2,000 feared killed in Afghan earthquake
Kabul: Over 2,000 people were killed and thousands injured in a series of earthquakes which struck northern Afghanistan.

The interim government of the war-ravaged country appealed for international help, saying it could not cope with the disaster.

The quakes devastated Nahrin, a district capital with a population of 10,000 near the epicentre in the rugged Hindu Kush mountains, and surrounding villages late on 25 March morning.

The bodies of 1,800 have been pulled out of the rubble, but many more are still buried. More than 3,000 have been injured and 30,000 displaced.
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FDI proposals worth Rs 500 cr cleared
New Delhi: The government has approved Rs 500 crore worth of foreign direct investment, including a proposal by processed food major Nestle to hike its stake in Nestle India to 64 per cent.

Among 29 proposals cleared are a proposal by merchant banker Jardine Fleming to increase its equity in J P Morgan India from 75 per cent to 100 per cent involving an investment of Rs 101 crore.

A proposal by Ballarpur Industries for a rights issue in favour of non-resident Indians (NRI) amounting to less then 19 per cent for Rs 240 crore has also been cleared. Koleman Foods has been permitted to increase its equity in Koleman India from 77.77 per cent to 78.66 per cent while Asia Ventures has been allowed to amend its existing approval for investment in MTV India.
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Petrol, diesel prices may go up
New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation has said that hike in prices of petrol and diesel had become imperative with surge in international oil prices.

"It will be difficult to maintain the prices at the current level. We have told government about the impact and what relief are required," chairman designate of IOC M S Ramachandran told reporters here.

Ramachandran, who would take charge of the corporation from M A Pathan on 1 April, said, "IOC has submitted its views and the government has to look at these." He said an increase of four dollars a barrel in global crude prices since presentation of Union Budget would impact the company by about Rs 400-500 crore annually.
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Digital library on Indian medicine launched
New Delhi: A traditional knowledge digital library (TKDL) on Indian systems of medicine was launched here on 26 March.

Earlier this month, the International Patent Classification Union declared the TKDL as a model to be followed by 170 other countries.

The TKDL is a joint effort by NISCOM and the department of Indian systems of medicine and homeopathy.
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Discovery launches late night shows
New Delhi:  Discovery Channel is set to launch all-adult programmes.

The channel promises to take you to the sexiest destinations for couples every night at 11.

The channel is launching from April new slots targeted at different age groups and gender. The new slots are: Sunrise, Womans Hour, Amazing Animals, Discovery Kids, Action Zone, Family Time, Friday Showcase, The Perfect Ten and Late Night Discovery.

The channels viewership went up by 21 per cent, children viewership increased by 20 per cent and women viewership by 43 per cent in the last one year.

While suspense is building up on Late Night Discovery for its all-adult theme, the other slots will showcase travel, health, romance, animal world, adventure for children, among others.
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Bt Cotton gets govt nod
New Delhi: The genetic engineering approval committee has cleared the release of Bt Cotton for commercial use on certain conditions.

"The terms are being finalised and they will be released on 27 March," GEAC chief A M Gokhale said.

The issue of commercial use of Bt cotton has been hanging fire for the last 4 years and the decision by the GEAC, the multi-disciplinary body under the environment ministry, comes after a long and heated debate between those who are for and those who are against the cultivation of the insect protected variety of cotton.
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IRDA caps agency commission at 15 pc
New Delhi: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has said that general insurance companies would be allowed to pay a maximum of 15 per cent as agency commission for insuring assets purchased through individual loans including those under hire-purchase finance or for personal accident cover and sickness.

IRDA warned that any breach of the commission structure would be dealt with severely by the regulator.

A commission of five per cent would be allowed to be paid by insurers as percentage of premium (applicable only to tariff business) for those insured having a paid-up capital of Rs 10 crore.

The commission rates would come into effect from 1 April.
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