A high-level New Zealand delegation led by Trade Commissioner Peter Healy met several top film makers in Mumbai to explore exotic locations for shooting films of that country. Over 100 film producers attended a dinner meet hosted by Healy at a five star suburban hotel on Tuesday night.

The New Zealand delegation invited the film producers to visit the country and see for themselves beautiful landscapes appropriate for shooting. Prominent among the film makers present were Sultan Ahmed, Sawan Kumar Tak, Kiran Shantaram, Tinnu Anand, Rakesh Roshan, K D Shorey.

Meanwhile, Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) has decided to honour legendary actress Suraiyya, lyricist anand Bakshi, producers Gulshan Rai, Gulshan Behl and S P H Irani for their lifetime contribution to the film industry. The function will be held on September 28 in Juhu.

Onions to arrive by month-end

Much to the relief of housewives, onion prices are expected to come down sharply by month-end as the first consignment of about 50-100 tonnes of onion from Dubai would land in the metropolis by September 30.

The imported onion would be handed over to government agencies and sold at Rs 20 per kg as against the current selling rate of Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg, a National Cooperative Agricultural Marketing Federation (NAFED) official said today. Earlier, keeping in view the sharp rise in onion prices all over the country, the Central government had decided to import around 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes of onion from Iran and Dubai.

``The sudden steep hike in prices was unexpected in the month of September as the monsoon ends by the first week of September. But this time heavy rains caused widespread losses to the onion crop in places like Nasik, Satara and Pune,'' an onion dealer said.

Instead of big red onions, the wholeswale market was getting smaller ones as farmers plucked tender and small onion fearing further damages to the standing crop, he added.

In the wholesale market in Vashi, onion prices were quoted between Rs 21 to Rs 23 per kg for old onion and between Rs 15 to Rs 23 for the new crop, Sanjiv Maniyar, of Kanda Batata Adat Vyapari Sangh, said.

The total arrival in the wholesale market was low at around 50 trucks (50 tonnes) today as against the normal supply of 90 trucks (90 tonnes), Maniyar said.

Seminar on health care

The Cosmetology Society of India (CSI) -- a formal body of dermatologists, cosmetologists and beauticians -- will organise a one-day seminar on Sunday aimed to impart information on day-to-day hair and skin care products.

A release issued by CSI said that a panel of experts comprising cosmetic chemists and medical practitioners, will provide scientific prespective and promote better understanding of cosmetic products, their applications and limitations.

The seminar titled ``The ABC of cosmetology'' will include presentations on focussing on hair and skin care. The highlight of the seminar will be a presentation on the latest technique of laser and cosmetology by Dr Ashok Gupta of the Bombay Hospital and a live demo on latest trends in make up by well known makeup artist Cory Walia.