Jetfleet and Europcar ink franchise agreement for India

Jetfleet Private Limited, a Jetair promoted entity, today inked an agreement with Europes leading car rental firm Europcar, to provide a unique personal mobility solution targeted at the Indian and expatriate corporate and leisure travel business in India.

Jetfleet has entered into an exclusive tie-up with Europcar to provide exclusively tailored personal mobility solutions that respond to specific market needs. Jetfleet has been set up to provide travellers a comprehensive range of Europcars facilities in key metros and tourist destinations throughout India. Customers will also be able to avail of Europcars global network, expertise and a frequent flyer program akin to those run by Airlines.

Jetfleet will commence operations in the capital New Delhi on 3rd October, 2006 followed by Bangalore in early November and Mumbai by early December. Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Agra, Jaipur and Pune will be added to the network in 2007 followed by Goa, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh in 2008.

Jetfleet plans to equip every vehicle in its fleet with a state-of-the-art advanced GPS system. Other value-add services will include a first aid kit, a mini-fridge, laptop and mobile phone chargers, wet tissues, newspapers and magazines.

Rajasthan plans elephant rescue centre

Rajasthan plans to set up a home for elephants rescued from all over the country.

The centre is expected to come up in an area of about 80 hectares where as many as 50 elephants would be housed, according to the forest department here.

The centre will be run by Help In Suffering, an NGO working for the welfare of animals in Jaipur, a forest department official said.

It will mainly cater to elderly elephants exploited by circus companies. The elephants will be provided a balanced diet and medical facilities.

We will identify land near Kukas dam, around 15 km from Jaipur, for the centre, he said.

After similar complexes for lions and tigers, this would be the third animal hub in the Nahargarh reserves. Fifty lions and tigers are being cared for here.

The Rajasthan government has decided to monitor tigers in the Ranthambore National Park through radio collars.

The government has sent a proposal in this regard to the central government. Initially, the project involves monitoring the activities of three male tiger cubs by installing radio collars on them.

We plan to undertake a detailed research by installing radio collars on three cubs, L.N. Dave, the state forest minister, told IANS.

The minister said the research would incorporate a detailed study of the cubs behaviour.

The government plans to involve the Wildlife Institute of India in this project.

Tricom India Ltd has announced that the members at the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company held on September 25, 2006, inter alia, have approved the declaration of Dividend @ 20% on Equity Shares i.e. Rs 2/- per share for the year ended March 31, 2006.

Voluntary delisting of Companys equity shares from Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Madras Stock Exchanges.

Increase in Authorised share capital from Rs 11 Crores to Rs 20 Crores and consequent changes in the capital clause in the Articles & Memorandum of Association.

City-based Tricom India Ltd has issued bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 to the shareholders.

The non-voice business process outsourcing company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the AGM held yesterday issued the bonus shares in the proportion of one equity share for every share held in the company.

A decision to increase the company’s authorised share capital from Rs 11 crore to Rs 20 crore was also given a nod by the shareholders and a proposal to delist equity shares of the company from Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Madras Stock Exchanges was approved at the meeting as well.

Rajamata Gayatri Devi will launch the first UK exhibition of precious jewellery from the legendary Gem Palace in Jaipur. The priceless jewels will be on view at the Gilbert Collections at Somerset House in central London from 28 September. Rajamata Gayatri Devi, who has a residence in London and spends much of her time here, will officially open the exhibition on Thursday at a private party.

The dazzling exhibition will feature 250 pieces of exquisite traditional Indian jewellery, many made as special one-off commissions. Contemporary pieces will also be on show. Munnu Kasliwal, whose family established the Gem Palace in 1852 and have been jewellers to Moghul emperors, will also be present at the inauguration.

Former admirers and clients of the Gem Palace have included Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Jackie Onassis, and Diana, Princess of Wales. Current admirers include Nicole Kidman, Mick Jagger, Giorgio Armani, Arun Nayar, and Ashley and Allegra Hicks. Some of their jewellery is worn during the Oscars and other award ceremonies.

Three suspected militants trying to sneak into India were gunned down in an encounter by BSF jawans here today, a senior police official said.

Arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, grenades and pistols were recovered from them, Superintendent of Police (Sriganganagar) Vineeta Thakur said.

The suspected militants were trying to cross over to the Indian side through the border with Pakistan when the BSF personnel shot them.

JAIPUR - The day before the initiation of Ramadan seven Pakistani nationals were killed as they attempted to infilitrate into India from two locations. What makes this latest effort different is that for the first time since the last major war between Delhi/Islamabad there was an engagement in Rajasthan, Indias northwestern state not far from the Arabian Sea. Since 1989, when the Islamic uprising began in Kashmir that November, all the fighting has been confined to that region until now.

Reuters reported the firefight in Rajasthan took place near the village of Anoopgarh, along Pakistans Punjab province. We tried to challenge them but they started to fire at us and in the exchange of fire three infiltrators were killed. That is a quote from a senior officer in Indias Border Security Force (BSF). Anoopargh is approximately 310 miles (500km) northwest of Rajasthan state capital Jaipur.

In December, last year, crossfirewar.com reported India Home Minister S. Raghupathy stated that Pakistan was strengthening its bunkers and builiding new observation towers and new posts along this same northwest border. Last May India conducted week-long maneuvers in its Punjab province, just north of Rajasthan, that involved 20,000 troops in conjunction with the Indian Air Force (IAF). It was codenamed Exercise Sanghe-Shakti and tested Delhis new Cold Start Doctrine - a swift attack into enemy territory in response to an enemy attack. Delhi was testing this new tactic as a result of the successful Kargil probe made by Islamabad in 1999, which was planned by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf.

President Musharraf has just completed a successful book tour of the U. S. in which he said goodbye to President George W. Bush - Washington - Pentagon. I think he wrote the book too soon unless he is planning a second volume. He knows he will soon be leading his country into its fourth war with India.

The United States was not at all behind the removal of the then Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh, as alleged by the latter in the wake of the Volcker committee report on the oil-for-food scam, US Ambassador to India, Dr David C Mulford asserted on Friday.

The US is not involved since the entire matter is in the hands of the United Nations and India, Mulford said at a meet-the-press programme here.

Mulford was in the state capital to attend 2-day road shows valedictory seminar organised for Indian students by the US Embassy.

London - Nearly 250 pieces of exquisite treasures from Jaipurs Gem Palace will be on display at an exhibition at the Somerset House here from Sep 28 to Oct 22.

The pieces are described as rare examples of traditional Indian jewellery. Many of them were made as special one-off commissions. They will be on display in the Gilbert Collection of Somerset House.

Amongst the dazzling jewels on show will be gold and enamelled chandelier earrings, cabochon rings, delicate bracelets, beaded necklaces studded with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies, as well as jewelled objets dart set with precious and semi-precious stones.

There will also be a specially designed shop selling a selection of Gem Palace jewellery, official sources here said. Prices in the Gem Palace shop will start from 500 pounds