India tests Agni-1
Balasore: A short-range variant of the nuclear capable Agni ballistic missile, the Agni-1, with and a range of 700 kilometers, was test-fired on Sunday from a mobile launcher at 1010 hours from the Launch Complex Four of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler's Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast. This is the third test for the short-range variant of the Agni. The first test was on January 25, 2002 and the next on January 9, 2003. Ground radars, telemetry stations and naval ships positioned close to the intended impact point, tracked the test.

The Agni-I has a height of 12 meters and is powered by a single stage solid fuel rocket, which provides it with a speed of 2.5 km per second. The Agni-1 also features considerable improvements in its re-entry technology and maneuverability. The Agni-1 covers the gap between the Prithvi class of missiles, with a maximum range of 250 kms, and the Agni-2 missiles, with their 1,500 km range. The medium range Agni-1 now effectively brings all of Pakistan within its coverage area. The Agni-1's solid fuel rocket also neutralizes the perceived gap between the Pakistani rockets, which are all powered by solid fuel engines, and the Prithvi and Agni rockets which, as in Prithvi, are either powered entirely by liquid fuel engines, or as in the case of Agni, in the initial stages.
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RFQMR: A breakthrough in the treatment of arthritis
Bangalore: In a breakthrough achievement, in the use of non-invasive techniques to regenerate dying tissues in the body that cause serious disabilities in arthritis patients, the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD) has developed the 'Rational Field Quantum Magnetic Resonance' (RFQMR) generator.

The RFQMR generator, through powerful multi-frequency rotating quantum electromagnetic resonating beams, relieves patients of chronic pain and disability. A two-year project to assess the efficacy of the RFQMR in cancer with 40 patients will begin late this month and is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.
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BARC asked to set up more desalination plants in TN
Madurai: The Union Government has asked the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, to set up desalination plants in Tamil Nadu and in some other parts of the country where only brackish water is available. BARC has developed desalination technologies based on multi-stage flash evaporation, reverse osmosis and temperature evaporation. A litre of drinking water could be produced at a cost of 5-10 paise.
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FICCI survey: Slowdown hits the FMCG sector
New Delhi: An FMCG sector survey by FICCI says that the sector is undergoing a pronounced slowdown. FICCI found the FMCG sector grew by a mere 1.5 per cent in value terms during 2003-04 to touch Rs 60,900 crore. Further, according to the survey, this pace of almost no growth is expected to continue well into the first six months of the present fiscal also, with the sector expected to log only two per cent growth between April-September 2004.

Also, as a result of the series of price reductions that led to proportionately lower profit margins, volume growth in the FMCG sector more than doubled last fiscal to touch four per cent. The survey also noted that the FMCG market is highly fragmented with almost half the market representing unbranded, unpackaged homemade products.

In a sector-wise analysis, the survey says that the sectors which have recorded negative growth include personal health care (-3 per cent), laundry soaps (-5 per cent), dish wash (-3 per cent), toilet soap (-4.5 per cent), toothpaste (-5 per cent) and toothpowder (-8 per cent)." Among the sectors which actually recorded double-digit growth even during the overall slowdown include shaving cream (20 per cent), deodorant (40 per cent), branded coconut oil (10 per cent), anti-dandruff shampoo (15 per cent), hair dyes (25 per cent), cleaners and repellents (20 per cent).
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