Daily News Notes

· Releasing the first report of the National Innovation Council, Dr Manmohan Singh said the innovations in our country are not enough to solve the problems of the poor, thus country needs creativity and innovation to address the problems of poverty, health and environment, and currently we are witnessing an innovative experiment in right based delivery through a Right to Work, Right to Education and Right to Information. While a Right to Food Security is on anvil. National Innovation council (under the chairmanship of Sam Pitroda) is creating National knowledge network which would ultimately connect all colleges in our country and launched the India Innovative Portal. Government would also provide 100 crore rupees for the India Innovation Fund, which would fund low-cost innovation.
· India today successfully test-fired an advanced variant of nuclear-capable Agni-4 ballistic missile (surface-to-surface intermediate range missile, with a strike range of 3,000 km, two- stage weapon system powered by solid propellant) from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island.
· About China, Mr. Antony said that strategic dialogues may start next year which was discontinued in 2008 following the denial of a visa to the Chief of the Northern Command to visit Beijing. He, however, expressed concern about the robust infrastructure coming up on the Chinese side at the Line of Actual Control.
· Union Home reviewed the steps taken by the Chattisgarh and Maharashtra government in tackling naxalism. He hoped the Chhattisgarth government will fill up the more than 8 thousand vacancies in the state police force by 2012 and said under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), Chhattisgarh government has so far been given 55 crore rupees for developmental activities in naxal hit areas.
· Uttar Pradesh government today decided to propose a resolution in State Legislature during the coming winter session for the division of the state into four new states of Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh and Pashchim. After it get passed from State Assembly, it will send to center for final work.
· The expert committee (15 member) appointed by Central government led by its convener Dr A E Muthunayagam will inspect the Koodankulam Nuclear power plant. After inspecting the Nuclear power plant for three days, the committee will be reply to the fifty questions raised by the Tamil Nadu committee.
· After Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made a strong pitch for uranium sale to India, External Affairs Minister has welcomed the Australia's decision to undertake review of policy on Uranium sales to India and said India's relations with Australia are important and they are growing across the board in which energy is one of the key areas of bilateral cooperation. India is the fourth biggest export markets of 16 billion dollars to Australia and it has enormous potential to grow.
· Asking the South Asian (in the side line of 5th South Asia conference in New Delhi) nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka to develop cooperative security architecutre, India has emphasised the need not only to combat terrorism but also soft security issues in the region. Such a security framework requires regular consultations and that's what India has set up regular mechanisms of dialogue and cooperation with SAAC countries at bilateral level.
· The Arab League has decided to send a 500 member delegation (including human rights groups, media and military personnel) on a “fact finding mission” to Syria to oversee the implementation of the League mediated peace plan in the country. Jordan's King Abdullah has said Syrian President Bashar Al Assad should step down while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC has warned of a possible internationalisation of the Syrian crisis if the Assad regime does not comply with calls for reform and end the violence. A protocol will be signed between the Arab League and Syria to guarantee the freedom of movement of this delegation.
· In Pakistan, at least six militants were today killed and several others injured in a US drone attack which targeted a compound in the North Waziristan tribal region.
· In Rajasthan, all Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State have resigned and said that they have faith in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the action has been taken to give a free hand to the Chief Minister to reshuffle his Cabinet.