(NATGRID), Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's Ambitious Project, Was Given In-Principle Approval by the Union Government
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1. Cabinet panel clears national intelligence grid The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's ambitious project, was given in-principle approval by the Union government. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared the project that will facilitate robust information-sharing among law enforcement agencies to combat terror threats at home and abroad. The Home Ministry made a detailed presentation on the project as well as on the safeguards and oversight mechanisms for the Cabinet Committee. 2.Bill on ‘right to privacy' in monsoon session “Right to privacy,” like other fundamental rights in the Constitution and statutory rights under various laws, will soon become a reality. Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily indicated that a bill in this regard would be introduced in the monsoon session. The Right to Privacy Bill is to provide for such a right to citizens of India and to regulate collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of their personal information. 3. Razor-thin victory for Humala in Peru Ollanta Humala (48), a former Army officer and firebrand Leftwing candidate in Peru's presidential election, has snatched a razor-thin victory over Keiko Fujimori (36), daughter of the disgraced former President, Alberto Fujimori. With close to 85 per cent of the votes counted, Mr. Humala was said to have garnered 50.7 per cent of the votes while Ms. Fujimori had 49.29 per cent. 4. Irani's 43-year tenure with Tata Steel ends Credited with turning around Tata Steel in the 1990s, J. J. Irani has stepped down on turning 75 from the company board, bringing to an end his 43 years of association with the world's seventh largest steel making company. A Ph.D from U.K.'s Sheffield University, Mr. Irani started his career in 1963 as a senior scientific officer at British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield itself and climbed to the position of Head (Physical Metallurgy Division). Returning back to India, he joined The Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) in Page 1 of 4 7nd June 2011 1968 as an assistant to the director in charge of research and development. 5. Japan to provide Rs.8, 632-crore ODA loans India inked seven agreements with Japan under which loans worth a total Rs.8, 632 crore are to be provided as Official Development Assistance (ODA) for various infrastructure development projects in different states, including the Bangalore Metro. The ODA package is to cover a host of sectors such as power, energy, urban transport, road safety, forestry and financial services spread across various states. For instance, while a loan amount of Rs.1, 031.74 crore is intended for a high voltage distribution system project in Andhra Pradesh, a sum of Rs.1, 024.36 crore is meant for Madhya Pradesh's transmission system modernisation project. An allocation of Rs.1,665 crore each has also been made for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) energy saving project (second phase) and the new and renewable energy development project. In the urban transport sector, the Bangalore Metro rail project has been earmarked a sum of Rs.1,100.67 crore for its second phase of development. In the road sector, the Bihar national highway improvement project has been allocated a sum of Rs.1,271.11 crore while the second phase of Rajasthan's forestry and biodiversity project will receive a loan of Rs.874.06 crore. While India continues to be the highest recipient of ODA from Japan. 6.Lenovo launches ThinkPad X1 Personal computer maker Lenovo India on Monday unveiled its ThinkPad X1, a premium product that is priced from Rs.90,000 onwards, mainly aimed at enterprise customers. “ThinkPad X1 is a premium notebook, which ranges from Rs.90, 000 onwards and is the world's slimmest thinkpad measuring less than 17 mm. It also has scratch proof and spill proof designs with 10 hours battery power. 7. Lucas to market U.S. firm's lubricants The U.S.-based TOP1 Oil Products Company joined hands with Lucas Indian Service, a part of Lucas-TVS Group, for sale and distribution of its premium range of lubricants in the Indian market. Page 2 of 4 7nd June 2011 8. NMDC inks deal with Australian firm Minemakers NMDC had signed an agreement with Australian firm Minemakers to develop Wonarah phosphate deposit of the company and would buy a 50 per cent stake in the project after a joint feasibility study. The announcement has come within a fortnight of NMDC agreeing to acquire 50 per cent stake in another Australian firm, Legacy Iron Ore. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two firms envisages preparing a road map for NMDC's participation in the development of the Wonarah phosphate deposits, the filing said. After the feasibility study, both companies may form a joint venture for the development of the asset and NMDC will have full responsibility to raise finances for the project through debt, the statement said. 9. First IT firm to commence operations Assyst International will be the first IT company to take off from the Tiruchi IT Park at Navalpattu. The company is all set to commence operations in a week once it secures data connectivity. Beginning with a modest work force, the company will gradually increase head count to 200, ELCOT sources said, adding that the company has completed interior works in the space it has been provided in the 50,000 sq. feet built-up area. 10.India to buy C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft from U.S. India decided to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft from the U.S. for the Indian Air Force. The deal under the Foreign Military Sales (Government-to-Government) is estimated to cost Rs. 18,000 crore (approximately $4.1 billion). The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Ministry officials said. The contract, when signed would become the highest single value military contract that New Delhi would enter into with the U.S. and includes an offset obligation of around Rs. 4,500 crore ($ 1 billion). Under the clause, the U.S. Company would have to source 30 per cent value of the order from India. Page 3 of 4 7nd June 2011 11. Hyderabad to host global biodiversity meet next year Adding another feather to its cap, Hyderabad has been chosen over Delhi, for hosting the prestigious 11th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2012. Representatives will attend the conference from 194 countries, including some Prime Ministers. 12. Champion: Rafael Nadal equalled Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles after he downed Roger Federer in four sets on Sunday. Rafael Nadal won a 10th Grand Slam crown, and equalled Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles, when he defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-1 on Sunday in the rivals' latest epic duel. Top seed Nadal, who was also champion in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, took his overall Paris record to 45 wins against just one defeat, and victory also meant he hangs on to his World No. 1 spot. 13. Li Na’s rise to stardom From badminton hopeful in China to Grand Slam tennis champion on the claycourts of Paris, Li Na's rise to stardom has never been short of unconventional. Even her 6-4, 7-6(0) victory over defending champion Francesca Schiavone at the French Open, when she became the first player from China to win a Grand Slam singles title, smacks of the improbable. Li did reach the Australian Open final at the start of the year when she lost to Kim Clijsters. Page 4 of 4 7nd June 2011 .