CLIMATE & WEATHER
El Nino variable seen as main driver of change in rain pattern
SCIENTISTS at NASA have found that the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the main driver of the change in rain patterns all around the world. El Nino, an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, is one ... More

ECONOMY
Plan panel may set 2007-08 GDP growth target at 8 pc
THE Planning Commission may consider setting a target of 8 per cent GDP growth for 2007-08, the last year of the ongoing 10th Plan. The 8 per cent GDP growth was the initial target set by Planning Commission at the beginning of the 10th Plan. ... More

ENVIRONMENT
Nine Plus to undertake environmental study in AP
NINE Plus, a consortium of four leading national institutes with expertise in environmental issues, has been entrusted with a comprehensive environment study by the State Government. The study will focus on the carrying capacity, large area ... More

`Greenhouse gas must be stabilised'
THE Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr A. Raja, has called for stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Inaugurating the ... More

FERTILISERS
`Fertiliser sector a victim of subsidy'
THE President and Whole-time Director of Godavari Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (GFCL), Mr K.A. Nair, said that the fertiliser industry was a "victim of subsidy and not the culprit". He wanted the Government to either take into account the ... More

SSP sector seeks hike in subsidy as input costs rise
THE Single Super Phosphate (SSP) manufacturers have urged the Government to immediately announce revised subsidy policy for SSP taking into consideration the increased cost of manufacturing consequent to increase in the prices of raw ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
Indo-EU Summit: A blossoming of intense cooperation
THE fifth India-European Union summit in the Hague held on Monday marks a defining moment in the bilateral relations and a testimony to the blossoming of intense cooperation that was flagged off in 2000 when the first summit was held in Lisbon in ... More

HEALTH
Drug rule changes may leave patients gasping for oxygen
IF the present state of healthcare in the country worries you, here is some more disturbing news. Come January 1, 2005, critically ill patients in need of oxygen support could be left gasping for breath due to scarcity of medical oxygen ... More

CII-Kerala organises free medical camp
KOCHI: CII-Kerala in association with the Melam Charities International Care and Share, USA Kerala Chapter and Roshan Eye Care Hospital is organising a free medical camp for the awareness and detection of diabetes, hypertension and eye ... More

POWER
Kerala SERC notifies constitution of consumer redressal forums
THE Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has issued a notification, as stipulated in the Electricity Act of 2003, regarding the constitution of a consumer grievance redressal mechanism. The notification, titled "Kerala State ... More

`Generator to be set right'
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has expressed confidence that the damage detected in one of the six generators at the Idukki hydel station will be set right within one month. An official quoted Mr O.U. ... More

STEEL
Another steel price hike on cards
ANOTHER round of hike in steel prices seems to be in the offing, with the Government trying to wash its hands off the pricing issue. For, essentially, it is the "push and pull" factors between the primary producers and the secondary ... More

TEXTILES
Cotton textile producers sore over cut in DEPB rates
THE Commerce Ministry's recent move to lower the duty entitlement pass book (DEPB) rates for textile items has sharpened the divide between the exporters availing the DEPB and those drawing the duty drawback benefits on their exports. At least ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Indonesian groups to develop new Kolkata international city
IN a significant breakthrough in the sphere of real estate development in West Bengal by a foreign joint venture company, the Salim and Ciputra Groups of Indonesia, formally announced here on Tuesday their plans to develop nearly 400 acres of ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
`Commercial banks' credit flow to rural, areas declining'
THE commercial banks' credit allocation was heavily tilted in favour of metropolitan areas rather than the semi-urban and rural areas where 70 per cent of total Indian population reside, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) ... More

BIO-TECH & GENETICS
Biotech park aims to attract Rs 1,000-cr investments
TICEL Bio Park, a biotech park promoted by the Tamil Nadu Government, is expected to serve as a catalyst for investment of about Rs 1,000 crore in the State over the next two years, said park officials. TICEL is to be formally inaugurated by ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
AP bags awards at SARAS expo
ANDHRA PRADESH has bagged two awards at the recently-concluded regional SARAS, an exhibition of products from self-help groups (SHGs) of various States at Ahmedabad. The objective of the SARAS event is to help the SHGs and Swarozgaris derive ... More

EVENTS
In Hyderabad today
TERI: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to organise one-day workshop on `Power supply to agriculture'; Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Chief Minister, to inaugurate; Dr Marri Channa Reddy Institute of Human Resource Development ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Seafood Q1 exports dip
SEAFOOD exports in the April-June period of this fiscal has fallen by over 5 per cent to $277.68 million, hit by lower fish catch and concerns of anti-dumping proceedings in the US. Latest data by the Marine Products Export Development ... More

TOURISM
Another vessel for backwater tourism in Kerala
IN view of the enthusiastic response from tourists to backwater cruise, the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) is in the process of launching one more vessel as part of its backwater tourism promotion initiatives. The ... More

First tourist flight lands in Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first batch of 230 tourists travelling aboard a chartered flight from Gatwick in the UK landed here at the rain-swept international airport on Monday, ringing in another tourist season. The travel-weary tourists ... More

Lifeguard training course in Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kannur Tourism Cooperative Society Ltd (Katcos) is planning to launch a lifeguard training course in Thiruvananthapuram. Addressing a press conference in the city on Tuesday, Mr C.A. Ajir, President, Katcos, said ... More