Daily News Notes

· The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has indicated the government will explore ways and means to help the cash strapped Kingfisher Airlines and indicates that Pvt. Sector Airlines have to be managed efficiently but if they do get in difficulties we have to find ways and means to help them to get out of the process. Kingfisher has cancelled nearly 210 flights since Monday causing inconvenience to hundreds of passengers. DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan has warned that if the airlines were found not operating the slots allotted to them, these will be given to others who are willing to operate.
· The long-wait for the unique identity number would soon be over (by next month) with the authority issuing Aadhaar cards, deciding to inform residents about their numbers through e-mails and SMS before sending it by post. The delay is mainly on account of the inability of India Post to print and dispatch the UID cards and thus the authority has tied up with state-run Telecommunications Consultants India Limited to print Aadhaar cards to expedite their distribution..
· New Delhi says frisking of former President APJ Abdul Kalam (2^nd time) at New York's John F Kennedy airport is unacceptable (an act that violates protocol followed by almost every other country) and will be taken up with the United States at the highest level.
· In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a five day long pulse polio Immunisation drive was launched today in the most vulnerable districts of the states. The state government is paying more attention at the areas bordering Nepal. Regular vaccination is also being carried out at 81 transit points along the Indo- Nepal border in UP and Bihar.
· Despite being a small state, Mizoram is the third most literate state in India and the efforts are on to make it one of the best equipped states in terms of technical and vocational courses as well. In recent months, two premier institutes of the country have opened their branches in Mizoram’s capital Aizawl which includes National Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of mass Communication.
· President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano is starting a series of meetings with party leaders and senior politicians for a new care-taker government. Former European Commissioner Mario Monti is still the favourite to become Prime Minister.
· In Syria, crowds (supporters of President Bashar al-Assad) armed with sticks and knives attacked the Saudi Arabian embassy and French and Turkish after the Arab League suspended Syria while Syrian security forces did not take measures to stop them from ransacking the embassy.
· The Gulf region's biggest aviation event, the Dubai Airshow began today. US Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes its entry into middle east for the first time. Gulfstream, Bombardier and Cessna have unleashed their new products. Among the Fighter jets British Eurofighter Typhoon, French Dassault’s Rafael (both are in the race for an $11 billion contract for 127 fighter planes in India), American F-16,F-18 are on display.