Daily News Notes

· The government has taken various steps to improve access to agriculture credit to small and marginal farmers. It has decided to waive the requirement of no-dues-certificate for small loans upto 50 thousand rupees. It has set an annual target of four lakh seventy thousand crore rupees for the flow of credit to the agriculture sector in the current financial year.
· The Centre proposes to give 1% subsidy on home loans upto 15 lakh rupees provided the cost of the houses is under 25 lakh rupees. The scheme is in operation till the 31st of March next year. The National Housing Bank is the Nodal Agency for the scheme.
· India's external debt as of June this year stood at 316 billion USD from 306 billion USD. The increase was largely on account of the rise in commercial borrowings and short-term trade credits (68.5 bil USD). To tackle the situation govt. have come out with its debt management policy which emphasizes on monitoring the long and short-term debt, raising sovereign loans on concessional terms with long maturities and aims at regulating external commercial borrowings through end-use and rationalizing the interest rates on NRI deposits.
· The National Innovation Council (under the chairmanship of Mr. Sam Pitroda) has proposed the setting up of an India Inclusive Innovation Fund with an objective to support innovations which may impact the lives of the lowest strata of society in the fields of education, health, livelihoods and agriculture.
· The Government is hopeful of achieving the disinvestment target of 40000 crore rupees in the current fiscal and has approved disinvestment of 5% paid up equity capital each in ONGC and BHEL and 10% in National Building Corporation Limited, while the other cases of disinvestment are in different stages of approval.
· In a clear message to allies and opponents, Finance Minister asked them not to stand in the way of states wanting to implement FDI in retail. He said, efforts are on to work out an acceptable motion to face a Parliamentary vote.
· The government will establish, during the 12th Plan, 160 new Trauma care Centers in govt. hospital on golden quadrilateral, North-South, East-West corridors and highways connecting major cities across the country. 140 government hospitals, medical colleges and hospitals were identified for establishment of Trauma Care facilities on National Highways during the 11th Five Year Plan. Of them, 18 are functional. Centre is providing financial assistance for these Centers to the State governments.
· The Centre has asked the states to issue instructions for withdrawal of junk food and carbonated drinks from schools and college canteens which has become a main issue especially in Medical and Agriculture Universities.
· The Lok Sabha today welcomed an Italian Parliamentary Delegation. Earlier delegation from Bhutan and Bulgaria were arrived on different days.
· A legislative proposal for setting up of universities for innovation is under consideration of the government which aims at providing for the establishment and incorporation of universities for innovation to promote synergies between teaching and research. It will also create institutions universally recognized for quality in teaching, learning and research.
· The Centre is implementing a scheme on Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops (which covers 27 crops including paddy and wheat) for ascertaining production cost of important food crops. These crops are selected for a block period of three years and the combination of crops in each state varies from state to state depending upon their importance in terms of its relative contribution in the production of relevant crop at India level.
· The proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly have been stalled and adjourned for the day on twin issues of no trust motion and statehood for Telangana.
· The Bihar Cabinet has approved the final draft of Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011 bringing the Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers, Speaker, Chairman of the Legislative Council, Ministers, legislators and former legislators in its ambit.
· The Chief of Naval staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma today said that the piracy activities have shifted from Indian Ocean region to the East Arabian Sea, increasing security concerns on Lakshadweep and Minikoy islands. Somalian piracy incidents in the Indian ocean region is continuously increasing with 228 incidents retported till November this year. Indian Navy is copperating with regional and international navys in Indian Ocean region to check piracy.
· United Nations economists have sharply cut their projections for world growth and warned that 2012 will be key to whether the global economy makes a slow recovery or falls back into recession. It has also warns that developed economies are on the brink of a downward spiral because of four factors: sovereign debt distress, fragile banking sectors, weak aggregate demand and policy paralysis.
· The US Senate has unanimously approved new sanctions against Iran despite warnings from the White House that the measure could alienate America's allies and could lead to a sharp increase in oil prices. The legislation penalizes foreign banks to do business with Iran's Central Bank. Thus under the measure, any business or financial entity that has dealings with Iran’s Central Bank, would be cut off from the U.S. market. Iran’s economy and nuclear program depend on oil revenue, which must pass through the Central Bank.
· The Chinese economy is headed for troubled waters with its manufacturing sector shrinking in November for the first time in nearly three years. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said that the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a gauge of manufacturing activity, showed a fresh sign of a further economic slowdown that may prompt China to loosen its monetary policy.
· The much awaited South Asia Football Federation, SAFF Champonship will kick off today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Defending champions India will meet Afghanistan tomorrow.
For millions of people suffering from heart diseases, scientists are working on a technique of applying a stem cell infused patch to improve functioning of the heart damaged by stroke or other ailments. A Team of itlian scientist have been working to cure cardiovascular diseases. Addressing the gathering on the concluding day of the Science Conclave in Allahabad an Italian scientist Dr. Di Naro informed that this new stem cell patch technique tested on animals with great results. While talking about the wireless sensor network the US scientist Prof Anis Arora underlined that new emerging technology offers new hope for wireless communication.