Microtek has launched a business-to-business portal www.microtekdirect.com. This portal is a comprehensive contact and opportunity management system that automates and optimizes sales and marketing processes to shorten sales cycle, thereby increasing sales productivity. Microtek has set up an exclusive showroom and B-2-B portal office in New Delhi for the live demonstration of the advanced technological features of its product range and for handling business-to-business queries. Microtek plans to open such offices in all metropolitans across India within this year.

 At least, 12 people were killed and several injured when activists of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) exploded a powerful bomb on a passenger train near Khadikar in lower Assam. n In a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Ram Naik has said that the Government proposes to reserve 33 per cent of gas agencies for women. The Government also plans to release ten million new gas connections during this year, which will liquidate the waiting list.

 The Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN I-M) has agreed to extend by one year the cease-fire in Nagaland and move forward with peace process to bring lasting political solution to the Naga issue. “It is felt that there is need for mutual trust. The Agreed Ground Rules shall be implemented during the current cease-fire period in letter and spirit”, said a statement from Home Ministry.

 Nuclear Reactor Research Institute based in the Ulyanovsk region of Russia has developed a new radiological preparation, Iodine-131. The preparation will be used for early diagnostic and therapeutical treatment of many tumour diseases.

China will succeed in controlling its population below 1.3 billion by the end of this year, according to a report by a group of experts from the Chinese academy of Social Sciences and the State Family Planning Commission. China population was 1.258 billion by the end of last September. The current population growth rate in China is below one per cent, one of the lowest in the world.

 An international centre for special needs education is likely to be set up in Delhi in collaboration with UNESCO. The objectives of the centre are training, resource development, research, data bank creations and networking for special needs education. UNESCO is expected to allocate $260,000 for this purpose.