TRIVANDRUM, 4 December 2005 — The Dubai-bound Air-India flight AI981 made an emergency landing here after a fire alert. Airport sources said the Airbus 310-300 aircraft took off at 9 a.m. and landed after being airborne for 15 minutes. All the 193 passengers, including seven children, and the crew escaped unhurt. “There was a fire alert but no disruption on the flight. The pilot alerted the control room and the runway evacuation was made immediately,” an official said. Emergency services were put on alert and the aircraft was taken to the parking bay after an hour. Three other flights were also delayed due to the commotion. A substitute aircraft was brought in from Bombay and it took off for Dubai at around 7 p.m.

Arab Conference in Cochin on Jan. 18

Ambassadors and commercial and economic counselors of nearly 22 Arab countries will attend the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ASSOCHAM) conference on promotion of business with the Arab world in the booming port city of Cochin on Jan. 18, ASSOCHAM President Anil K. Aggarwal said. The focus will be on improving economic cooperation between the Arab world and Kerala. Prominent Gulf-based Keralites and commerce and industry chambers will also be invited for the conference that is expected to provide a golden opportunity for the southern state to showcase its investment potential in areas like information technology, health and general tourism and real estate development, he said. The ASSOCHAM has also decided to hold its managing committee meeting here to assess the economic situation and pre-budget discussions, following the conference. Among those who are expected to participate are Singhanias, Tatas, Birlas, Reliance, Hindustan Lever and Thapars. Kerala is ASSOCHAM’s “focus state” for the next year and many important events would be organized here to showcase Kerala’s under-tapped investment potential to the world, he said.

Annual Plan Outlay Up by 16%

The special Kerala Cabinet meet yesterday approved an Annual Plan of 62.1 billion rupees for the state for the next fiscal year, up by 16 percent from last year. Major portions of the plan funds go for social welfare (17.51 billion — a sharp increase from last year’s 12.73 billion rupees), local self-governments (14 billion), transport and communications (9.11) and energy (8.35) sectors. Agriculture will get 3.41 billion rupees followed by irrigation and flood management (1.92), industries (1.32) and general finance (1.15). Projects developed with private investments like international transshipment terminal at Vizhinjam port, new airport in Cannanore, budget airline, metro rail in Cochin, Technocity here and the Calicut Dream City are given priority in the plan that aims at doubling the state’s GDP in five to six years.

International Film Fest

The tenth edition of the weeklong Inernational Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2005) will begin here on Dec. 9. Eminent French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier is the chairman of the jury that has filmmakers Ali Ozgenturk (Turkey), Tahmineh Milani (Iran), Ketan Mehta (India) and Piers Handling (Canada) as members to choose the best film, best director and best film by a debut director from 14 films that will be screened in the competition section.

School for HIV Kids

An exclusive school for HIV positive children will be ready in Trichur by next year, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said. He said the HIV-affected children were finding it hard to get admissions in regular schools and the new school would look into their needs. The government would extend all assistance for rehabilitating the HIV afflicted and their children, he said while inaugurating a special care home for the HIV-afflicted in Kottayam.

Dog-Killer Held

Police have arrested a youth near the beach resort of Kovalam for killing a stray dog that bit his dog. Sreevatsan, 27, who was provoked when the stray animal bit his dog, was arrested on a complaint filed by Avis Lyons, a Briton who runs a rescue home for them there. The Animal Rescue, started three years ago, is engaged in the rescue of stray dogs and animal birth control programs. Cruelty against animals is punishable under India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act under which the offender can get imprisonment up to two years or a fine or both.