A survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) revealed that the global slowdown would continue to impact Indian economy.

Companies may employ various cost cutting measures including production cut, salary slash and retrenchment. Manufacturing companies can cut production up to 50 per cent following low demand in the market. Various manufacturing segments such as textile, leather and leather products reportedly have chalked out a policy for production cut for the period of November 2008 to March 2009.

Healthcare insurance business could not be expanded as per expectations due to the inefficient healthcare infrastructure of the country. Public private partnership should be encouraged to cover the large Indian population under health insurance cover. There is an immense need to improve the government health institutions and traditional health schemes. These views were expressed by the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), Mr. J. Hari Narayan, who was speaking at the Health Insurance Summit 2008 organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

A French doctor has reported that he has discovered a ‘miracle’ cure for alcoholism. Well, the “miracle cure for alcoholism” is a drug known as beclofen, which cures muscle spasms and kills an intolerable carving for alcohol among addicted people.

According to Dr Olivier Ameisen, beclofen is a cheap drug. In his book titled, Le Dernier Verre [The Last Glass], Dr Ameisen, claims that drug is so effective that alcoholics can easily get rid of his habit with the help of drugs.

The deadly bird flu virus has taken more Assam regions under its jaws although more than 200,000 poultry birds have been culled during the last two weeks.

New bird flu cases have been detected at Khanapara in Guwahati, Dikom region of Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam and Bejera area of Kamrup district.

The districts witnessing the bird flu outbreak include Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.

India may have a new Finance Minister in a couple of days as Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh intends to have a full time minister for this critical portfolio.

He has reportedly apprised the Congress president and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi about his work load and intentions. He is already extremely busy and a full time finance minister is indispensable to face the opposition in the Parliament amid global slowdown.

Auto manufactures have started to slash prices of various vehicles following the recent excise duty cut, announced by the union government. Two-wheeler companies such as Hero Honda, Bajaj and Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India has slashed motor cycle prices in the range of Rs 1,000-2,000. Hindustan Motors also slashed price of the Ambassador by Rs 10,000-14,000.