San Francisco - Even mighty Google is feeling the effects of the global recession. The advertising and software giant is cutting 100 recruiting jobs and plans to shutter three engineering offices in Norway, Sweden and Texas, the company announced.

Laszlo Bock, Google's vice president of people operations, said in a blog post late Wednesday that since Google is now hiring at a reduced rate it needs fewer people to hire people.

The company had a huge number of recruiters working as it scaled up from a two person operation to a workforce of over 25,000 in just a decade.

Two deals have been signed by Infrastructure Development Finance Co Ltd's unit IDFC Projects Ltd with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Gujarat State Energy Co Ltd, said IDFC on Tuesday.

Under these deals, a 200 mega watt thermal power project in association with BHEL in two phases would be built, owned and operated by the company.

Via a statement, the company also informed that IDFC Projects would also set up another 10 mega watt solar power project.

Max New York Life Insurance has entered into a strategic business alliance with Indian Mercantile co-operative Bank as referral partner relationship.

Under the arrangement, Max New York Life Insurance will utilize the branch network of the Bank to sell its life insurance products.

Siemens India Ltd on Tuesday informed Bombay Stock Exchange that it has transferred all its stake in its IT arm--Siemens Information Systems (SISL) to a subsidiary of Siemens AG- Siemens Corporate Finance.

Siemens' Managing Director, Armin Bruck said that realignment of software business is done to separate low and high margin business. Siemens Information Systems get
70 per cent of its revenue from its parent company.

Leading auto-major, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) have added another feather to its cap.

The much-awaited Mahindra XYLO was launched on Tuesday by M&M Ltd at its Nashik plant.

Two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto is planning to launch six bigger engine bikes in the financial year 2009. The move is aimed to maintain adequate market share which is shrinking due to low demand following global financial crisis.

The new bikes are being designed to compete rival Hero Honda's best-selling Splendor/Passion range. Two more products in 125-135 cc engine size may also be launched in April and July this year. The new bikes would be launched from its Pantnagar facility from February.