MTV Networks Asia's distribution has crossed the 100-million-homes. MTV programming from its channels three channels MTV India, MTV Mandarin and MTV Southeast Asia now reaches nearly 77 million homes on a daily basis, as well as an additional 24 million homes through terrestrial syndication. Among the key markets receiving MTV are India (10 million homes), Taiwan (over 4 million homes), China (over 37 million homes), South Korea (over 2 million homes), Indonesia (16 million homes) and the Philippines (over 5 million homes).

Visa ties up with Yahoo! for shopping guide:

Visa International has teamed up with Yahoo! Asia to launch the Visa Shopping Guide by Yahoo! Asia (http://shopguide.yahoo.com.sg), a Web-based shopping guide, featuring merchants targeting consumers in Asia. The Visa Shopping Guide by Yahoo! Asia is an initiative by both companies to promote E-commerce in the region. Additionally, Visa International is also planning wide distribution of aconsumer education brochure and a strategic online merchant partnership programme. The Visa Shopping Guide by Yahool! Asia focuses on enhancing the online shopping experience for both consumers and merchants, by making it easy for them to find each other. The Shopping Guide offers individuals the resources they need to make informed shopping decisions and provides a convenient source to quickly find and purchase things online. The guide will indicate markets served by each merchant and card payment security levels offered to cardholders.

Ikos signs pact with TransSwitch Corp:

Ikos Systems Inc, a US-based provider of design verification solutions, has announced that TransSwitch Corporation, one of its long-term customers, has signed a $500,000 purchase agreement for Ikos' NSIM 64 simulation accelerator and three boards for use at its North America and India facilities. TranSwitch, a leading innovator of high-speed semiconductor solutions for broadband telecommunications and data communicationsapplications, required the verification solutions as it is now developing many complex communications ICs offshore. TranSwitch India country manager Prosit Mukherjee said, ``We have been able to verify complex designs quickly and efficiently and are enthusiastic about bringing the same technology to our operations in India as it will play an important role in the verification of our most advanced telecommunications and data communications chip developments.''

CNN International launches new on-air look for the millennium:

CNN International has launched the first stage of its new on-air this month, in the most comprehensive design review the network has ever undertaken in its 14-year history. The storyboarding and review process, involving creative teams in London, Munich, Atlanta and New York, was completed entirely over the internet in just four months. The new look is the result of close creative collaboration with top European design talent, Attik in London and Munich-based Velvet. The overallprocess was spearheaded by CNN International's design director Morgan Almeida, in close conjunction with CNN's London Creative Services director David Costley-White.

Sujana power to achieve financial closure by June: The Sujana group promoted 210 mw short gestation power project here is all set to achieve financial closure by June this year with funds having been tied up with two leading financial institutions. While the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) would be the lead fund manager to Sujana Power Tuticorin Ltd (SPTL), the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) has agreed to finance the Sujana Power Gangaikondam Ltd (SPGL), company sources told PTI. Both SPTL and SGPL of 105 mw each are situated at the same site. The promoters, Hyderabad-based Sujana group, had earlier planned to set up SPGL at Gangaikondum, but later shifted to the present site in view of better availability of fuel, which would be supplied by Indian Oil Corporation.

Trade advisory meet today: Theadvisory committee on international trade headed by commerce minister Ramakrishna Hegge will hold its first meeting in New Delhi on Friday. The committee has been set up to advise the government on the formulation of international trade policy. The terms of reference of the 18-member committee are to discuss periodically on-going negotiations in multilateral trade bodies as well as other bodies in respect of trade-related issues with special emphasis on discussions and negotiations in the WTO. The other aspects are reviewing the status of legislation, administrative action on international obligations in the sphere of trade and recommending strategies for increasing market access for Indian goods.

International handicrafts fair on Feb 26: Environment-friendly and traditional handicraft products would be the focus at the international Indian handicrafts and gifts fair beginning in New Delhi on February 26. The four-day fair aims to boost export of Indian handicrafts, demand for which is on the risethe world over, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the main organiser of the fair, said in a statement on Thursday. "With the growing international concern for environment and increasing demand for lesser known traditional handicrafts, the fair will witness increased participation from hand-made paper, jute, terracota, textiles (using vegetable dyes), dry flowers and alternate wood product manufacturers," EPCH said. More than 2,500 major buyers from countries like Germany, United States, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Greece, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong are expected to visit it.

KVIC plans denim jeans in khadi: It is a meeting ground between Gandhian dreams and bohemian style. Denim jeans, the once tent cloth turned time-tested all weather and terrain casual wear, has at last captured the dreams of swadeshi proponents. By starting production of denim cloth, khadi has joined the likes of Levis, Wrangler, Lee and other popular brands.Mahesh Sharma, chairman of state-owned Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) said efforts to produce khadi denim fabric had yielded excellent results. KVIC had entrusted the project for weaving denim fabric to Ahmedabad-based Khadi Gramodyog Paryog Samiti, he said. "The production of denim needs special expertise", Sharma said. Bhanji Bhai, a master weaver is giving live demonstration to his denim weaving skills at the ongoing "swadeshi mela" fair being held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

Kerala to put more pressure on Centre to save FACT: Kerala industries minister Susheela Gopalan told the Kerala Assembly on Thursday that more pressure needed to be put on the Centre to accept its proposals to save public sector FACT which was facing a crisis as a result of the import policies. Replying to the calling attention motion of M P Varghese CPI(M), the minister said among the state's proposals to the Centre for saving fact were hiking the import duty on caprolactum from 25 per cent to 40per cent, a capital subsidy of Rs 200 crore, stoppage of the plan to disinvest the Centre's shares in fact and exclusion of fact from dividend payment to the Centre. The Centre was at present considering the state's proposals, she added.

Glass India '99 from Feb 12: The third glass India exhibition and conference `Glass India 99' will be held here from February 12-13.

Previously staged in 1995 and 1997, the last glass India event attracted over 1400 visitors from over 20 countries worldwide. 84 international companies exhibited at this event. The 1999 Glass India exhibition will cover all aspects of the glass manufacturing process. The latest glass-making equipment and technology will be exhibited by the industry's leading international suppliers. Visitors to the event will include personnel involved in the manufacture of glass containers, tableware, flat glass, glass fibre, lightingware , TV glass and specialist glass products, a release said.