National Politics [08-15 Dec]

                   PM lays foundation for auto R&D centre

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today laid the foundation stone for the Rs 470-crore Global Automotive Research Centre (G-ARC) at Oragadam, near Chennai. Dr Manmohan Singh said that the facility would have the latest infrastructure for automotive testing and homologation and will be developed on 304 acres. Along with the Centres of Excellence being set up, G-ARC would make India a frontrunner in automobile R&D. The G-ARC is part of the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project and will help automobile and auto component manufacturers achieve global standards.

               Trinamool’s call to boycott Tata products

KOLKATA: With the indefinite hunger strike by Mamata Banerjee entering its 10th day here on Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress leadership called for a State-wide boycott of all products manufactured by the Tata Group of companies. This was in protest against the proposed setting up of the car manufacturing plant by Tata Motors at Singur in Hooghly district.

                  Maharashtra clears land for Reliance SEZ

Reliance Industries’ proposed Special Economic Zone at Navi Mumbai is on course, with the Maharashtra Government clearing allotment of 1,150 hectares of land.With this, Reliance has received more than 50 per cent of the required land for its multi-product SEZ.Out of the total SEZ area, 15 per cent would be earmarked for residential purposes and the remaining 85 per cent for industrial purpose. Reliance is setting up two SEZs in the State, with the other one being proposed in Raigad district, which will be spread over 10,000 hectares, involving a cost of Rs 30,000 crore

                                India, UAE sign deal 

NEW DELHI: Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and visiting Labour Minister of the United Arab Emirates Ali bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi signed an agreement on Wednesday to facilitate recruitment of workers and regulate their terms of employment. Under the agreement, a bilateral committee is to be set up (consisting of three members from the two countries) to review employment opportunities in the UAE and the availability of corresponding skills in India.