08 August, 2013

Green cards for Indians soar six-fold to 35,472 in a year

Indians chasing the American dream have reason to cheer. In 2012, as many as 35,472 Indians with H-1B visas got green cards, up from 6,000 in 2011 — accounting for more than 50% of all green cards issued to H-1B holders for all countries in the year. The data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) comes in the wake of a new Bill that focuses on attracting knowledge workers to the US by providing them citizenship.

Retailers, consumers sourcing cheaper vegetables from farmers via e-mails, SMS in Maharashtra

Over 300 farmers from Mulashi near Pune, organised under the Abhinav Farmers' club, plan four months in advance who will grow what.

More than 1,300 women, organised in 117 groups, do attractive packaging of organic vegetables, earning Rs 150 a day (for just 4-5 hours' work).

Banks borrowed Rs 239.30 bn via marginal standing facility on August 7: RBI

Banks borrowed Rs 239.30 billion ($3.9 billion) from the Reserve Bank of India's marginal standing facility (MSF) window on August 7, sharply higher than Rs 60.80 billion.The RBI had raised the MSF rate by 200 basis points to 10.25 per cent and also imposed restrictions on daily borrowings by banks under its repo window.

Banks usually tap the MSF rate during acute cash tightness.

Indian products have limited market access in China: Government

Indian products have limited market access in China and farm items in particular are facing non-trade barriers, the government There are non-tariff barriers on imports of agricultural products in China as well as limited market access of Indian products," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

India has a trade deficit of USD 40.77 billion with China in 2012-13.

CIFA opposes SC panel recommendations on biotech crops

Farmers body CIFA today opposed the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee to ban field trials of biotech crops saying such a move would be "anti-national" and against the interest of growers.

The five-member technical expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended banning research field trials of all biotech crops in the country.

Hero MotoCorp to set up factories in US, Latin America

Hero MotoCorpBSE 0.84 % is set to open factories in North and Latin America, the first instance of the Indian two-wheeler major looking at starting full-fledged manufacturing abroad. The company, controlled by the Munjal family, was earlier prohibited from making overseas investments as part of the joint venture agreement with erstwhile partner Honda.

But the divorce with Honda in 2011 has seen the company take gradual steps towards generating a substantial portion of sales from exports, which is now prompting it to look at setting up factories abroad.

Cristiano Ronaldo lifts Real Madrid to victory over Chelsea

Cristiano Ronaldo gave his former coach Jose Mourinho one more dazzling display of his skills, and delivered a trophy to Real Madrid in the process with a 3-1 win over Chelsea in Wednesday's final of the Guinness International Champions Cup.

MS Dhoni to promote EPL in India

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be seen promoting his second love soccer on STAR Sports after being roped in as the brand ambassador of the upcoming Barclays English Premier League in India.