What was Watergate?

(1972–75), U.S. political scandal surrounding the revelation of illegal activities on the part of the incumbent Republican administration of President Richard M. Nixon during and after the 1972 presidential election campaign.

The matter was first brought to public attention by the arrest of five men who, on June 17, 1972, broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate, an office–apartment–hotel complex in Washington, D.C. Within a few days of their arrest at the Watergate, charges of burglary and wiretapping were brought against the five and against E. Howard Hunt, Jr., a former White House ...

"Watergate" is a general term used to describe a complex web of political scandals between 1972 and 1974.

The word refers to the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. In addition to the hotel, the Watergate complex houses many business offices. It was here that the office of the Democratic National Committee was burgled on June 17th, 1972.

The burglary and subsequent cover-up eventually led to moves to impeach President Richard Nixon. Nixon resigned the presidency on 8 August 1974.

"Watergate" is now an all-encompassing term used to refer to:

• political burglary
• bribery
• extortion
• phonetapping
• conspiracy
• obstruction of justice
• destruction of evidence
• tax fraud
• illegal use of government agencies such as the CIA and the FBI
• illegal campaign contributions
• use of public money for private purposes.

Most of all, "Watergate" is synonymous with abuse of power.

Source--
Britannica Encyclopedia

Indian MoD Allows Blacklisted Firms To participate In Trials

After months of deadlock that stalled the Army’s modernisation plans, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given the go-ahead for blacklisted firms to participate in trials to kickstart procurement of five vital defence systems. Trials have been cleared for 155 mm towed guns, artillery shells and light vehicles and rifles for special forces.

As reported first by The Indian Express, seven firms were blacklisted earlier this year following the arrest of former Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman Sudipta Ghosh. As a result, several procurement were put on hold. The Army Chief subsequently made requests to at least allow trials in cases where the tainted firms were contenders.

While trials have been allowed in specific cases based on advice from the Law Ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission, the MoD has said that no contracts will be awarded until the firms have been cleared by the CBI.

“The Army Chief had made specific requests that trials should be held as they will take time. The Law Ministry and CVC agreed with the suggestion that trial process can continue in multi-vendor cases but no contracts will be signed till the CBI case is cleared,” said a top MoD official.

Sources said the decision was taken last week, and the Army has already issued orders for trials. The first trial will be held in February for the estimated $-2 billion order to procure 400 much-needed 155 mm artillery guns. The two contenders for the contract are Singapore Technologies (which had been blacklisted) and UK-based BAE Systems.

But another crucial tender to procure over 100 light howitzers for deployment in mountainous border regions adjoining China and Pakistan continues to be on hold as the only contender is Singapore Technologies. “The decision (to allow trials) is only for multi-vendor cases,” the official said. “The light howitzer contract is on hold as it is a single-vendor situation.”

The Army will now also go ahead with trials for artillery ammunition and armoured fighting vehicle tank protection systems — in both, another blacklisted firm, Israeli Military Industries (IMI), was a contender.Two other contracts for light-weight assault rifles and light strike vehicles for special forces — for both, Singapore Technologies is a contender — will also go ahead with trials.

Courtesy

Asia Defence

Dose-- Sports this week various deals

According to findings released in a new study called "Business of Sports" by License India, India's sports sponsorship market is estimated at US$250 million per year. More...
SportzPower, 21 December 2009


LATEST NEWS

Mercedes GP signs Petronas as Title Sponsor
Mercedes GP has announced the signing of a long-term agreement with Petronas which will see the Malaysian national oil and gas company become the title partner to the new Formula One team. From 2010, the new team will compete in the World Championship as the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team and will carry the Petronas branding across the car and team liveries. By leveraging Mercedes-Benz’s rich motorsport heritage and the long-standing involvement of Petronas in F1, the new title partnership also aims to pave the way for future collaborations between the two companies. More...
The Star, 22 December 2009

Coke partners Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometers within Canada. Worldwide Olympic Partner Coca-Cola has been a proud partner of the Olympic Games for over 80 years, and, for the last 15 years, a presenting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay. More...
SportzPower, 24 December 2009

PGA Tour extends deals with Sony and BMW
Sony will continue to sponsor the PGA Tour's Sony Open until 2011 after signing an extension of one year that also includes a planned 3-D broadcast, while BMW will continue to back the BMW Championship. Sony was already committed to backing the 2010 Sony Open in January, the season's first full-field event, which follows the SBS Championships. Title sponsorship of the BMW Championship, meanwhile, has been extended for another four years. More...
Sports Pro Media, 20 December 2009

Tsingtao offers Cleveland Cavaliers a taste of China
Tsingtao Brewery Co. has signed a multi-year agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers that sees the Chinese beer become an exclusive partner of the NBA franchise. Tsingtao will be the exclusive Chinese beer of Quicken Loans Arena, and has signed the deal in the same week that the Cavaliers confirmed that Kenny Huang Jianhua and a group of Chinese investors will take a 15 per cent stake in the franchise. The 4-year deal has an estimated overall value of US$1.2 million. More...
Sports Pro Media, 16 December 2009

Rajasthan Royals ropes in Paras Pharmaceuticals as sponsor
Indian Premier League (IPL) team, the Rajasthan Royals, has a new main sponsor with health products brand Paras Pharmaceuticals Limited replacing Ultratech Cement next season. The Royals kit will bear the logo of Paras brand Moov, the company's flagship pain relief product. Earlier this year, London-based entrepreneur Raj Kundra and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty bought a 12 per cent stake in the team. Paras paid some US$2.1 million to sponsor the Royals' in the inaugural 2008 IPL season, in which the franchise were champions, and the amount is thought to have increased for 2010. More...
Indian Television, 18 December 2009

Hero Honda signs on as Federation Cup 2009 Sponsor
The All India Football Federation found a sponsor in the two-wheeler powerhouse for the Federation Cup, the country's premier league-cum-knock-out tournament. The tournament, which started on 21 December and whose winners will qualify for the 2010 AFC Cup, will now be known as the Hero Honda Federation Cup - 09. More...
SportzPower, 24 December 2009

Avantha to sponsor European Tour Event
India will welcome a new golf tournament in 2010, the US$2.15 million Avantha Masters, which will be played in New Delhi from February 11-14 as the first event in a new joint venture between the Asian Tour and the European Tour. A 3-year agreement with the Avantha Group, one of India’s leading business conglomerates, aims to promote India as a leading golfing destination. More...
New York Times, 22 December 2009

National Bank of Pakistan signs with Pakistan Hockey Federation
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has secured a much-needed sponsorship boost, with the National Bank of Pakistan committing to back it for 2010, including at the World Hockey Cup in India in February. The sponsorship marks the third time in six years that the NBP has backed the PHF, and is on the same terms as the previous annual amount, with NBP committing US$240,000 over the course of the year. Pakistan have won four of the 11 World Hockey Cups, and will hope to add a 5th title in 2010. More...
The Nation, 17 December 2009

Grameenphone remains sponsor of Bangladesh Cricket Board
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has extended its commercial partnership with Grameenphone Ltd through to the end of 2011. The US$1.3 million deal, which covers the national men’s and women’s teams, was announced at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Grameenphone will also supply kit to the teams and provide a team bus for home series and training sessions. The telecommuications company has sponsored the national men’s team since 2003. More...
The Daily Star, 18 December 2009

Bruce Willis Endorses Premium Vodka
Premium vodka Sobieski, owned by Belvedere S.A., is seeking to raise awareness by teaming up with Hollywood Star Bruce Willis. The partnership includes the usage of Willis' images in advertising as well as personal appearances in various events. Launched in the U.S. in 2007, Sobieski is Poland's #1 premium vodka and one of the world's best-selling and fastest growing vodka brands. After a record breaking year 2008 Sobieski Vodka has more than doubled its volume in 2009 with more than half a million cases sold. The Imperial Brands management team is determined to sell one million-cases of Sobieski faster than any vodka brand has been able to achieve. More...
PR Newswire, 22 December 2009

Courtesy----

Gujaratis cash in on gold boom in UK

RAJKOT/LONDON (Commodity Online): Leicester in London is a place where Gujaratis from Rajkot city represent a good percentage of the population.

In the recent times what the Leicester witnessing is that the Gujaratis, whose business acumen can any Jew in the world, are cashing in on the gold boom.

With recession and job losses, Gujaratis in the east Midlands town of Leicester have been flocking to jewellery shops to cash in on rising prices of gold, selling their rings, chains and even dental braces made of gold.

The price of gold reached an all-time high of 757 pounds an ounce earlier this month, and scrap gold dealers are reported to be offering up to 100 pounds for a set of braces.

Jewellers are worried that they will be left with a lot of stock if the price drops. In the east Midlands town of Leicester comprises several jewellery shops.

Advertisements on television, radio and in newspapers have alerted people to current prices of gold and jewellers say that has placed them into a buyers’ market.

The Golden Mile in Leicester is reputed to be a major centre for jewellery in Europe, and jewellers there have close links with the jewellery industry in Gujarat.

Market is so volatile and the price is changing all the time but people are aware that gold prices are very high right now. But people are not buying, they just want to sell it.

The London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic is among the many that have witnessed a rising demand for gold braces.

Previously the braces were sent away to be recycled. But with gold prices rising, patients have increasingly asked if they can keep their braces and convert them into small items of jewellery or get them melted down.

As customers are happy that their jewellery is fetching high prices, jewellers are concerned about the impact it will have on them.

cOURTESY-----

Stealth warships to get deadlier

Image via Wikipedia

The Indian Navy’s prestigious Project 28, the programme to build four of the world’s stealthiest anti-submarine corvettes, is on track to become even more cutting edge. By the end of this month, three international shipbuilders will be bidding to provide Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) with the technology to build a major part of the corvettes — the entire superstructure — with lightweight composites.

By making the superstructure, which is the upper part of the ship that rests on the hull, of lighter composite material, the 2,500-tonne warships will become lighter, stealthier and far more stable in the water. Already acclaimed as world-class warships, composite superstructures will make them amongst the most effective submarine hunters in any of the world’s navies.

Business Standard has learned that the Ministry of Defence will shortly issue tenders to three shipbuilders with extensive experience in fabricating composites.

Kockums of Sweden, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which builds the world’s stealthiest warships, the 650-tonne Visby class corvettes, is a leading contender; also in the fray are Greek shipbuilder, Intermarine; and Korea’s Kangnam Corporation.

With composite materials increasingly crucial to warships, this lucrative tender could open the door for broader partnership with Indian defence shipyards.

The three companies are maintaining a discrete silence for now, but an aide to the spokesperson of TKMS admitted, “India is an interesting market for TKMS at the moment because of the serious attention that the government of India is giving to the technical future of the Indian Navy.”

The first two corvettes of Project 28, which are nearing completion, have already been built with conventional steel superstructures. Subsequent corvettes, that is the third ship onwards, can have composite superstructures. The chairman and managing director of GRSE, Rear Admiral KC Sekhar, told Business Standard during a visit to GRSE in August that, “Composite materials technology can only be incorporated for the third and fourth ships of Project 28. The first corvette is already 90 per cent completed. Eighty per cent of the superstructure is ready for the second corvette.”

All the high technology going into Project 28 is boosting costs; GRSE and the defence ministry are locked in negotiations to finalise a price for the corvettes. Since 2003, when the order was placed, GRSE has worked on Project 28 based on nothing more than a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the ministry. The cost mentioned in that LoI was derived from the cost of the earlier Project 25A, for previous generation Kora class corvettes.

But now, that cost has ballooned, partly because of repeated changes that the Navy has demanded in order to keep Project 28 at the cutting edge of stealth technology. The LoI’s Rs 2,800 crore for the four ships of Project 28 (Rs 700 crore per corvette), has swelled to Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 1,750 crore per corvette). And, since the cost of the first ship of Project 28 was to determine the real cost of Project 28, the defence ministry has little option but to pay that amount.

But Business Standard has learned that the MoD-GRSE negotiations could soon have a happy ending.

Although the order was placed in 2003, the ministry is likely to agree to a “commencement of production” date of March 2006, to compensate for the delays caused by repeated changes in specifications.

Since the first Project 28 corvette is likely to roll out in 2012, that will amount to a notional build period of 6 years, in line with the time that most foreign shipyards take to produce the first ship of a class. Subsequent ships, however, are expected to be churned out much faster.

cOURtesY--http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12087

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ICICI Prudential Life Insurance initiates LifeTime Maxima

It’s a new initiative from ICICI Prudential Life Insurance again, the exceedingly renowned company today launched ICICI Prudential LifeTime Maxima, a wealth solution based on the \'Trigger Portfolio\' strategy.

The \'Trigger Portfolio\' strategy enables a client to reserve profits made in the equity market and protects them from any future market instability. It is to be noted that the gains are transferred to a liquid fund (Money Market Fund) thus ensuring that any precariousness in future does not wear down the importance of the accumulated profits.

"This innovative product, based on the \'Trigger Portfolio\' strategy allows customers to maintain a pre-defined asset allocation structure and take advantage of substantial swings in the equity market," ICICI Prudential Life Senior Vice President and Head (Products and Sales), Pranav Mishra, told.

As indicated by the \'Trigger Portfolio\' strategy, the investments would at first be distributed between two funds--Multi Cap Growth Fund (equity oriented fund) and Income Fund (debt oriented fund) in a 75:25 proportion. The funds would be re-balanced or reallocated in the portfolio rooted in a pre-defined \'trigger event\', a 15 per cent upward or downward movement in NAV of Multi Cap Growth Fund. The product, as well, provides the customer an option to choose a fixed portfolio strategy.

dO u kNOW

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company happens to be a joint venture between ICICI Bank, which is one of India\'s foremost financial services companies, and Prudential plc, which is a leading international financial services group headquartered in the United Kingdom. ICICI Prudential began the operations in December 2000. At the moment, this company has in excess of 2100 branches, which include 1,116 micro-offices, over 290,000 advisors and 18 banc assurance partners.

On the other hand, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company is the first life insurer in India that received a National Insurer Financial Strength rating of AAA (Ind) from Fitch ratings.

Indian Refueler Program May Be Rebid

NEW DELHI - India's purchase program for six midair refuelers may be rebid after questions arose regarding bid cost and competitiveness, Indian Defence Ministry sources said.

"The procurement proposal had been progressed in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure-2006 and thereafter referred to the Ministry of Finance, who has expressed certain reservations relating to the competitiveness of the bids and the reasonableness of the price," says a Dec. 14 Defence Ministry release, quoting the official reply of Defence Minister A. K. Antony to India's Parliament.

Though the release does not specify the program is facing serious problems, Defence Ministry sources said that because of objections from the Finance Ministry, the program will be quashed and rebid next year.

Four years ago, a request for proposal was sent to U.S.-based Lockheed Martin and Boeing, EADS and Ilyushin of Tashkent.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing did not respond to the tender, leaving only Ilyushin and EADS in the fray.

Ilyushin's bid was lower than that of EADS but the Air Force favored buying the A330 multirole tanker over the IL-78 of Ilyushin, which it had been using. The matter was referred to the Finance Ministry, which rejected the Air Force request, saying the lowest bidder should be the obvious choice.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12084

Army and IAF face off over new war plan

The army and air force are battling it out over how to beat Pakistan in a flash war if and when that happens.

The Indian Air Force is not convinced about its role in the army's "cold start doctrine" for a future Indo-Pak war.

The strategy envisages the air force providing "close air support", which calls for aerial bombing of ground targets to augment the fire power of the advancing troops.

The growing tension between the two services is evident in a statement of air vice-marshal (retd) Kapil Kak, deputy director of the air force's own Centre for Air Power Studies.

"There is no question of the air force fitting itself into a doctrine propounded by the army. That is a concept dead at inception," Kak said.

A senior army officer disputes the notion of a conceptual difference between the two services. "The air force is supposed to launch an offensive under the doctrine by hitting targets deep inside enemy territory," he said. But he admitted the air force was hesitant about 'close air support'.

'Cold Start' is a post-nuclearised doctrine that envisages a "limited war" in which the army intends to inflict substantial damage on Pakistan's armed forces without letting it cross the threshold where it could think of pressing the nuclear button.

The doctrine intends to accomplish the task before the international community led by the US and China could intercede to end hostilities. Kak said, "The air force has the primary task of achieving 'air dominance' by which Pakistan's air force is put out of action allowing the army to act at will."

But he sees little necessity for the air force to divert frontline fighter aircraft for augmenting the army's fire power, a task that, in his opinion, can be achieved by the army's own attack helicopters and multiple rocket launchers that now have a 100-km range.

But he agrees the two services should work according to a joint plan. It means the air force would launch 'battlefield air strikes' to neutralise threats on the ground based on an existing plan. But that would be different from an army commander calling for air support on the basis of a developing war scenario.

That is not the only problem facing the doctrine. In the past few weeks, many have expressed doubts about the army's ability to launch operations on the basis of the new doctrine.

There are also apprehensions about the army's incomplete deployment of forces, lack of mobility and unattended infrastructure development.

But senior officers say the army has identified the units, which would constitute the eight division-strong independent battle groups out of its three strike corps. These battle groups would comprise mechanised infantry, artillery and armour.

"The forces have exercised as constituted battle groups at least six times since 2004. Each of the identified unit knows where they will be deployed," a senior General said.

According to him, the time for deployment has been cut down to "days". "No longer will the movement of troops require three months like it did when Operation Parakram was launched after the attack on Parliament in 2001," he said.

The army also debunks the idea that the troops lack mobility. Some armed forces observers have said only 35 per cent of the army is mobile inside the country.

They have, thus, concluded that even less numbers would be mobile inside the enemy territory.

The army officials, however, pooh pooh the criticism claiming 100 per cent of the Indian troops are mobile.

Courtesy-- Bharat-Rakshak.com

RIL to decide on Lyondell bid today: Sources

India’s energy giant Reliance Industries (RIL) will take a call on submitting a final bid for bankrupt Dutch petrochemical company LyondellBasell (LB) today, sources close to the development told CNBC-TV18’s Nayantara Rai.
Sources say the company is now concerned about LB’s high debt — pegged at about USD 27 billion — with the company’s lenders having the right to hike interest rates to 12% and many having done so.

It is learnt that after RIL carried out due diligence — it had earlier submitted a preliminary bid for the company prior to due diligence — new emerging facts about LB’s state could be a cause of worry.

India toughens stand on climate, walks out along with China

Toughening its stand on climate change, India along with China and two other countries briefly walked out of negotiations, apparently unhappy over developed nations reneging on their commitments under the Kyoto protocol to undertake emission cuts.


Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who is leading the Indian delegation, along with his counterparts from China, Brazil and South Africa walked out of the negotiations to meet Connie Hedegaard, the Danish President of the COP, and convey their protest.


All formal meetings at the Summit here were put on hold following the development.


Though there was no official word on what led the leaders to stage a walkout from the ministerial-level talks, sources said the development followed a disagreement between the developing countries and the developed nations on the second commitment period after 2012.

India's cement industry weathers downturn

The glue that holds the infrastructure sector is cement and the growth of Cement Industry is directly linked to the growth of infrastructure sector. India today is the second fastest growing economy in the world with the cement and construction sector being the prime movers. The Indian cement industry with a total installed capacity of 219 million tonnes is the second largest producer in the world and has been growing at a rate of 9 to 10 per cent per annum. With a large percentage of Indian population being below the age of 25, the construction activity is expected to make a significant contribution in the context of growing housing needs, development of roads and other infrastructure, urbanization, etc.

It is the construction sector which shares the blame of global economic slowdown leading to slackening of demand for housing; but withstanding that hard time, our cement sector is still growing at a 10 per cent when compared to the global average of 5 per cent. Indian Industry is fortunate in having an active support and services of the National Council for Cement & Building Materials with an excellent R&D Infrastructure and invaluable intellectual capital.

In a recent International Seminar on Cement & Building Materials in New Delhi, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, said: “In spite of global slowdown and reduction in demand, cement industry needs to be complimented for weathering the downturn and recording a commendable growth of around 8 per cent in 2007-08 as well as in 2008-09. In the current year 2009-10 so far, the pace of growth of cement industry has accelerated significantly above double digit.”

rEAD MORE -http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Indias-cement-industry-weathers-downturn-23827-3-1.html

rECENT MOUs

1. India and the US have signed an MoU on counter-terrorism and five other agreements as they agreed to chart their ties as "one of the defining relations" in the 21st century in which New Delhi will have a leadership role in the region and the world.(nOV)
2. India and Sweden are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on environment as Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visits India on Thursday for the 10th India-EU summit.(nOV)

3. India, Cyprus ink MoU on solar energy(oCT 31)

4. In yet another initiative that will bring Gujarat and Japan closer, the Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), a nodal agency of the state government, on Monday signed an MoU with the Mizuho Corporate Bank & Mizuho Bank, Japan to promote further economic expansion in India, especially Gujarat.INDEXTb will provide assistance and support to Mizuho’s client companies which are investing in Gujarat and doing business with Indian companies, by means of introducing local partners as well as assisting with the implementation of projects in Gujarat.The MoU was signed by Bhagyesh Jha, MD, iNDEXTb and Takeo Kada, CEO India & GM, Mumbai Branch, Mizuho Corporate Bank in the presence of Minister for Industry and Energy Saurabh Patel; Principal Secretary, I&M, Maheshwar Sahu and Industries Commissioner Sujit Gulati.INDEXTb and Mizuho will try and reach out to companies in Japan, which are interested in business opportunities in Gujarat, a statement said. They will also jointly organise dialogue sessions with Japanese companies, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), both in India and Japan.

5. The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), an initiative by the Clinton Foundation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gujarat government on Monday to set up one of the largest solar power plants in the world. The plant will generate 3000 MW with a proposed investment of Rs 50,000 crore.State Principal Secretary S Jagadeesan and CCI Chairman Ira Magaziner signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.Officials said the solar park will be developed on the non-cultivable wastelands available in Banaskantha and Kutch districts.In an official press release, the government said that at present, about 34 internationally acclaimed companies are participating with the state government to develop solar projects in Gujarat.It added that the state government is committed to provide research and development facilities and manufacturing of solar power equipment, besides generating power from solar energy.(sEPTEMBER 09)

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Navy to build four amphibious warships

Aiming at adding more teeth to its amphibious warfare capabilities, the Navy is planning to build four Landing Platform Docks (LPD) to join the fleet, alongside INS Jalashwa, a US warship bought by India in 2007.

The Navy is already in the process of getting the design for the LPDs ready in the next year or two and will move the government for sanction to build these warships.

“The plan is to add four more LPDs to the fleet and these would operate alongside INS Jalashwa, the only LPD currently in service,” a senior Navy officer told PTI here on Sunday.

“In the coming year or two, we are going to finalise the design for the LPD, which is somewhat akin to INS Jalashwa.

The government sanction for building these ships would be obtained next,” he said.

INS Jalashwa - a Sanskrit name for Hippopotamus - is a replenishment and amphibious warfare ship with capacity to embark, transport and land a 1,000-men battalion along with equipment and tanks to support operations on enemy shores.

Being the second largest ship in the Navy inventory after aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Jalashwa is also capable of undertaking maritime surveillance, special operations, search and rescue, medical support as well as humanitarian aid.

Jalashwa was originally commissioned in the US Navy as USS Trenton and had served for 36 years when India bought it for USD 48.44 million and commissioned it in its Navy in June 2007.

After a refit programme at Norfolk, US, Jalashwa joined the Indian Navy service late in 2007 and is based under the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

Jalashwa became the first ship the US transferred to India. It is also the first LPD in the Indian Navy service.

“The need for such a landing transport amphibious warship was felt in December 2004 when Tsunami waves hit Indian coast including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Southeast Asia,” the officer said.

India had rushed its warships with medical aid and food to the countries hit by Tsunami, but an LPD, which could be converted into a multi-bed hospital, would have made a difference, they said.

“But more than that, LPDs provide the Navy strategic reach to operate far away from Indian shores and support amphibious warfare,” they added.

Jalashwa also carries four mechanised landing craft and eight landing assault craft, which could be launched by flooding the ship’s well deck, a speciality of LPDs. These craft could reach enemy shores and dock to deliver infantry and mechanised troops, tanks and equipment.

It also has a flight deck for operating four medium helicopters simultaneously, apart from operating Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft such as Sea Harriers, which the Navy possesses, in special circumstances.

Source--The Hindu

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dOSE (dEFENCE aRENA cURRENTLY)

Tejas engine offset offers come in

European aerospace company Eurojet and America's General Electric submitted offset proposals for their bids for light combat aircraft Tejas engines to the ministry of defence on Friday, a day before the deadline expires -- December 12.The Indian government invites offset proposals from bidders of defence and civil aircraft deals.

Little choice for IAF

IN the Medium-range Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) sweepstakes, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is confronted with many choices, all of them bad.

Whatever the IAF’s reasons for wanting a new aircraft, the government means to use the deal to make international political capital, gain leverage in bilateral relations, and cement a strategic partnership. The Air Staff Quality Requirements – insofar as these can be deduced – are opaque.

Is the IAF in the market for an aircraft to carry a heavy weapon load over a long distance in extended regional operations, or for a warplane to augment its existing strength in localised air defence, strike, and similar short-legged, Pakistan-centric, missions? This fuzziness, deliberate or not, will help the government to make the final selection, based less on technological trends or performance parameters than on the basis of which purchase best serves the country’s larger strategic interests. The candidate aircraft are currently undergoing flight tests in diverse Indian conditions – desert, high altitude, and high humidity – to determine their utility. If the aim is to get the maximum political bang for the buck for the $10.4 billion for a fleet of 126 MMRCA and the lucrative opportunity to sell other military hardware in the future and to enhance the supplier country’s political influence and its trade, technology, and military footprint in India, Delhi better secure a lot more than just some flying machines.

Army to use Zanskar ponies to carry supplies in higher reaches NEW DELHI: If China's People's Liberation Army can use yaks to ferry supplies alonG the border, the Indian Army is planning to brandish a new weapon of its own: the famous Zanskar ponies. The Army plans to gradually replace mules with Zanskar ponies -- one of the indigenous breeds of equines whose native tract is the Zanskar Valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir -- to ferry supplies, arms and ammunition to soldiers manning forward posts in the area. "We have undertaken `in situ' breeding of Zanskar ponies in Ladakh region. These ponies are better suited than mules for snow-bound high-altitude areas,'' said Army's Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) director-general Lt-General J K Srivastava on Thursday. "These ponies, with a lifespan of 25 years, can each carry 50-60 kg. We plan to supply Army formations in the region with 300 of these ponies as pack animals,'' he added. Incidentally, DRDO's Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research lab at Leh has also been conducting research on Zanskar ponies, including conservation, multiplication and upgradation of the local equine germplasm. RVC is also into horse and dog breeding and training. It already rears and trains guard, sniffer and search-and-rescue dogs for Army, National Security Guards, Central Industrial Security Force and other paramilitary forces. In its latest endeavour, RVC is now planning to import around 40 dogs of breeds like Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd and Labrador to further improve their gene pools. "RVC dogs have performed tremendously well in the most difficult and challenging counter-terrorism operations. We will provide the dogs to Delhi Police for the Commonwealth Games next year. The National Disaster Management Authority has also sought search-and-rescue dogs,'' said Lt-Gen Srivastava. sOURCE-- bHARAT rAKSHAK . COM

India lose 3-6 to Pak in Champions hockey semis

Salta (Argentina), Dec 13 (PTI) India's hopes of booking a berth in next year's Champions Trophy were shattered as they went down fighting to arch rivals Pakistan 3-6 in a thrilling semifinal encounter of the Champions Challenge I hockey tournament here.

In-form India, who were Group A toppers with an unbeaten record, failed to find the bearings at the last four match.

They dominated for most part of the match but failed to convert the chances that came their way.

As is often happened in Indian hockey team, the opponents scored from the few chances they got and Pakistan were 3-1 up at the end of half time.

The match was the usual classic exhibition of hockey artistry which is the case when the two sides clash but that was of no use for India.

India now face Argentina for the third-place play-off.

Source-PTI

Home Secretary URGEs DRDO to Develop New Technologies for Security Forces

The Home Secretary Shri GK Pillai has stressed on the need for the various security agencies to stay abreast of technologies. Inaugurating a workshop-cum-exhibition on ‘Low Intensity Conflict – Technologies and Products’ here today, Shri Pillai said the terrorist today has access to latest technologies to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting people. He pointed out that there were one set of technologies for cross-border terrorism and another set for home-grown insurgency. Shri Pillai asked the State Police, Paramilitary and Defence Forces to constantly project their need for new tools and innovative technologies to defeat the nefarious designs of the terrorists. Earlier the Special Guest of Honour Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, Adjutant General, Indian Army, in his opening remarks, said that surveillance was paramount to National Security. He called upon the DRDO to help develop night-vision devices, thermal imagers, handheld radios, lightweight body armour, stun guns and IED detection kits to meet the needs of the security forces. Dr K Sekhar, Chief Controller R&D (Missile Systems & Low Intensity Conflict), DRDO, in his welcome address, outlined the DRDO’s efforts in putting together a core team to identify user requirements. He stressed on the need for constant interface between the scientists and the users to incorporate customized modifications on the products. Dr Sekhar said that the DRDO would develop core technologies in areas including foliage penetration radars through wall imaging systems, improved sensors and protection systems. Over 250 personnel from the Services, Paramilitary forces, Industry Partners and DRDO Scientists are participating in the two-day workshop.

Crash of Helicopter Manufactured by HAL

An Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) sold to Ecuadorian Air Force by HAL crashed in Quito during a military parade injuring two of its pilots, recently.

Ecuadorian Air Force have successfully carried out several missions on Dhruv helicopters in their difficult terrains.

As per the reported statements, it appears that the helicopter may have been manoeuvred excessively. The built-in safety features ensured that both the pilots walked away without any major injuries after crash landing.

HAL has assured the Ecuadorian Government that HAL will meet all the contractual obligations and are committed to provide full support required by Ecuadorian Air Force. There have been no indications that existing potential customers have viewed this accident as a setback on Dhruv helicopters’ capabilities.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri NR Govindarajar in Rajya Sabha

Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 2, 2009

VW aims to capture 10% of India’s car market

Volkswagen AG, Europe’s biggest carmaker, said it aims to capture as much as 10% of India’s car market in four to six years as it boosts sales in emerging-markets.
The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company will sell cars under three brands, including Skoda AS and Audi AG, to achieve its targets, it said in a statement in Chakan, near Pune.
Production of its Polo compact car began yesterday at the plant, which opened earlier this year. Volkswagen will start selling the cars in March, challenging partner Suzuki Motor Corporation, the maker of half of all cars sold in India.
“The Pune plant is a key element in Volkswagen’s strategy for India,” said Jochem Heizman, a member of the company’s management board. India’s car market holds “enormous potential” for the German carmaker, he said.

Read More --http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=331616&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

India's role in rising Asia-Pacific Oil demand

DUBLIN (Commodity Online): In recent times, the oil consumption in Asia Pacific region is showing tremendous growth while production is not meeting requirements in most countries leading to larger imports, according to Research and Markets.

Quoting from the latest India Oil & Gas Report from BMI, the research agency said that India will account for 13.19% of Asia Pacific regional oil demand by 2014, while providing 10.48% of supply.

Asia Pacific regional oil use of 21.40mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2001 reached an estimated 25.44mn b/d in 2009. It should average 25.93mn b/d in 2010, then rise to around 28.99mn b/d by 2014. Regional oil production was just under 8.41mn b/d in 2001, and averaged an estimated 8.50mn b/d in 2009. It is set to increase to 8.59mn b/d by 2014.

In 2001, the region was importing an average 12.99mn b/d of oil. This total had risen to an estimated 16.94mn b/d in 2009, and is forecast to reach 20.41mn b/d by 2014. The principal importers will be China, Japan, India and South Korea. By 2014, the only net exporter will be Malaysia In terms of natural gas, in 2009 the region consumed an estimated 459bn cubic metres (bcm) and demand of 582bcm is targeted for 2014

Read more http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Indias-role-in-rising-Asia-Pacific-Oil-demand-23767-3-1.html

Azure: India's first solar project to go commercial

AMRITSAR (Commodity Online): When renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions continue to be hotly discussed topics among policy makers and analysts, a few days before the beginning of Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, a history of sorts was made in the city of Amritsar in Punjab. Here, Inderpreet Wadhwa, who was previously associated with start-up and Fortune 500 companies in USA, commissioned the first phase (1Mw) of his 2 MW solar power plant in Awan and has begun to sell energy to Punjab State Electricity from December 1.

That makes him the first entrepreneur to sell solar power commercially in India. Wadhwa also co-founded and sold a software education company in Silicon Valley a few years back. And though he's still associated with the word 'silicon', it does not relate to information technology. Instead, he's now the founder & chief executive officer of Azure Power, a solar photovoltaic company that he founded two years ago in India.

"I returned to India after 15 years to make a difference, besides making money," says Wadhwa. In 2007, he started on his vision to set up India's first private solar power plant.

"Many small and big companies have entered the fray but none of them have commissioned any projects yet," he adds. Commercial and sentimental reasons dictated his choice of Punjab. "I was born in Amritsar, so I wanted to give something back to this place," he said.

Read more http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Azure-Indias-first-solar-project-to-go-commercial-23754-3-1.html

Israel has offered to upgrade IAF Mirage-2000 aircraft at low prices

Israel is close to swinging an order to upgrade French-origin Mirage 2000 aircraft with the Indian Air Force (IAF) despite France’s charm offensive in hosting the Indian military on the Champs Elysees. Tel Aviv has offered to upgrade the frontline fighter aircraft, of which the IAF has three squadrons, at rates nearly 40 per cent less than the price quoted by the French.

Israel, whose chief of defence staff returns to Tel Aviv after visiting New Delhi this week for the first time since diplomatic relations were established in 1992, is also favoured to win an order for 18 quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs) from the Indian Army that could cost more than Rs 2,000 crore.

Read more -- http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/search/label/India

RSM-56 Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile has failed

(RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - The December 9, 2009 test of the RSM-56 Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile has failed, said the Russian Defense Ministry. There have been 12 other test flights since December 2003.

The decision to develop the Bulava missile was adopted in 1998 when Moscow's Institute of Thermal Technology was directed to develop an advanced missile system for the Russian navy.

Yeh GST Kya Hai?

The implementation of goods and services tax (GST) from next financial year will result in the reduction of tax burden for the industrial sector and make it more competitive, a senior official said today.
   
“The tax burden on industry will come down, which accounts for 25 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) but accounts for 60 per cent of fiscal income. The burden will now be reduced and the industry will become competitive,” V S Krishnan, commissioner (appeals), central excise and service tax, Pune.

However, he said, the situation will be different with services sector. People are arguing for a higher threshold limit for services, which is about Rs 10 lakh now.

The GST regime will help to reduce the incidence of taxation on capital goods which still carries taxes that are are not subject to Cenvat, octroi, SAD and CVD on imported goods, he said addressing a interactive session on ‘First Discussion Paper on GST’, organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), here.

“This is a major reform. The cost of capital goods in the country will fall and it will give a fillip to industry and trade. The cost of capital goods will fall and industry’s modernisation efforts with regards to power, infrastructure among others will benefit,” Krishnan said.


Stating that the introduction of GST is without doubt the most important tax reform legislation in post-Independent India, he said, “This is a game changer and it’s going to have tremendous impact on India’s competitiveness. Our country will become one common market like the US and Europe.”

The first discussion paper gives a clear signal the Centre will implement GST system between April 1, 2010 and April 1, 2011. It may coincide with the Commonwealth Games being held in New Delhi in October 2010, he stated.

The GST system is being introduced as it will reduce interstate trade barriers and create a common market and secondly, it will redress imbalance in taxation between industry and service sectors. Presently, incidence of taxation is 16.5 per cent on goods. This may come down to about 16 per cent. But services sector, which is presently taxed at 10 per cent may witness rise in taxation to 16 per cent with both the states and center taxing at 8 per cent each, Krishnan said.

GST introduction will also see expansion of taxable base in two ways. On the manufacturing side, today excise duty is only charged on goods, which are manufactured.

Therefore, it does not capture all value addition in manufacturing. Only that value addition is taxed, which amounts to manufacture because of the constitutional provisioning. Rethreading of tires, galvanising and repairs are not taxed. There is going to be vast range of value addition. So basically all economic activities will be taxed in the new tax regime, he pointed out.

Source--http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/gst-to-reduce-tax-burdenindustrial-sector/378586/

Wats in News

1. The United Nations Climate Change Conference opens in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. Traian Băsescu  is re-elected President of Romania, whilst the opposition states that it will contest the results in the Constitutional Court on account of alleged electoral fraud.
3. Hifikepunye Pohamba is re-elected President of Namibia and the SWAPO Party wins a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
4. Centre says a guarded yes to Telangana
5. Pak flip-flop: Now claims 'not enough' evidence against India

dOSE (sOME iMP sUMMITS tHIS yEAR tILL dATE)

1. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992.
2. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia. In terms of population, its sphere of influence is the largest of any regional organization: almost 1.5 billion people, the combined population of its member states. It was established on December 8, 1985 by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. In April 2007, at the Association's 14th summit, Afghanistan became its eighth member.
3. The 15th SAARC summit took place in Colombo (Sri Lanka) during the 1st and 3rd of August, 2008.The offer to host the 16th SAARC summit by the Maldives was "welcomed with appreciation.
4. The 1st BRIC summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia on June 16, 2009.The four heads of government from the BRIC countries attended
5. The 1st European Union-Brazil summit took place in Lisbon on 4 July 2007.
6. The 2009 Strasbourg–Kehl Summit was a NATO summit of heads of state and heads of government held in Strasbourg, France, and in Kehl and Baden-Baden, Germany, on 3-4 April 2009. The summit marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of North Atlantic Treatry Organization (NATO). Expected to be primarily a celebratory 60th-anniversary event, the agenda included a number of urgent topics commanding the NATO leaders' attention.
7. The G-20 Leaders' Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy was held in London on 2 April 2009 at the ExCeL Centre. It followed the first G-20 Leaders Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, which was held in Washington, D.C. on 14–15 November 2008
8. U.S. President Barack Obama's first visit to the People's Republic of China began on November 15, 2009 as part of a 4-day trip from November 15 to 18.It was  part of a 9-day tour to Asian countries which includes Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea.
9. The 2009 Arab League summit was held in Doha, Qatar on March 30, 2009. The Arab League defied the International Criminal Court by giving a "warm welcome" to Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who the Court placed a warrant on for war crimes in the Darfur genocide.
10. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009 was the twenty-first Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, between 27 November and 29 November 2009, and was hosted by that country's Prime Minister, Patrick Manning