02.09.2007

• Bajaj – TVS spat on IPR
• Bajaj Auto plans to sue TVS Motors for alleged infringement of IPR on technology that is used in most Bajaj bikes.
• Bajaj Auto claims that TVS has used its digital twin spark ignition (DTSi) technology in recent TVS models. This technology uses two spark plugs instead of one. It enables better fuel combustion and efficiency.
• 100% FDI in down linking of TV channels soon?
• The government may soon allow 100% FDI in down linking of TV channels uplinked from abroad.
• At present 49% FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and FII (Foreign Institutional Investment) is allowed for setting up hardware facilities for up-linking through the FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) route. Similarly 26% FDI and FII is allowed for uplinking a news and current affairs channel. For the non-news segment, the cap is 100%. Till now the government has not allowed any down linking of TV channels uplinked from abroad.

• Competition bill highlights
• The bill introduced in Parliament recently mandates that:
• All mergers and acquisitions between two overseas companies to be notified to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) if the combined entity meets a specified threshold. A combined entity with more than Rs. 1000 crore assets or Rs. 3000 crore turnover in India or more than $500 mn assets or $1500 mn turnover in India and outside taken together has to notify the CCI about the merger.
• The concept of territorial nexus – minimum presence in Indian market for any two globally merging companies – entails notification to the CCI of the merger activity.
• New climate pact – successor for the Kyoto protocol
• 158 industrial nations agreed on Friday to consider stiff 2020 goals for cutting greenhouse gases. The 158 nation talks are moderated by the head (Executive Secretary) of the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC) Mr. Yvo de Boer.
• The countries agreed that 25 to 40% emission cuts below the 1990 levels would be a good starting point for the negotiations on the new pact.
• US airline losses and profits
• The US airline industry lost a whopping $43 bn between 2002 and 2005. Only last year it has returned profits of a modest $3 bn.
• India suggests setting up of a SAARC varsity to promote region
• The proposed university would be a centre of excellence where young minds from the region would be encouraged to respond to demands of globalization and opportunities of regional cooperation.
• Estonia to open embassy in Second Life
• This Baltic state has become the third country after Sweden and Maldives to open an embassy in the virtual world of Second Life.
• Don’t remember Second Life? It is a virtual world built by Linden Labs. It is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by about 9 mn Residents from around the globe. Explore and know more about it here.
• Why do babies have more bones than adults? (From today’s ‘Open Space’ column of TOI)
• As babies grow up, their bones fuse together to form one bone. At birth, babies have more cartilage than bone. New born babies have about 305 bones. As they age, they become 206 bones.
• Ban on Yoga in two churches in England
• Two vicars in UK, banned children’s exercise class from their church halls because it was teaching yoga, describing yoga as ‘sham and un-Christian’.
• The Delhi Catholic Archdiocese has said that the action was owing to ‘lack of sufficient knowledge about what yoga is.’
• BTW who is a vicar? A vicar is a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman.
• Permanent Court of Arbitration branch in Delhi
• PCA is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.
• A regional branch of this court for South Asia is to be established in New Delhi in recognition of the contributions made by India to the cause of peaceful settlement of disputes through strict adherence to international law.
• The PCA, established in 1899, is a unique intergovernmental organization providing a variety of dispute resolution services to the international community.
• Choto Pashla
• It is a village in West Bengal. This is where there is a snake for every two villagers. It is home to about 3000 monocled cobras. A snake is never killed in this village. Nearly a dozen people die every year because of snake bites. But people don’t kill them. Instead, they revere the snakes here.
• Scientists are baffled by this phenomenon of so many snakes inhabiting a place.
• US Open – Tennis: Sharapova out!!!
• Anybody watching this? We have the first major casualty in this tournament.
• The defending champion Maria Sharapova was shocked, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, by Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round.