Karela, Jamun, Brinjal patented
After Basmatirice was patented by Rice Tec Inc of the US, Karela, Jamun, and Brinjal have been patented by another American company Cromak Research Inc, a petition in the Supreme Court alleged on Monday.

Lok Sabha passes TRAI bill
The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to strengthen TRAI and set up a tribunal to settle all disputes, with communications minister Ramvilas Paswan announcing that all district headquarters would have Internet connections by June 2002. Paswan said Tata Engineering ropes in DynamicTata Engineering has for the first time outsourced its inbound supply-chain management systems. In one of the biggestdeals in the logistic business, Tata Engineering has signed up Pune-based Dynamic Logistics to become its total logistics provider.

Mahindra-BT may spin off holdings
The promoters of Mahindra-British Telecom are likely to spin off their shareholdings to seek listing on overseas exchanges. According to CEO Kiran Deshpande, active discussions are on to spin off the holdings for overseas listing, but nothing is finalised.

IOC to float firm in Mauritius
The Indian Oil Corporation has earmarked a $12-million investment for an oil company in Mauritius, which will comprise a port terminal, service stations, consumer outlets, and aviation and bunkering facilities. IOC will be the first domestic public-sector oil firm to sell petro-products directly abroad.

ICICI cuts bond rates by 50-70 bps
Term-lending institution ICICI on Monday announced a 50-70 basis points cut in its latest offering of Safety Bonds, compared with the February issue of Safety Bonds. The Rs 400-crore bond issue,which opens for subscription on March 17, carries a greenshoe option of Rs 400 crore. It will close on March 31.

Deshmukh to meet Murdoch today
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh plans to accord a red-carpet welcome to media moghul Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday. Deshmukh, along with senior ministerial colleagues and bureaucrats, will meet Murdoch at the Chief Minister's official residence Varsha over breakfast.

Compiled by S Hariharan