HC asks centre to implement CAS in four weeks
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to implement the Conditional Access System (CAS) for cable operators within four weeks.

The court has also imposed a penalty of Rs1 lakh on the centre towards damages for the multi-system operators (MSOs) for delaying the implementation of the scheme since July 2003. The order was passed after a petition filed by the MSOs - Hathway Communications, Indus India and Indian Cable Network (RPG) - challenging the decision of the ministry of information and broadcasting not to implement CAS despite recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The MSOs said CAS would drastically reduce the subscription charges paid by subscribers.

After the verdict the Cable Operators Federation of India said the judgment was a victory for millions of subscribers across the country as they would now have t o pay reduced cable tariff rates. It said viewers who were paying about Rs250 per month, will have to now pay only about Rs75-150 per month.
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Industrial growth at 8.3 per cent in Jan
New Delhi: The Indian industry grew by 8.3 per cent in January this year as against 7.5 per cent a year ago mainly due to the higher growth in manufacturing. The index of industrial production for April-January this fiscal shows a growth of 8 per cent compared to 8.4 during the same period last fiscal.
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Inflation falls to 4.29 per cent
New Delhi: Inflation fell to 4.29 per cent for the week ended February 25 from 4.34 per cent in the previous week, mainly due to decline in essential food articles and non-food items.
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Tea prices fall further
Coimbatore: Tea prices fell by Rs2-Rs 4 per kg at the Coimbatore auction held on Wednesday, industry sources. Price of orthodox leaf Nilgiris brokens fell by Rs2-Rs 3, while the prices of medium and limited quantity of whole leaf grades maintained around last level, they said.

Though the good liquoring teas in CTC leaf met with fair support from upcountry buyers, the prices were down by Rs2-Rs 3. Following weak demand, medium and plainer sorts were lower by Rs3-Rs 4 with heavy withdrawals.

Orthodox tea prices fell by Rs2 to Rs3, while CTC liquoring sorts fell by Rs2 to Rs3. Medium and plainer bolder grades saw support, but were easier by Re 1 to Rs1.50 per kg. Orthodox leaf brokens quoted at Rs57 to Rs 68, medium brokens at Rs45 to Rs 49, while good CTC brokens ruled at Rs 46 to Rs 51, fannings at Rs 44 to Rs 47, medium brokens at Rs 42 to Rs 44 and fannings at Rs 39 to Rs 43.

Best CTC dusts quoted at Rs56 to Rs70, good at Rs 48 to Rs55, medium Rs45 to Rs48 and medium orthodox dust at Rs35 to Rs42 per kg.
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Foreign tourist arrivals rise 10.1 per cent
New Delhi: Foreign tourist arrivals rose 10.1 per cent in February from a year ago largely due to an increase in business and leisure travel, a government statement said on Thursday.

The statement said foreign exchange earnings rose 10.9 per cent to $595 mn as 4.2 lakh foreign visitors traveled to India in February compared with 3. 8 lakh visitors in February last year.

The rise is also partly due to the 'Incredible India' campaign running across global locales by the ministry of tourism.
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UN says corruption behind world water shortage
A new UN report on water and development said corruption played a crucial yet invisible role in depriving almost a fifth of the world's population access to safe drinking water. It said there is enough supply of fresh water for the whole planet, but mismanagement in its distribution leads to 1.1 billion people not getting safe drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation, said the report prepared by 24 UN agencies.

The report said the affected people are among the world's poorest, and over half of them live in China or India, according to the report, entitled 'Water: a crisis of governance.'

A recent survey in India has found that 41 per cent of customers had paid small bribes in the previous six months to falsify meter readings and thereby lower bills, according to the report. Thirty per cent paid bribes to expedite repair work and 12 per cent made payments to expedite new water or sanitation connections in the previous six months, the report said.
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Sudan awards oil blocks to ONGC
New Delhi: Sudan is awarding Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) two exploration blocks.

A spokesman for ONGC said, 'An announcement would be made at the appropriate time.'

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India said Sudan's envoy Abdul Mahmood Mohammed told Indian businessmen that his government was planning to award several projects in sectors such as railways, tourism and airports to Indian firms. Last month, the ambassador said Sudan would award two exploration blocks to India's Reliance Industries Ltd. ONGC's wholly-owned overseas subsidiary, ONGC Videsh, has stakes in five oil and gas blocks in Sudan.
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Myanmar, India sign agreement for gas supply
Yangon- India has entered into a preliminary agreement with Myanmar for buying natural gas. The memorandum of understanding covered sales of gas to state-run gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd. and building a pipeline from Myanmar to northeast India. Myanmar officials said the agreement to be signed was identical to one agreed with China last year as Yangon kept both options open for its huge natural gas reserves.

India and China are improving relations Myanmar's military junta with an eye on its vast natural gas reserves.

Myanmar is said to have the world's tenth-biggest gas reserves estimated at more than 90 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in its 19 onshore and three major offshore fields, although the BP Statistical Review puts proven gas reserves much lower at 19 Tcf.

The fields are also estimated to contain around 3.2 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil.
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