Daily News Notes

· The government has categorically rejected all allegations against P.Chidambaram on 2G Spectrum allocation issue as the dual technology licenses were issued based on TRAI's recommendations of 2003, which are not recommended any changes in the entry fees. Thus he was in no way responsible for the issue of letter of intent on January10,2008.
· The West Bengal Government has decided to form a safety Audit committee to conduct fire safety survey in all hospitals, nursing homes and schools in Kolkata in view of yesterday's divastating fire in the city claiming 90 lives and will take stringent action against the owners of the authorities according to rules of fire safety. Meanwhile, all Central government hospitals and medical establishments have been asked to immediately carry out fire safety audits to avoid recurrence of any such incident.
· The Finance Minister held a meeting with the Chief Ministers of eight Eastern and North Eastern states and heads of all nationalised banks and financial institutions to discuss the financial reforms and measures to deal with the situation on probable slash of economic growth rate.
· Assam Government has launched a scheme to provide annual financial assistance for literary, cultural and sports development activities in 4,000 high schools and 200 colleges of the State from next financial year. It will also provide free text books to over 65 lakh students in 62,503 schools of the State by forming a circle-level committee for distribution.
· Sri Lankan Army Chief Lieutenant General, on the side line of passing out parade at the Indian Military academy in Dehradun, has devised growing influence of China in Indian Ocean water and said that it was a wrong belief that there was Chinese threat to the Indian sub-continent.
· World Human Rights Day is being observed today to spread awareness among people about their basic human rights. With the goal to save future generation from Global political disasters, United Nation was created in 1945. The sole purpose of its creation is to bring peace in the world and guard the fundamental human rights. One of the most significant effects of the institutions of the United Nations has been the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 december 1948.
· While India is asking for space for basic development for its people and poverty eradication and this is not an unreasonable demand, Environment Minister from 194 countries at the climate change conference in Durban are pressurizing India along with US and China to accept a legally binding treaty proposed by the EU, which would be signed by 2015 and come into force by 2020.
· China has deployed more than 300 armed police to patrol the Mekong river in boats in collaboration with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos after a deadly attack on its crews and cargoes sailors and concern over the area which is rife with drug warfare and smuggling.
· The last eclipse of the year, a total lunar eclipse, is occurring today. India is considered as one of the best places to see this celestial event because the eclipse will be visible in its various phases from start to the end.