Daily News Notes

· The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the three services Commanders' conference in New Delhi. The conference is focusing on various issues pertaining to operational preparedness, capacity building, including logistics and other administrative aspects.
· Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has instituted a judicial inquiry into the police firing incident at Bechimari where four marginal jute cultivators were killed and 17 others sustained injuries yesterday when the police opened fire to control an irate mob, demanding right price for their jute produce.
· In Andhra Pradesh, normal life in Telangana region continued to be affected today as the ongoing general strike continues since 29 days.
· In Manipur, Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP-MTF Chief Chirom Tiken alias Sunil Meitei has been killed in an encounter with the Imphal West District Police Commandos in the early hours this morning.
· India has proposed to include issues on intellectual property rights, equitable access to sustainable development and unilateral trade measures in the provisional agenda of the 17th meeting of the Conference of Parties, COP 17 to be held in South Africa next month. New Delhi has said that an effective and efficient global regime for management of Intellectual property Rights of climate friendly technologies is critical to the global efforts for development, deployment, dissemination and transfer of such technologies. India has also stressed that developed countries should not take recourse to Unilateral Trade Measures as this will have negative environmental, social and economic consequences for the developing countries.
· Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang who is in Banglore (visit the IT giant Infosys) on the first leg of his four day State visit to India will arrive in New Delhi this evening.
· Liberia goes to the second Presidential polls today since the end of a civil war eight years ago. The current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week faces a strong challenge.
· Five pirates hijacked an Italian cargo ship carrying 23 crew members, including 10 Ukrainians and 6 Indian nationals off the Somali coast.
· Myanmar has announced an amnesty for more than 6,300 prisoners after government appointed Human Rights Commission in Myanmar recommend the President to free prisoners of conscience.
· In New Zealand, authorities say a cargo ship has leaked significantly more oil than previously thought after it sustained damage.
· India and Japan have agreed to cooperate in the field of tourism(especially Buddhist and Medical Tourism) and infrastructure while, Japan too showed keen interest to open more yoga centers in Japan. Indian cultural troupe will participate in the festival of India in Japan which will be organised to celebrate the 60th year of diplomatic relations with Japan and India. A Taj Mahal made of ice will also be replicated in this festival.
· India has taken over as the Chairman of United Nations South Asian Regional Commission for tourism which was announced at the ongoing United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference at Gyeongju in South Korea.
· India will continue to allow 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment for new ventures in the pharma sector which will facilitate addition of manufacturing capacities, technology acquisition and development of the pharma sector in the country. However, in case of existing ventures in the pharma sector, FDI will be allowed for a period of six months after approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, FIPB.
· Wheat production is expected to touch an all-time high of 86 million tonnes this rabi season as crop prospects look bright on account of good monsoon, abundant sunshine and no pest menace in wheat fields.
· The 12^th Senior Women's Boxing Championships will begin in Bhopal this evening.
· Valmiki Jayanti is being celebrated today with great enthusiasm through out the country. Maharshi Valmiki who is believed to have authored the epic Ramayan. Shobha Yatras are being taken out at several places including state capital Lucknow, Allahabad, and Varanasi.