PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. articles from March 2008

PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. archives from March 2008

Thirty-eight killed, about 50 injured in Pak suicide blast.
March 1, 2008... Thirty-eight killed, about 50 injured in Pak suicide blast By: Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Feb 29 (PTI) Thirty-eight people were killed and nearly 50 injured in a suicide attack during the funeral prayers of a police officer slain by...

TN budget on March 20.
March 1, 2008... TN budget on March 20 Chennai, Mar 1 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Budget for 2008-09 would be presented on March 20. An official release here tonight said the budget session of the state Assembly will begin on March 19. After obituary...

Canada for closer economic ties with India.
March 1, 2008... Canada for closer economic ties with India Ottawa, Mar 1 (PTI) Seeking to increase its commercial presence in Indian markets, Canada has stepped up efforts to expand economic cooperation with India, a senior official has said. "We have...

Canada-India Business Council lauds Union Budget.
March 1, 2008... Canada-India Business Council lauds Union Budget Toronto, Mar 1 (PTI) The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) has commended the union budget presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram as "thoughtful", "pragmatic," and a blend of "India...

US not to interfere in Pak's internal politics: State Dept.
March 1, 2008... US not to interfere in Pak's internal politics: State Dept By: Sridhar Krishnaswami Washington, Mar 1 (PTI) Insisting that it is not going to interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs, the Bush administration has said it is for that...

Maruti domestic sales in Feb at 59,311 units.
March 1, 2008... Maruti domestic sales in Feb at 59,311 units New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd today reported a marginal increase in domestic sales in February at 59,311 units as against 59,095 units in the corresponding...

ICICI Bank opens first branch in US.
March 1, 2008... ICICI Bank opens first branch in US New York, March 1 (PTI) ICICI Bank, India's largest private sector bank, has opened its first branch in the United States at posh midtown New York. Under the licence granted by regulators here, the...

UNSC set to impose fresh sanctions on Iran.
March 1, 2008... UNSC set to impose fresh sanctions on Iran By: Dharam Shourie United Nations, Mar 1 (PTI) The UN Security Council is all set to impose new sanctions on Iran to force it to abandon its uranium enrichment programme, but Tehran has...

Extreme cold devastated livestock sector in Afghanistan: FAO.
March 1, 2008... Extreme cold devastated livestock sector in Afghanistan: FAO By: Dharam Shourie New York, Mar 1 (PTI) Extreme cold has devastated the Afghan livestock sector, killing over 3,00,000 animals since late December and seriously affecting...

WSC-AR representatives to miss inter-religion meeting of April.
March 1, 2008... WSC-AR representatives to miss inter-religion meeting of April New York, Mar 1 (PTI) Representatives of a Sikh organisation in the US will miss next month's inter-religion meeting with Pope Benedicts XVI in Washington as the Secret Service...

SA beat Pak by 98 runs, to meet India in final.
March 1, 2008... SA beat Pak by 98 runs, to meet India in final Kuala Lumpur, Mar 1 (PTI) South Africa beat Pakistan by 98 runs on the basis of Duckworth Lewis method in the second semifinal to meet India in the final in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup here...

Sensex gains 1.32 pc in last week of derivatives contract.
March 1, 2008... Sensex gains 1.32 pc in last week of derivatives contract Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Stocks: The Union Budget turned out to be a non-event for the stock markets, even as the benchmark Sensex posted a 1.32 per cent gain as the concluding week for...

'LTTE crippling economy despite consuming govt-provided food'.
March 1, 2008... 'LTTE crippling economy despite consuming govt-provided food' Colombo, Mar 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka wonders if any nation other than Sri Lanka is "feeding a terrorist outfit" carrying out bloody attacks on its people...

Liquid water found flowing on Mars? Not yet.
March 1, 2008... Liquid water found flowing on Mars? Not yet New York, Mar 1 (PTI) Researchers claim to have found no trace of liquid water on Mars, casting doubt on an earlier research which indicated presence of bright spots in some Martian gullies. ...

MIBOR-MIDDAY.
March 1, 2008... MIBOR-MIDDAY Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Category Time Mibid Standard Mibor Standard Rate Deviation Rate Deviation ------------------------------------------------------------ Overnight 9.40 A.M. 7.44 0.0430 7.54...

Bangla authorities to install cellphone jammers in jails.
March 1, 2008... Bangla authorities to install cellphone jammers in jails Dhaka, Mar 1 (PTI) Authorities in Bangladesh have decided to install cellphone jammers in prisons amid attempts by high- profile inmates, mostly politicians, to contact the outside...

KOCHI OIL PEPPER MARKET NOTE.
March 1, 2008... KOCHI OIL PEPPER MARKET NOTE Kochi, Mar 1 (PTI) Kochi coconut oil and pepper market rates are not yet opened.PTI

China opposes US dual probe into its steel tubes.
March 1, 2008... China opposes US dual probe into its steel tubes Beijing, Mar 1 (PTI) China has strongly opposed the US decision to launch dual trade investigations into its steel tubes, saying the move was not only "unwise and wrong" but would also...

India keen to exploit Australia's middle order batting woes.
March 1, 2008... India keen to exploit Australia's middle order batting woes By: Ashish Shukla Sydney, Mar 1 (PTI) India will seek to exploit the batting slump of some of Australia's key batsmen when they clash with the world champions in the first of...

India, Pak should focus on trade ties: Zardari.
March 1, 2008... India, Pak should focus on trade ties: Zardari Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) India and Pakistan could set aside the Kashmir issue to be resolved by a future generation while they focus on trade and economic ties to improve bilateral relations, PPP...

Budget evokes mixed reaction.
March 1, 2008... Budget evokes mixed reaction Hyderabad, Feb 29 (PTI) The Union Budget evoked mized reaction from the cross section of the society with the common response to the proposals that it was "good and an election budget". Federation of Andhra...

Sugar mill gate price eases on selling pressure.
March 1, 2008... Sugar mill gate price eases on selling pressure New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Select sugar millgate price declined in the range of Rs 5 to Rs 10 a quintal in the wholesale sugar market here today due to selling pressure from mills amid reduced...

Army's awareness-cum-educative tour concludes.
March 1, 2008... Army's awareness-cum-educative tour concludes Jammu, Mar 1 (PTI) A group of 30 people, including Muslim clerics, from Jammu and Kashmir have returned after a fortnight long awareness-cum-educative tour of some cities in northern India, a...

Select centres freight rates down.
March 1, 2008... Select centres freight rates down New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Freight rates for the nine metric tonne payload section for select destinations declined in the local truck transport market here today due to easy availability of lorries as...

Gur price closes flat.
March 1, 2008... Gur price closes flat New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) The wholesale gur (jaggery) market remained steady here today as prices after moving narrowly on small buying and selling spree, finished unchanged. Marketmen said little buying interest...

LANKA-RELICS.
March 1, 2008... LANKA-RELICS Buddha relics whip up religious fervour By: T V Sriram Colombo, Mar 1 (PTI) Braving heavy rains, thousands of Buddhist devouts thronged the road sides in south Sri Lanka to catch a glimpse of the almost 2500-year-old sacred...

SPORT U19 BOARD.
March 1, 2008... SPORT U19 BOARD Kuala Lumpur, Mar 1 (PTI) Scoreboard of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup second semifinal between Pakistan and South Africa at the Kinrara Oval here today. South Africa: P. Malan c Ali Asad b Adil Raza 15 J. Smuts c...

Anand maintains lead after ninth round.
March 1, 2008... Anand maintains lead after ninth round From our Chess Correspondent Linares (Spain), Mar 1 (PTI) World Champion Vishwanathan Anand continued to lead the field after the ninth round of the Morelia-Linares International Chess tournament...

11 injured in Pak suicide blast.
March 1, 2008... 11 injured in Pak suicide blast Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) At least 11 people were injured today when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a security check post in Pakistan's restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. ...

Watermelon kernel price up on good demand.
March 1, 2008... Watermelon kernel price up on good demand New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) In thin trading, watermelon kernel prices rose by Rs 200 per quintal in the wholesale kirana market today on emergence of buying by stockists. Watermelon kernel prices...

Diligent CSs can save investors from losses: Bhardwaj.
March 1, 2008... Diligent CSs can save investors from losses: Bhardwaj New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) In the wake of debate on over-priced IPOs, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj today asked company secretaries not to compromise professional ethics and help minimise...

Chemical price rules steady in thin trading.
March 1, 2008... Chemical price rules steady in thin trading New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Steady condition persisted in the wholesale chemical market here today with prices after moving in a tight range close around previous levels. Arrivals and offtake too...

Copra prices up on poor supply.
March 1, 2008... Copra prices up on poor supply New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Copra prices looked up in the range of Rs 100-150 a quintal in the local dry fruits market today on revival of buying against poor supplies. Copra prices quoted higher at Rs...

We have to put Australia under pressure: Dhoni.
March 1, 2008... We have to put Australia under pressure: Dhoni By: Ashish Shukla Sydney, Mar 1 (PTI) Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons that the "best method" to beat Australia in the cricket tri-series finals was to "put them under pressure"...

Oil price remains quiet in thin trade.
March 1, 2008... Oil price remains quiet in thin trade New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Both edible and non-edible oil prices remained quiet in the wholesale oils and oilseeds market here today on small trading activity. Following were today's quotation per...

Wheat dara prices up on heavy demand.
March 1, 2008... Wheat dara prices up on heavy demand New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Wheat dara prices hardened by Rs 20 per quintal in the wholesale grains market today on heavy buying by rolling flour mills and atta chakkies triggered by restricted supply. ...

Select pulse prices up on better demand.
March 1, 2008... Select pulse prices up on better demand New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Urad, Moong and masoor prices improved further by Rs 50 to Rs 100 a quintal in the wholesale pulses market here today due to renewed buying by stockists and local parties amid...

GM India Feb sales up 80 pc.(Financial report)
March 1, 2008... GM India Feb sales up 80 pc New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Car maker General Motors India today reported 80 per cent increase in its vehicle sales during February at 5,563 units as against 3,087 units the same month last year. Sales in...

Select metal prices up on global cues.
March 1, 2008... Select metal prices up on global cues New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Nickel, tin and zinc prices rose between Rs 5 and Rs 10 a kg in the non-ferrous metal market here today on firming overseas advices triggered by speculative buying by stockists...

Steel price remains quiet in thin trade.
March 1, 2008... Steel price remains quiet in thin trade New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Steady conditions developed in the local iron and steel market here today as prices by and large after moving in a narrow range on little bouts of buying and selling, finished...

Plastic price remains quiet on some support.
March 1, 2008... Plastic price remains quiet on some support New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) The wholesale plastic market showed a flat trend here today due to restricted arrivals against sporadic demand. Marketmen said little buying interest mainly kept the...

NALCO bags award as largest exporter.
March 1, 2008... NALCO bags award as largest exporter Bhubaneswar, Mar 1 (PTI) National Aluminium Company (NALCO) has been awarded a gold trophy by Engineering Export Promotion Council as the top exporter in large enterprise category. NALCO has also...

PPP "rethinking" position on Fahim as next PM.
March 1, 2008... PPP "rethinking" position on Fahim as next PM Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) PPP is "rethinking" its position on Makhdoom Amin Fahim being the prime ministerial candidate as it would have to choose a person who could take along its coalition...

Australia top seeds for ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
March 1, 2008... Australia top seeds for ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan Dubai, Mar 1 (PTI) Australia would be seeded top in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan later this year while India are set to maintain their fourth position irrespective of the...

AGRI-VEGETABLE PRICES.
March 1, 2008... AGRI-VEGETABLE PRICES Kolkata, MAR 01 (PTI) Following is the list of wholesale vegetable rates at the Kolay market here today : (RATES ARE IN RS. PER 5Kg) UNLESS STATED : Potato 400, Onion 500, Garlic 2000-3000, Ginger 1750-2500 (all per...

Lord Paul terms budget 'visionary'; NRIs in Gulf disappointed.
March 1, 2008... Lord Paul terms budget 'visionary'; NRIs in Gulf disappointed London/Dubai, Mar 1 (PTI) The Indian government's annual budget evoked a mixed reaction from NRIs with leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul describing it as "visionary" while...

19 LTTE militants among 20 killed in Lanka: army.
March 1, 2008... 19 LTTE militants among 20 killed in Lanka: army By: T V Sriram Colombo, Mar 1 (PTI) At least 19 LTTE militants and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes between the security forces and the Tamil Tigers in the embattled northern Sri...

Farm loan waiver will result in closure of rural banks:CPI.
March 1, 2008... Farm loan waiver will result in closure of rural banks:CPI Tiruchirappalli (TN) Mar 1 (PTI) The CPI has said that the farm loan waiver scheme announced in the Union Budget will only result in the "closure of rural banks and strengthen...

Bush likely to pull out more troops from Iraq by his term-end.
March 1, 2008... Bush likely to pull out more troops from Iraq by his term-end Washington, Mar 1 (PTI) US is likely to withdraw more troops from Iraq before President George W Bush's term ends January next year. "We anticipate further reductions because...

JUTSPOT KOL CLOSE.
March 1, 2008... JUTSPOT KOL CLOSE Kolkata, mar 1 (pti) jute spot prices : w-five raw-jute rdy 1170.00 b twills 1020gms rdy 2680.00 mar 2635.00 apr 2585.00 may 2545.00 june 2500.00 hessian 101.5cm x 305gms rdy 1090.00 mar 1090.00 apr 1070.00 may 1055.00...

Scientists devise method to see deepest recesses of brain.
March 1, 2008... Scientists devise method to see deepest recesses of brain New York, Mar 1 (PTI) Scientists have developed a new experimental technique which they claim produces some of the best functional images ever taken of the human brainstem -- the...

Race in UPA to take credit for loan waiver.
March 1, 2008... Race in UPA to take credit for loan waiver New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) A virtual race has begun within the UPA for appropriating credit for the farm loan waivers and other sops in the Union Budget with opposition dubbing it an election manifesto...

200 illegal miners arrested in China.
March 1, 2008... 200 illegal miners arrested in China Beijing, Mar 1 (PTI) More than 200 illegal miners have been arrested and nearly 900 mining sites violating laws were destroyed in a work safety drive in north China's Shanxi province, which produces...

Another suicide attack rocks troubled northwest Pak.
March 1, 2008... Another suicide attack rocks troubled northwest Pak Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) One person was killed and 29 others were injured today when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a security check post in Pakistan's restive...

Sonia "too great for me" to emulate, says Zardari.
March 1, 2008... Sonia "too great for me" to emulate, says Zardari Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) Describing UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as "too great" for him to emulate, PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said his role in a new Pakistani government would be of...

Bangladesh army chief visits Santiniketan.
March 1, 2008... Bangladesh army chief visits Santiniketan Santiniketan (WB), Mar 1 (PTI) Chief of Bangladesh Army Gen Moeen U Ahmed today visited Santiniketan and met Bangladeshi students studying in Visva-Bharati university. Ahmed visited the museum...

Fit R P Singh raring to go against South Africans.
March 1, 2008... Fit R P Singh raring to go against South Africans Kanpur, Mar 1 (PTI) Ready to make a comeback into the Indian cricket team, left-arm pacer Rudra Pratap Singh says he fully fit and is eager to play in the forthcoming home series against...

Pak court acquits Shahbaz Sharif in murder case.
March 1, 2008... Pak court acquits Shahbaz Sharif in murder case Lahore, Mar 1 (PTI) PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif was today acquitted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court of charges of involvement in the extra-judicial killing of five youths in 1998,...

Vatican rules out feminist theology.
March 1, 2008... Vatican rules out feminist theology London, Mar 1 (PTI) The Vatican City has ruled out all forms of feminist theology in Catholicism, saying that God must always be revered as "Our Father". According to The Holy See, anyone baptised...

Umbilical cord bank to be set up at Ahmedabad.
March 1, 2008... Umbilical cord bank to be set up at Ahmedabad Chennai,Mar1(PTI) Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals, Cadila Pharmaceuticals and US-based Stemcell Transplantation and Therapeutics Company StemCyte Inc today joined hands to develop a...

Differences surface over selection of Pak hockey squad.
March 1, 2008... Differences surface over selection of Pak hockey squad Karachi, Mar 1 (PTI) The announcement of the Pakistan hockey squad for the tour of China was delayed for a day after differences erupted between the team management and chief selector...

MCX-INDICES.
March 1, 2008... MCX-INDICES Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Following are today's various Indices at the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) futures and spot market. MCX futures market: OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE MCX COMDEX 2759.77 2765.72 2759.77...

Visual IQ begins India operations.
March 1, 2008... Visual IQ begins India operations Kochi, Mar 1 (PTI) Visual IQ, a Boston-based leading provider of digital Marketing Business Intelligence (MBI), has commenced its Indian operations from Kochi. The company expanded its global support...

Malaysian police smash drug smuggling ring, 4 Africans held.
March 1, 2008... Malaysian police smash drug smuggling ring, 4 Africans held Kuala Lumpur, Mar 1 (PTI) Five persons were arrested by the Malaysian police as it smashed an international drug trafficking syndicate that hired college students to courier...

PCB postpones governing body meeting till March 22.
March 1, 2008... PCB postpones governing body meeting till March 22 Karachi, Mar 1 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board has postponed its governing body meeting till March 22, delaying a decision on charges of indiscipline against fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and...

Oils prices rise on better demand.
March 1, 2008... Oils prices rise on better demand Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Both the edible and non-edible oils firmed up further on the oils and oilseeds market here today on persistent demand from retailers amid poor supply from producing regions. ...

Australia's domestic cricket in danger: Darren Lehmann.
March 1, 2008... Australia's domestic cricket in danger: Darren Lehmann Melbourne, Mar 1 (PTI) Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann today warned Cricket Australia that it might lose more first class players if they persisted with their policy of banning...

Govt says reverse mortgage scheme is tax-free.
March 1, 2008... Govt says reverse mortgage scheme is tax-free New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Income earned by senior citizens by mortgaging their property to banks would not come under the purview of income tax, as the transaction does not amount to transfer of...

Budget truly reflective of concerns for 'aam admi': Congress.
March 1, 2008... Budget truly reflective of concerns for 'aam admi': Congress New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) The Congress today hailed the Union Budget 2008-09 as being truly reflective of the party's 'aam admi' concerns and said it would ensure faster and...

India favourites to win U-19 World Cup, says Pak coach.
March 1, 2008... India favourites to win U-19 World Cup, says Pak coach Karachi, Mar 1 (PTI) Pakistan's under-19 coach Mansoor Rana believes India are the favourites to win the World Cup final against South Africa in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Mansoor was...

Budget proposes tax rebate for parents' health insurance.
March 1, 2008... Budget proposes tax rebate for parents' health insurance New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Individuals paying for the medical health insurance of their parents would be eligible for increased tax rebate, according to a proposal in Budget 2008-09. ...

Bajaj Auto bike sales fall 7.64% in Feb.
March 1, 2008... Bajaj Auto bike sales fall 7.64% in Feb New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) India's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto Ltd today reported an 7.64 per cent dip in motorcycle sales during February at 1,58,662 units as against 1,71,780 units in...

Prince Harry served at front line post 'Delhi'.
March 1, 2008... Prince Harry served at front line post 'Delhi' London, Mar 1 (PTI) Prince Harry, who was forced to cut short his stint in Afghanistan after 10-weeks of fighting alongside British troops against the Taliban, was posted on a front line base...

Tata Motors commences sales of Sumo Grande.
March 1, 2008... Tata Motors commences sales of Sumo Grande Bangalore, Mar 1 (PTI) Tata Motors today said it has commenced sales of its latest passenger vehicle offering, Sumo Grande, in the domestic market. Sumo Grande, unveiled at the Auto Expo in...

Afridi raises USD 1.12 million for relief project.
March 1, 2008... Afridi raises USD 1.12 million for relief project Karachi, Mar 1 (PTI) Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has raised around Rs 70 million (USD 1.12 million) for an Islamic relief agency working to improve the living conditions of people in...

Harry leaves for UK, but itching to go back to warzone.
March 1, 2008... Harry leaves for UK, but itching to go back to warzone By: H S Rao London, March 1 (PTI) Britain's Prince Harry today left war-ravaged Afghanistan for home after a news leak prompted his premature withdrawal from frontline, but is...

Aussies will not be distracted by controversies, says Hussey.
March 1, 2008... Aussies will not be distracted by controversies, says Hussey Sydney, Mar 1 (PTI) Australian batsman Mike Hussey believes the spate of controversies and the verbal duels with India will not distract his team when they go into the cricket...

Guard wheat crop against aphids: PAU.
March 1, 2008... Guard wheat crop against aphids: PAU Ludhiana, Mar 1 (PTI) The Punjab Agricultural University has reported sporadic incidence of aphids on wheat crop during the survey of some of the field areas in Gurdaspur district in the state. ...

Army Postal Service celebrates 36th Corps Day.
March 1, 2008... Army Postal Service celebrates 36th Corps Day Chandigarh, Mar 1 (PTI) Army Postal Services Corps today celebrated 36 years of its establishment with plans to start a data centre and widen its e-Post and banking facilities to field areas....

Hero Honda Feb sales down 5.7 pc.
March 1, 2008... Hero Honda Feb sales down 5.7 pc New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) India's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda today reported a 5.7 per cent dip in motorcycle sales during February at 2,65,431 units, against 2,80,515 units in the same month last...

Chinese Minsheng Bank buys 4.9 pc stake in UCBH Holdings.
March 1, 2008... Chinese Minsheng Bank buys 4.9 pc stake in UCBH Holdings Beijing, Mar 1 (PTI) China's Minsheng Banking Corp today said it has received approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission to buy a 4.9 per cent stake in the US-based UCBH...

Zardari says ready to set aside Kashmir issue.
March 1, 2008... Zardari says ready to set aside Kashmir issue Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) In a major shift from Pakistan's long-standing position, PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, whose party is set to take reins of the country, has expressed readiness to set...

BSNL launches insurance scheme for its customers.
March 1, 2008... BSNL launches insurance scheme for its customers Shillong, Mar 1 (PTI) State-run BSNL has introduced a scheme of personal accident insurance for all its customers with Rs 50,000 coverage, telecom major's Chief General Manager (NE-1) A K...

Ukrainian businesswoman buys costliest house in London.
March 1, 2008... Ukrainian businesswoman buys costliest house in London London, Mar 1 (PTI) Elena franchuk, a Ukrainian businesswoman and friend of singer Sir Elton John has bought a house at an estimated cost of 80 million pounds, surpassing the previous...