Daily News Notes:

• ·         The European leaders(European Union President Herman Van Rompuy) and the International Monetary Fund have reached an agreement with banks to take a 50 percent loss on Greek bonds(reduce Greece's debt to 120 % of GDP in 2020) as part of efforts to contain the eurozone crisis. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said the deal means his country's debt is now sustainable. German Chancellor and French President pressed Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to move faster to adopt new economic reforms to stave off  the need for an Italian bailout.
• ·         India today hailed the decision of the Commonwealth to hold a special meeting on small countries (Least Developed countries as 34 of the 54 members of the grouping are small states) during the CHOGM at Perth in Australia as the problems of such nations are unique and need urgent and serious attention. The Summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to exchange views on the issues of bilateral and multilateral interest in an informal atmosphere. Issues on food security, terrorism were discussed at the summit while Sri Lanka will host the next edition of CHOGM(as decided in 2009)
• ·         In Pakistan, four militants were killed in a suspected US drone attack in the volatile tribal region of south Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan today
• ·         Afghanistan’s security forces will take responsibility of defending 17 more provinces, entirely or partially in the second phase of security transition next month while in the first phase it had taken responsibility of 7 places.
• ·         In Thailand, thousands of people are leaving(long queues at the bus stations and the main airport) the capital Bangkok after the government warned that large parts of the city could soon be inundated by flood waters.
• ·         Former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta(arrested on charges of sharing confidential information about investments), was released on bail after he pleaded not guilty to offences that carry a potential penalty of 105 years in prison.
• ·         Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of Infantry Day today, The Army Chief General V K Singh today said the Army has already given its inputs on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, withdrawal issue and now it is within the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• ·         Manipur Police has tightened security arrangement in the Imphal and its adjoining areas to trace the miscreants involved in the three bomb blasts in Imphal last night.
• ·         In Assam, train movement in Lumding-Silchar hill section was following a powerful bomb blast(no causality) on the railway tracks. While Two train drivers were injured when militants fired indiscriminately on a moving goods train few days back in same district.
• ·         The coastal districts of Tamilnadu have been experiencing incessant rains since three days due to the trough of low pressure extending from Southwest Bay of Bengal to west central Bay of Bengal. Holiday has been declared.
• ·         Food inflation(measured by WPI) shot up to 11.43 per cent for the week ended on the back of costlier vegetables, fruits, milk and protein-based items.
• ·         Indian ace Saina Nehwal crashed out(against Chinese Xuerui Li) in the second round of the women's singles event in the French Open Super Series badminton tournament.
• ·         The world's population will hit 7 billion at the end of this month and is set to rise to at least 10 billion by 2100. A UN report has warned that the demographic pressure posed mighty challenges for easing poverty and conserving the environment. People under 25 yr age comprise 43 per cent of the total. Over the past six decades, fertility has declined from a statistical average of 6.0 children per women to about 2.5 today, varying from 1.7 in the most advanced economies to 4.2 in the least developed nations.
• ·         In Nepal, The President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav in his message wishes people for the New year, according to the Nepal Sambat 1132, which is being celebrated today.
• ·         Ruling NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil called upon NATO to continue its campaign till the end of this year.
• ·         In China, 7 persons have been killed and 11 others are still missing after a gas outburst hit a coal mine. The search and rescue is on.
• ·         In Turkey, the death toll in Sunday's powerful earthquake has touched 523 as the country struggles to cope with the aftermath of the quake. Thousands of people have been left homeless and are facing another night in the open with temperatures falling below zero.
• ·         International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted a growth rate of 7 percent for the Gulf Co-operation Council (oil exporting countries) countries in 2011-12 and said that the region is likely to face fiscal and monetary challenges.
• ·         The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, DGFT has made barcodes mandatory on packing for pharmaceuticals and drugs manufactured on or after October 1 this year. A barcode helps in tracking and tracing of origin of drugs, which in turn helps in minimizing the chances of genuine drugs being considered spurious, sub-standard or counterfeit. India exports over 9 billion dollars’ worth of drugs annually with the huge demand for generics in the developed world.
• ·         In Madhya Pradesh, six cities Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Sagar have been selected for the first phase of Rajiv Awas Yojna (slum free plans and to facilitate affordable housing for slum dwellers which will give benefit to abt 3500 families in initial phase while there are around three lac families live in these slum areas). The Central government will bear 50 per cent of the cost of slum re-development while rest amount will be bear by the state government, local bodies and beneficiaries.
• ·         The portals of Gangotri shrine have been closed for winter season this afternoon after traditional vedic ritual.