Ø The use of smart maps in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious smart
cities project will lead to $8 billion in savings and value in a year,
according to a study by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, a strategy and policy
consulting firm. This also needs a strong policy and regulatory framework. The
firm’s report, “Smart maps for smart cities: India’s $8 Billion+ opportunity”,
said India was expected to see the greatest migration to cities of any country
in the world in the next three decades, with over 400 million new inhabitants
moving into urban areas. The
report points out nine high potential uses of smart maps including traffic and
commuting, local retail, tourism, women’s safety, city planning, civic
engagement, emergency services, logistics and delivery and disaster response.
Pritha Venkatachalam, principal at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, pointed
out the benefits in terms of emergency services and local retail.
Ø The Ford Foundation, a U.S.-based funding agency which has been accused
by the Gujarat government of interfering in the country’s internal affairs and
fanning communal disharmony, was put on the Union Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) watch list. Citing “concerns for national interest and security,” the MHA
informed the Reserve Bank of India that Ford Foundation had been included on
the list of foreign funding agencies which required prior approval from the
Ministry for each transaction. It invoked Section 46 of the Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act.
Ø Lady Gaga will receive the inaugural Contemporary Icon Award at the
Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 19. The award honours a performing songwriter
“who has attained an iconic status,” said a Thursday statement from the hall.
The 29-year-old superstar has had a hand writing most of her hits.
Ø A volcano in Chile that had been inactive for 50-plus years suddenly
erupted twice, blasting huge clouds of ash into the air and forcing the
evacuation of some 5,000 people.
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