 38 percent in its sales for 2010, which stood at 74,759 units as against 54,320 units in 2009.

“We are very happy with the response we have received from our customers in 2010,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director-marketing, TKM.
According to him, …. Source  : Toyota Kirloskar’s 2010 sales up 38 percent.

Night landing cleared at Agra airport

AGRA – The union Ministry of Tourism and Culture has cleared night landing of flights at Agra’s Kheria airport, according to an industry source, who also said flights will begin landing at night within a month or two.

It has been a long-pending demand of the tourism industry to allow flights, particularly international flights, to …. Original article  : Night landing cleared at Agra airport.

GM 2010 sales grow by 59 percent

NEW DELHI – General Motors India Saturday reported 59 percent growth in sales for 2010, which stood at 110,804 units as against 69,579 units in 2009.

Introduction of best-in-segment cars from the 300 series, increase in customer numbers, unique value proposition like cashless ownership are the factors that have led to the impressive performance in …. Read the original article  : GM 2010 sales grow by 59 percent.

China-Russia oil pipeline begins operation

BEIJING – An oil pipeline linking Russia’s far east and northeast China started operating Saturday.

The 1,000-km-long pipeline will transport 15 million tonnes of crude oil annually from Russia to China from 2011 to 2030.
Yao Wei, general manager of pipeline branch of Petro China Co., Ltd. (PBPC), pushed a button in Mohe county of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

No flight cancelled at Delhi airport

NEW DELHI – The Indira Gandhi International airport ushered in the New Year on an auspicious note as no flights were cancelled Saturday due to fog.

“Low visibility procedures (LVP) were implemented from 0750 hours to 0904 hours, for a total of 1 hour 14 minutes,” a Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) official said.
According …. Source  : Gaea News Network.