Headstart over others: The Indian Express group has announced the launch of Headstart, a career opportunities publication, which will be distributed free with The Indian Express in Mumbai every Friday. Positioned as a career specialist, Headstart aims to reach out to the serious career-builder who takes informed career decisions and is in tune with the changing requirements of the professional sector. While the publication will have a higher proportion of career opportunity advertisements, whatdifferentiates it from the existing competitive products is its quality editorial content.

Corporate Monitor: Urea scam takes toll on NFL project: The Rs 133-crore urea scam has cost the state-owned National Fertilizer Rs 83 crore in cost and time overrun. The final cost of the Vijaipur expansion project has now been calculated at Rs 1,070.60 crore, against the approved figure of Rs 987.3 crore. The state-run firm faced liquidity crunch between April and August, 1996, owing to IDBI's decision to stop further disbursement in the aftermath of the scam. The project was scheduled to be commissioned within 36 months, but took six months more, causing cost overrun.

Software export earnings seen up 62%: India's software export earnings are likely to increase by over 62 per cent and touch Rs 11,000 crore in the current fiscal, according to Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council.

States asked to undertake legal reforms: The urban affairs ministry today asked states andunion territories to undertake legal reforms like Rent Control Act, amendment to land tenancy laws, reduction in stamp duty and simplification of registration procedure for boosting the housing sector. Guidelines have also been issued to them for single window approach to development clearances, land acquisition and assembly through land pooling and sharing arrangements, says PTI quoting official sources.

Delhi, Islamabad fail to resolve Tulbul issue: India and Pakistan today failed to achieve any breakthrough on the dispute over Tulbul navigation project in Jammu and Kashmir with both sides firmly sticking to their known stands as the second phase of Indo-Pak talks got off to a dismal start. However, both the parties have agreed to continue discussions at the next round of the dialogue process with a view to finding a solution consistent with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

Petition on price rise referred to CJ: A two-judge bench of the Allahabad high court today referredto chief justice a petition seeking a direction to the government to control the prices of essential commodities after differing whether or not to issue notice to the government on the issue. Justice M Katju issued notices to the central and state governments observing that the right to get essential commodities at reasonable price was a part of right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the constitution.

RFL to privately place Rs 125 cr bonds: The Rural Electrification Corporation will privately place tax-free bonds worth Rs 125 crore to banks and financial institutions during the next week. The bond issue is the second instalment of Rs 500 crore which the corporation has scheduled to raise in the current financial. Top officials of the corporation were in the city on Thursday to discuss the placement and the coupon rate of the bond issue with banks and FIIs.

Auto finance rates dip: Cut throat competition among auto financiers has brought down interest rates on car loan to dismally lowlevels, says PTI quoting bankers. They said that unless the rates pushed up it would be difficult to sustain the business. Interest rates on auto finances were facing a downward pressure since the beginning of this financial year and had reached unsustainable levels.

Rabo India in pact with foreign banks: Rabo India Finance Ltd, the 75 per cent subsidiary of Netherland-based Rabobank, has entered into strategic alliance with a few foreign banks which will provide them with a line of credit for providing food and agribusiness services in the country. Rabo India received a license to carry on the business of non-banking finance company last month. The company is currently talking to a few financial institutions and other nationalised banks for providing us with a similar line of credit, according to Ashok Kapur, managing director, Rabobank International.

Rs 500-crore state fund to promote agri business: The Maharashtra government will set up an agro-fund worth Rs 500 crore with equityparticipation from private sector companies to create proper infrastructure and promote agri business in the state. Venture capital companies from Australia and Canada are keen to pick up equity in the proposed fund which will be set up within the next five years, according to State agriculture minister, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.