Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
ArcelorMittal signs MoU with Mauritania
Understanding (Mou) with Societe Nationale Industrielle et Miniere (SNIM), Mauritania, on the December 26, 2007, the company siad in the release.
Under the MoU, ArcelorMittal and SNIM will jointly develop a large iron ore mining project, using the El Agareb Iron ore resource in Mauritania, which is estimated to contain more than 1 billion tonnes rich grade of Magnetite resource.
In the first phase of project development, ArcelorMittal will conduct exploratory works and a feasibility study. Onward project execution will be progressed by a Joint Venture Company to be created between SNIM and ArcelorMittal.
At the exploratory and prospecting stage, ArcelorMittal's share will be 30 per cent with an option to increase the stake to 70 per cent once project execution starts. Subject to the feasibility study, ArcelorMittal intends to develop a 25 Million tonnes per year mine.
Aditya Mittal, CFO and member of ArcelorMittal’s Group Management Board, said:
“Mauritania’s strategic location in West Africa makes it an ideal choice for iron ore supplies to
ArcelorMittal’s European steel mills. This large iron ore project would further strengthen our existing presence in the region and will create substantial employment opportunities for the people of Mauritania while accelerating growth in Mauritanian economy.”
SNIM is one of the oldest Iron ore producing companies in Africa, producing more than 12 million
tonnes per year of iron ore with world class production facilities and infrastructure. ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel company, is one of the oldest consumers of SNIM’s iron ore, having been a customer for more than two decades.
Sri Lankan Minister For Nation Building killed In Terror Attack
The minister’s convey was ripped apart by the attack killing him and injuring 11 others. The attack happened as the vehicles crossed the Rukmani Devi junction along the Colombo-Negombo road.
The minister was, with two other were admitted to hospital's intensive care unit, but later succumbed to their injuries, reports rediff.com
Nine others were also injured in the explosion and were receiving treatment.
Violence has increased after the Sri Lankan government pull out of the cease fire agreement with the LTTE vowing to 'demonstrate' its 'military strength'.
Steve Buchnor Sacked To Keep Sprit Of The Game Alive, Not On BCCI Complain
Bucknor will be replaced by Billy Bowden, New Zealander. He will stand alongside Pakistan's Asad Rauf, who had been originally appointed for this game.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has also cleared Harbhajan from the three test ban for allegedly making racial comments on Andrew Symonds.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said, “It is accepted that Steve, and his on-field colleague Mark Benson, did not have good games by their very high standards and we feel that given the added pressure and attention Steve's presence would have at the third Test, it is better for the match and for Steve himself if he does not take part," and added the fourth and final Test at Adelaide, which starts on January 24, will be umpired by Bowden and Rauf, as per the original appointments, the rediff.com reported.
However, Mike Procter will continue as match referee as planned, who has banned Harbhajan Singh without any proof, in the five hour hearing.
Removing of Steve Bucknor for the remaining match has noting to do with BCCI complain against Bucknor. The decision was made in the best interests of the game and the series, Speed said.
Steve Bucknor sacked
However, India bowler Harbhajan Singh, who was banned by match refree Mick Poctor can play the third test.
Indian Board members have stick to thier demands that ban on Harbhajan must be suspended, but no decision has been taken so far bi International Cricket Council (ICC).
People Of India Wants Team India To Come Back
All eyes are set to the meeting of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meeting in New Delhi on January 8. The BCCI is waiting for ICC to suspend the ban on Harbajan.
However, Indian Team has still not left Sydney for Canberra, waiting for BCCI orders. India was play a two day practice match in Canberra before the third test in Perth.
BCCI President Sharad Pawar on evening of January 7 said, "(The team) should not leave Sydney, and they should not go to Canberra. They should stay there. So we expect something from the ICC. We have also called a meeting of BCCI", reported Times Now.
Monday, December 24, 2007
ArcelorMittal acquires Austrian steel distribution company

Gonzalo Urquijo, member of ArcelorMittal's group management board and in charge of its Steel Solutions and Services division, commented: "This acquisition enables us to set foot in the very competitive and dynamic Austrian steel distribution market". "Once Eisen Wagner will be integrated into our Central European distribution network, it will allow ArcelorMittal to both strengthen its presence within this market and better serve its customers in Austria".
Eisen Wagner, one of the leading steel distribution companies in Austria It sold 140,000 tons and out of this 60,000 tons of steel products were processed in 2007. Its last yearly turnover from the year ending 28 February 2007, was 127 million euros, for a staff of 262.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
ICL Announces Calendar for the year 2008
Subhash Chandra, Chairman Essel Group along with Mr. Kapil Dev , Chairman Executive Board ICL today announced the cricket calendar for Indian Cricket League (ICL) for the year 2008. ICL will be having 5 tournaments next year.
All set to revolutionise the game of cricket, Indian Cricket League conducted the first ICL 20-20 Championship at the newly built cricket stadium at Panchkula , Chandigarh between November 30th and December 16th. The tournament witnessed world class facilities matching international standards followed in cricket tournaments world over. The high standard production facilities included 30 camera set up, higher technical specifications such as the inclusion of Fly cam, Hawk Eye, Zoomer, Snickometer, Speedgun and Third umpire.
Calendar Year 2008
S.No
Month
Tournament
Particulars
1
February 08
Domestic Championship
50 Over tournament
Indian players to play
2
February – March 08
Triangular Series to field ICL XI.
20 20 Over Tournament
3
March – April 08
ICL Grand Championship
20 20 Over Tournament
8 Teams to participate in the tournament.
Increase of 2 Teams.
4
April – May 08
ICL to Open Academies in prominent cities.
5
September – October 08
ICL Invitation Cup
20 20 Over Tournament
8 Teams to participate in the tournament
6
November – December 08
ICL 20 20 Indian Championships 2nd Edition.
20 20 Over Tournament
8 Teams to participate in the tournament.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Praj Industries joins ICRISAT for sweet sorghum ethanol consortium
Praj Industries joined hands with ICRISAT by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to become a member of the institute's Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium (SSERC) on December 10, 2007. Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Global Crop Diversity Trust to fund ICRISAT's Genebank

Dr William Dar, director general of ICRISAT and Prof Cary Fowler, executive director of the GCDT, signed the agreement, recently during the Annual General Meeting of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) at Beijing, China.
Under the agreement, the Trust will commit $ 8 million and ICRISAT $ 2 million, totaling an endowment of $ 10 million. The proceeds from the endowment will be used for genetic resources conservation and management activities at ICRISAT.
As per the agreement, the endowment's support for the sorghum germplasm collection will begin in 2007, pearl millet from 2008 and chickpea in 2009, to be followed by other ICRISAT mandate crops. The aim is to raise at least US$ 450,000 per year as return from the endowment to meet critical operational needs such as regeneration, characterization, conservation and viability testing for the crop collections held in trust at ICRISAT.
According to Dr William Dar, the long-term partnership with the GCDT, an international fund established to ensure conservation and availability of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, will ensure that there is steady financial support to ICRISAT's Genebank.
ICRISAT holds more than 118,000 accessions of germplasm for pearl millet, sorghum, chickpea, groundnut, pigeonpea and six small millets in its Genebank, Dr Dar added. "This global treasure holds the genetic material to overcome some of the future breeding bottlenecks and can help breeders develop varieties that can overcome drought, pest and disease infestations."
According to Dr CLL Gowda, ICRISAT's Global Theme Leader for Crop Improvement, the genetic resources at ICRISAT are to be preserved for eternity. This is a big responsibility that the Center is shouldering, to ensure that the genetic resources are conserved safely and will be available for the future generations.
Through the agreement ICRISAT and GCDT will conserve and make available the ICRISAT-held collections through:
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tata Chemicals joins ICRISAT's sweet sorghum ethanol consortium
Tata Chemicals (TCL), a leading company in the Tata group of industries joined hands with ICRISAT by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for entering the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium (SSERC) on 17 November 2007.
Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT and Homi R Khusrokhan, Managing Director of TCL, signed the MOA at Hyderabad.
According to Dr William, this partnership will go a long way in enhancing the commercialization of sweet sorghum for bioethanol production.
Production of ethanol from sweet sorghum as a biofuel can provide additional income to dryland farmers and does not compromise their food security.Through the ICRISAT Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium (SSERC) the Institute promotes the technology for producing the biofuel through public-private partnership.
Tata Chemical is today a leading manufacturer of inorganic chemicals, fertilizers and food additives. The company has an annual turnover of about $ 1.5 billion and is part of the $ 28.8 billion Tata Group, India's foremost business conglomerate.
Recently TCL has entered biofuels production and is setting up a plant in Nanded, Maharashtra, for manufacture of bioethanol from sweet sorghum. Through the MOA, TCL can now avail the sweet sorghum research outputs of ICRISAT.
This includes supply of seeds of sweet sorghum varieties and hybrids along with technical know-how on sweet sorghum cultivation aspects.
Khusrokhan said that he was very happy that TCL had joined the consortium and was very impressed by the wonderful developmental work done by ICRISAT all around the world.It is envisaged that there is a huge global opportunity for all partners to work together to benefit millions of farmers by offering new market opportunities through this new venture.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Continental Airlines to offer free helicopter service
Continental Airlines is offering customers travelling across the Atlantic on qualifying BusinessFirst tickets complimentary fares for the eight-minute scheduled helicopter transfers between its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, and two locations in Manhattan.
"Continental already offers the most convenient way to get to Manhattan, with its exclusive customs and immigration facilities and AirTrain service to Penn Station in Midtown," said Jim Summerford, the airline's Vice President Europe, Middle East & India."
He also thanked to thier partner, US Helicopter for getting to Manhattan even quicker – and at no extra fare to our highest-yield customers.
The offer applies to BusinessFirst customers travelling to New York on fares booked in the airline's J and D class of service and originating from any of the 29 cities in 16 countries in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network.
Customers travelling on return tickets qualify for complimentary fares for helicopter transfers in both directions between New York Liberty and Manhattan; those on one-way tickets qualify for a one-way transfer. While the fare is waived, customers are liable for applicable taxes. The offer is subject to availability and to changes or cancellation at any time. US Helicopter has a different baggage allowance policy than Continental.
US Helicopter operates scheduled flights Monday-Friday, every business day.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline, with more than 3,100 daily departures serving 144 U.S. and 138 international destinations. Across the Atlantic, Continental operates over 300 departures weekly from 29 cities in 16 countries to its U.S. gateway hubs at New York, Houston and Cleveland, with onward connections to more than 230 cities throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Click4Sky.com: a new airline arrives on the European market
The first to offer guaranteed ticket prices inclusive of all fees
CLICK4SKY.com is coming to the European market with an offer of low-price tickets and is the only airline to offer a guaranteed price inclusive of all fees and taxes. One-way tickets for flights from Prague to 36 European destinations are available for CZK 1,990 inclusive of fees. CLICK4SKY.com passengers will fly on Czech Airlines aircraft.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of CLICK4SKY.com, Jan Kaše said, “We are bringing to the market the product that passengers really want. People who fly once or twice a year want to fly not only inexpensively but, above all, want to get a fair offer and know the conditions of the flight, including the price, right from their initial decisionCLICK4SKY.com will offer them all of this.
CLICK4SKY.com will give everybody a fair offer. The price of a one-way ticket to any of the 36 European destinations available will be CZK 1,990 and includes all fees and taxes. “Our price is guaranteed and is the same anywhere in Europe. For CZK 1,990 you buy a ticket to your target destination and for CZK 1,990 you buy a ticket back. You do not pay any other taxes or fees on top of that as they are all included in the price. Our price is final and guaranteed for everyone,” explained Jan Kaše. After the ticket is purchased, the date of the flight cannot be changed or any other changes made.
Services
• What the airline will offer:
• We are offering you the same price to 36 European destinations in 22 countries
• The price already includes all fees - you will not pay more
• We guarantee the price for the entire time the tickets for a particular flight are sold
• We will take care of you on board - refreshments are included in the price
• You can check in comfortably via the Internet at no charge
• We fly on direct routes from one city to another, without any transfers or unnecessary stopovers
• We fly to the major airports in 36 European cities
• We sell tickets only over the Internet - we do not operate any branches
• We provide electronic tickets
With CLICK4SKY.com, passengers will land at the major, key European airports from which they can get downtown easily and quickly. For the present time, passengers will travel on board Czech Airlines aircraft.
“We are flying with an airline that has earned awards for outstanding services, on-board service and its on-time record for several consecutive years,” said Jan Kaše.
On board the planes, the crew will provide the highest level of care to CLICK4SKY.com passengers. On-board services are free of charge and include high-quality refreshments, including a selection of hot and cold beverages. The daily press and an on-board magazine will be available, and passengers will also have the opportunity to purchase attractive merchandise. CLICK4SKY.com passengers will be able to check in for their flight from the comfort of their home or office via the Internet check-in. The flight attendants speak Czech, English and other major languages.
Tickets
Tickets are available on the CLICK4SKY.com website for flights from Prague to Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Belgrade, Bologna, Brussels, Bratislava, Budapest, Cairo, Cologne, Copenhagen, Cracow, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Istanbul, Košice, London, Ljubljana, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Riga, Rome, Stuttgart, Tallinn, Thessalonica, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius and Zurich. Tickets can be purchased on the CLICK4SKY.com website
“For Czech Airlines, CLICK4SKY.com represents an opportunity to make use of any available spare capacity on its aircraft,” said Petr Pištělák, Vice-President for Marketing and Product Development at Czech Airlines. As part of its OK 2006-2008 revival strategy, sales at Czech Airlines have been focused, as a priority, on business-class passengers and frequent flyers in economy class. With this strategy it has managed to achieve revenue growth. Czech Airlines now wants to offer the remaining free capacity to another type of clientele through CLICK4SKY.com. “We are expecting to achieve additional revenues in the order of hundreds of millions of crowns per year through sales of CLICK4SKY.com tickets,” added Petr Pištělák.
Czech Airlines in new look
This process will not result in any additional costs to the company because "The painting of the outside of our planes has to be redone on a regular basis – roughly every five years”, said Petr Pištělák, the vice president for marketing and product development. The company will change its logo, as featured on all other materials and equipment, in a similar manner.
Czech Airlines is the largest national carrier in the new EU member countries, in terms of the number of passengers carried. In 2006, the Airline carried a record 5.5 million passengers. Since 2001, it has been a member of SkyTeam, one of the leading global airline alliances. It currently offers connections to 104 destinations in 44 countries worldwide. The fleet comprises 50 aircraft – ATR 42s/72s, Boeing 737s, and Airbus A310/A320/A321s. In the first half of 2007, Czech Airlines ranked first in on-time flight performance, among the 26 member airlines of the Association of European Airlines (AEA).