New Delhi, Nov. 19 The recently-promulgated Ordinance providing for a “fair and remunerative price” (FRP) for sugarcane became a rallying point for the Opposition to close ranks and launch a full-scale attack on the Centre. On a day that saw thousands of farmers pour into the national Capital in protest against the Ordinance, a virtually united Opposition forced an adjournment of the Lok Sabha at the start of Parliament’s winter session.

The assault from within Parliament as well as from the streets of Lutyen’s Delhi made led the Congress-headed United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to go into a huddle. By noon, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, was holding an emergency meeting with senior Cabinet colleagues to weather the crisis. Later in the day, the Congress leader, Mr Rahul Gandhi, too, met Dr Singh and the latter reportedly assured him that the Centre was willing to “suitably amend” the Ordinance “if it is in the interest of farmers”.

The new FRP regime replaces the existing system, wherein the Centre only announced a Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) for sugarcane. But more contentiously, it discourages State Governments from fixing cane prices independently, as they have been doing. The Ordinance (which needs Parliament assent for it to become law) basically renders State Advised Prices (SAP) toothless by obliging sugar mills to pay only the FRP. The onus for meeting the difference between the higher SAP and the lower FRP would henceforth vest with the State Government concerned.

For the 2009-10 season (October-September), the Centre has fixed the FRP at Rs 129.84 a quintal (linked to 9.5 per cent sugar recovery). This is way below the SAPs of Rs 162.5-170 by Uttar Pradesh, Rs 170-180 by Punjab and Rs 175-185 by Haryana. The big question now is: Will the current impasse ultimately force the Centre to withdraw the Ordinance and roll back a significant reform measure that seeks to de-politicise cane price fixing by circumscribing the role of States?

PARIS: FIFA said on Thursday it had received a letter from the Irish Football Association (FAI) requesting a replay of their controversial World Cup qualifying play-off against France. However, world football's ruling body seemed to indicate there could be little chance of granting that request. "We've received the letter from the Irish federation," a FIFA spokesman said, although he was unable to say when any decision would be made.

After beating the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in Dublin, France levelled the second leg in Paris 1-1 in extra time to qualify for the World Cup finals with Ireland crashing out. The match was tinged with controversy, however, as France captain Thierry Henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play before passing to William Gallas to head the goal which gave France a 2-1 win on aggregate. What was a sporting now has now turned political, with the Irish Prime Minister lending his weight to calls for a replay - and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon responding by saying governments should avoid interfering.

Earlier on Thursday the FAI said in a statement: "The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport. "We now call on FIFA, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this match to be replayed." The Irish football body pointed to a precedent: a FIFA decision in 2005 to invalidate the result of a World Cup qualification match between Ukbekistan and Bahrain on the basis of "a technical error by the referee of the match".

In that case an Uzbeki player had infringed the rules by entering the Bahrain defensive area while a penalty was being taken by one of his teammates. Instead of having the penalty re-taken, the match referee gave an indirect free kick to Bahrain. The FAI said it hoped FIFA would "act in a similar fashion so that the standards of fair play and integrity can be protected". However when asked about such a precedent FIFA said: "It's a very different. (During the Bahrain vs Uzbekistan match), the referee saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules.

NEW DELHI: The government is set to dilute its holding in Steel Authority of India Ltd by 20%. While the company will make a fresh issue of 10% equity, the government will divest 10% of its stake. At current prices, the combined 20% sale would raise almost Rs 17,000 crore from the market.

The fresh issue will be used to part-finance SAIL’s Rs 70,000-crore expansion program. Steel minister Virbhadra Singh, in a written statement to the Lok Sabha, said the disinvestment would be in two tranches of 10% each, and be a mix of fresh issue and sale of government shares.

"A proposal for raising additional equity by SAIL to the extent of 10% of the paid-up capital and disinvestment of a portion of the government of India's holding in SAIL up to 10% of the paid-up capital in two equal tranches is under consideration of the government," steel minister Virbhadra Singh said.

At present, the government holds 85.83% stake in the company's paid-up capital of Rs 4,130 crore. On Thursday, the SAIL share closed at Rs 185.3. The company will now issue 45.88 crore fresh shares in two tranches, enabling it to raise over Rs 8,500 crore at the current price. The government will also raise a similar amount by selling 10% equity. It is learnt that the Cabinet may take up the proposal for 10% equity sale in December, which would include sale of 5% fresh equity of post diluted capital by the company and the sale of government holding in the same proportion. A senior merchant banker said that the sale of first tranche might be completed in the current financial year itself. A source said that as the company needs the fund soon, sale of second tranche will also be completed within few months of completion of the first tranche.

TORONTO: Air Canada on Thursday unveiled its plans to offer in-flight internet service. The national carrier said it has started trials from Thursday to offer internet service on select flights on its Toronto-Los Angeles and Montreal-Los Angeles routes. With the trial run, Air Canada joins many international airlines which already offer in-flight internet service.

Passengers can access the service on their own laptop for $9.95 per flight or Personal Electronic Device (PED) for $7.95 per flight. In a statement, the Montreal-based airline said trials will runs till Jan 29 when it will analyze the results and customer feedback before introduction of the service on other routes. "Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to begin offering customers access to the internet while they are flying,'' Louise McKenven, senior marketing director for the airline, said.

She said, "With this service, our customers will be able to email, work and surf the net while flying, and more fully enjoy what is already a superior travel experience that includes complimentary seatback entertainment and access to standard power outlets.'' The airline needs to obtain regulatory approvals and develop ground infrastructure for the in-flight internet service.

Ron LeMay, president and CEO of Aircell which is the world leader in airborne communication, said, "We are very pleased to launch Gogo (the name of his company's internet service) on Air Canada, the first Canadian airline to offer in-flight internet. "Air Canada's customers will now feel the freedom of having the world at their fingertips thanks to having full internet access in flight. We look forward to working with Air Canada to deliver that world to them.'' The world's eighth largest airline, Air Canada operates to nearly 80 international destinations.