India News: March 2007

Pepsi to launch nutritious beverage
Thursday, March 29, 2007 | AY

Attempting an Advertisement image makeover from being calorie-rich to health-conscious, PepsiCo India is working towards launching a nutritious beverage within three years. The company has already set up a nutrition advisory board comprising medical and nutrients experts and is looking to work with non-government organisations such as the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. PepsiCo India wants to be associated with four kinds of beverages that are likely to be juices, nutritious beverages, water and, of course, its colas. PepsiCo has a joint venture with Starbucks in the US for ready-to-drink coffee.

Hindi version of 2007 Microsoft Office released
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 | AA

The fully localised Hindi version of 2007 Microsoft Office is made available by Microsoft. Microsoft's Project Bhasha, a programme it launched in September 2003 to promote local language computing in India, has moved into high gear with the fully localised Hindi version of 2007 Microsoft Office made available. Currently, the Hindi edition will be available with Microsoft Office Professional 2007 and Microsoft Office Standard 2007 versions.

UAE could be India's number one trading partner
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 | AA

The UAE could be India's number one trading partner and "the gateway to the region for Indian exports", said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on a state visit to the subcontinent this week. Sheikh Mohammed ended the visit with a pledge to make the UAE India's top trade partner, calling on each country's private sector to take advantage of investment opportunities offered from both sides, Gulf News reported.

Astra Test Fired the Second Time
Monday, March 26, 2007 | AA

Astra was test fired today from Chandipur, Balasore (Orissa). Astra is an air-to-air missile which has a striking range of 25-40 km. Astra means Arrow in Hindi, was tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur 230 km from Balasore after 10 a.m.

India out of Worldcup
Monday, March 26, 2007 | AA

India is out of the worldcup with the Bangladesh's seven-wicket win over Bermuda in the concluding Group ‘B’ tie at the Queen’s Park Oval today. For the first time since the inaugural World Cup, both India and Pakistan were knocked out in the first round. If Bermuda could pull a miraculous win, India would have made it at the expense of Bangladesh with a better net run-rate. It is the first time Bangladesh have advanced to the second stage in their third appearance at the World Cup. According to industry experts, advertisers would face a loss of about Rs 3.5 billion ($7.8 million) in television ads alone due to India's exit. There would also be losses of about a whopping $300 million of sponsorship money.

Dell to start operations at India
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 | AA

Dell Inc CEO Michael Dell said the company will start producing computers at its first factory in India in July as it forecast sales to double to US$1 billion. Dells India sales totalled $US500 million ($622 million) last year. "We believe it's rapidly heading toward $US1 billion," Mr Dell said. "With local manufacturing in place, Dell's most comprehensive presence in the world outside the US will be here in India," Dell said in a statement. The Indian operations include sales, research and development, manufacturing and customer support, the statement said.

Worldcup Cricket: Indians Back to Business
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 | AA

The Indians came back big time against Bermuda which created optimism in Indian Cricket lovers hearts. India recorded the biggest victory margin in one-day cricket history when they beat Bermuda. India seem strongest of them all when it comes to numbers. India became the first team in the 32-year-old World Cup history to cross the magical 400-run mark. Their 413/5 in 50 overs against minnows Bermuda on Monday bettered Sri Lanka's 11-year-old 398-run record set against Kenya in the 1996 edition of the event. Now their next challenge is to beat Sri Lanka. If Bermuda can beat Bangladesh or Bangladesh can beat Sri Lanka, then things are going to be better.

Disgust to team’s loss
Monday, March 19, 2007 | AA

Cricket fans in India took to the streets across India yesterday to protest Indian team’s poor performance in its shocked loss to Bangladesh at the World Cup cricket. Effigies of Indian cricket players were burned and chanted slogans against the team. Others threw shoes at posters of the players. India lost to Bangladesh by five wickets endangering their chances of progressing to the next round. “Such a poor performance by the Indian team in its first match, against a weak team like Bangladesh, have broken our hearts,” Parampreet Singh Bitty was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

Hasan may get notice to file tax returns
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 | AA

Race-horse owner Hasan Ali is likely to be issued notice to file tax returns for the past few years following Income Tax searches at his Pune residence which had revealed undisclosed wealth and foreign bank accounts, a senior IT official said here today. "The next logical step would be to issue a notice to Hasan for filing income tax returns which would be pursued by the Assessment Department of the IT," the official said on condition of anonymity. PTI

Insat-4B launched successfully
Monday, March 12, 2007 | AA

Isro's latest satellite, Insat-4B, was successfully launched early this morning by the European Ariane-5 ECA launch vehicle from Kourou in French Guiana. The 3,025 kg Insat-4B is the second satellite in the Insat-4 series. An identical satellite, Insat-4A, was launched by Ariane-5 on 22 December, 2005.

India is home to Asia's top Billionaires
Sunday, March 11, 2007 | AA

With 36 of its citizens worth over a billion dollars, India replaced Japan as Asia's top breeding ground for the super-rich, the Forbes 2007 listing of billionaires said this week. Amongst the top dozen Asian billionaires, there were eight Indians led by steel baron, L N Mittal. Asia added 54 new billionaires in the last one year, 14 of which were from India. In other words, every fourth new Asian billionaire was from India. "I am surprised that Indians have topped the Forbes' list of Asian billionaires," Chen Yu, a media consultant said. "I must change my distorted impressions about India," she said. With 36 of its citizens worth over a billion dollars, India replaced Japan as Asia's top breeding ground for the super-rich, the Forbes 2007 listing of billionaires said this week.

Sensex down to five-month low
Monday, March 5, 2007 | AA

Indian markets opened on a dismal note on Monday. The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex which had lost nearly 273 points in the previous sessions, lost another 431.24 points, or 2.93 per cent sliding down to 12,454.89 in the first five minutes of trading. Stock markets crashing nearly 541 points in the first 30 minutes of trade. The stock markets is a five-month low at 12,344.44,. Nifty dipped to below the 3,600 mark at 3,591.15 points.

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