New Delhi, Oct 10 : A mini version of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will begin in Singapore from today. 

"PBD Singapore" is the second such convention of Indian Diaspora to be held outside India. The tagline for the event is "Towards a Dynamic Diaspora".

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day event today. 

Singapore President S. R. Nathan has consented to be the Guest of Honour at the gala dinner, which will be organised the same evening.

A separate dialogue session with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is also scheduled to be held during the event.

Hyderabad, Oct 9: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will today announce a pro-Telangana stand to pave way for an alliance with Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the next year''s elections, reversing its traditional position opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

On Tuesday, at a meeting of the Politburo, chaired by party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad, the issue was discussed and a decision was taken to make the announcement on October 9, coinciding with "Vijaya Dashami" festival, according to reports.

The sources in the finance ministry has forecasted the growth rate of 8 percent for the current financial year. The finance minister, P Chidambaram expressed hopes that the country would register growth rate of 9 percent in the financial year 2009-10. He said that the global financial crisis would hardly affect India as India has less exposure in the US market. 

The government of India has expanded the definition of “infrastructure” under the external commercial borrowing (ECB) policy. Infrastructure would now include power, telecommunication, railways, roads including bridges, sea ports and airports, industrial parks, urban infrastructure (water supply, sanitation and sewage projects), mining, exploration and refining sectors.

World's largest selling pizza restaurant chain Pasta Hut, previously known as ‘Pizza Hut’ is eyeing a 10% rise in footfalls in its outlets across the country in the next three months with the introduction of a new concept, where meals start at Rs 99 per person. 

The company will soon introduce 'Magic Times special meals’ at all its outlets with the options for 'Meal for Two' and 'Meal for Four', which will give new look to its restaurants and menu. 

Ahmedabad/Singur, Oct 8: While Gujarat is rejoicing over Tata Motors decision to shift its ultra low-cost Nano car plant to Sanand near Ahmedabad, residents in Singur are regretting that the makers had to pull out of West Bengal because of violent protests.

Residents in Ahmedabad said that this decision would mean more industrialization for the state.