Infosys gets CISF cover

Bangalore: Infosys Technologies Ltd. on Friday became the first private company to get protection from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The force protects public sector undertakings and government-owned industrial establishments.

101 personnel

The company’s headquarters here will be guarded by 101 CISF personnel.

R. K. Mishra, Inspector General, CISF, said: “This is the first time since its creation in 1969 that the CISF will be providing security cover to a corporate organisation in India.” The agency is “pleased and proud to be entrusted with the responsibility of security at Infosys.”

The company would have to pay the CISF a daily fee of Rs. 1 lakh.

Key handed over

Its Chief Mentor, N. R. Narayana Murthy handed over the “security key” to the CISF at a ceremony marking the deployment of the CISF on the campus on Friday.

The force will be in addition to Infosys’ 300-strong security team. It will now work with the CISF. However, the force will not be involved in daily frisking or gate checks. It would be in charge of surveillance and overall security strategy. The company’s “security command centre” was handed over to it.

T.V. Mohandas Pai, Infosys director said the CISF cover would be extended to the company’s facility in Mysore and if need be, elsewhere too. “We are confident that the protection offered by the CISF will enhance security on our campuses,” he added.

Ref : The Hindu, 01/08/2009

Wipro reports positive quarterly results

India's third-largest software maker, Wipro, has posted higher-than-expected first quarter earnings, with profit up 11.7 per cent despite the tough global environment.

Consolidated net profit grew 31 per cent to 10.7bn rupees (£135m) in the three months ended 30 June, up from 8.14bn rupees in the same period a year ago. Sales also increased by six per cent.

"We are starting to see the first signs of stability in the business as ramp downs start to taper off and volumes start to stabilise," said Wipro chairman Azim Premji in a statement.

The company said it signed 26 new deals during the first three months of its fiscal year, despite a negative trend in IT spending worldwide.

In the UK, Wipro clients include consumer goods distributor Warburtons and supermarket chain Morrisons,which is currently undergoing an IT transformation.

Earlier this month Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also outstripped expectations with positive results. TCS announced an 18.8 per cent profit increase, while Infosys had a 17.2 per cent rise in first-quarter consolidated net profit.

Friendship Day

Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in large number of countries including India. On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. Exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.

There is not much literature on Friendship Day history as we celebrate today. However, there are numerous folktales and several instance in mythological legends that shows that friends and friendship have been valued since the beginning of civilized world. As an intrinsically social creature, men love to make friends to further this process of socialization.

History of Friendship Day in US

Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The noble idea of honoring the beautiful relationship of friendship caught on with the people and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival

Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India.

In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie - the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Bible
The Bible, the primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. Following verses from the bible aptly portray the importance of friends:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13-15

Besides, there are several tales from the Old Testament and the New Testament about the value of friendship and how true friendship is a treasure to unearth. A noticeable point is that, both the versions make a difference between the two broad meanings of friendship- one is a mere acquaintance, the other is a more affectionate relation.

In the Old Testament, Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of the intimacy of his relations. God speaks to Moses face to face “as a man…unto his friend” (Ex 33:11). The romantic friendship of Ruth and Naomi, the devotion of the subordinate Hushai for David, or the mutual relation between David and Jonathan - the Old Testament is replete with these interesting tales of friends and friendship.

In the New Testament, the relationship between Jesus and his disciples clearly depicts how human friendship can constantly grow. From being teacher and disciple, to lord and servant their relationship finally grew to an unparalleled friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata
In the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’, Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship - affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing. Friendship is all about these and much more.

Satyam: big question over renewal of contracts

HYDERABAD: A big question mark is staring at the battered Satyam Computer Services over the renewal of contracts by the existing prestigious clients across the globe.

Though company sources claim that there is no problem from the customers as of now, whether the clients will wield the stick will be known when the financial year ends in March. While Satyam completed its third quarter on Wednesday, the first quarter of the financial year began for its global customers on Thursday.

The controversies triggered by the now-aborted deal of acquiring Maytas companies, the World Bank’s eight-year ban and the fresh case seeking to restrain the company from taking up further transactions by Upaid mobile telecom company, are already finding the embattled IT giant in a tight spot.

Meanwhile, Forrester Research, a global IT analyst company, warned the customers to watch Satyam before renewing the contracts or awarding fresh ones.

Ref :- THE HINDU,02-01-09