A worker cleans a car outside a showroom on the outskirts of JammuCar sales in India rose an annual 13.1% in February, an industry body said, with automakers posting a fourth straight monthly increase as they continue to recover from record falls in late 2011.Demand for cars in India fell for the first time in three years last July as high interest rates and rising fuel costs deterred buyers.(Pictures by Reuters)

Car sales up 13%

An employee works inside a metal workshop in KolkataIIP grew at a much faster-than-expected 6.8% year-on-year in January 2012 as compared to 7.5% in same month in 2011. December&#39;s provisional increase of IIP was at 1.8%.Output of the manufacturing sector, which constitutes over 75% of the index, rose at a rate of 8.5%. Capital goods growth stays lower at 1.5% while basic goods growth increased to 1.6%.

IIP swings surprises

An employee works inside a cotton processing unit at Kadi townThe government has decided to lift the ban on cotton exports, that was imposed last week, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said today.The decision was taken by the GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, which met on last Friday, after a directive from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to "urgently" review the decision.

Cotton exports ban lifted

A Kingfisher Airlines aeroplane sits on the tarmac at Chhatrapathi Shivaji International Airport in MumbaiTrouble for cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines again erupted today with at least 30 flights either being cancelled or clubbed as several pilots and other staffers failed to report for work to protest delays in salary payments.At least 13 flights from Mumbai were cancelled, while reports said there was no operation from Kolkata today. Nine departures from Delhi were also either cancelled or clubbed, airport sources said, adding only three direct flights each way were available on the busiest Mumbai-Delhi sector which has seven daily services.

Kingfisher flights cancelled again 

Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil puts on an earphone during a news conference with Syria&#39;s President Bashar al-Assad, in DamascusDisruptions on issues like Telangana, atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils, sub-quota for minorities, and shortage of fertilisers today marred President Pratibha Patil&#39;s Address to the joint sitting of Parliament.MPs raised slogans to press their demands during Patil&#39;s last Address to Parliament before she completes her term in July.