Daily News Notes

· Dr. Manmohan Singh returned to India after concluding a three-day visit to Russia during which he attended the 12th annual Indo-Russian summit and witnessed inking of five agreements. The first agreement was an inter-governmental agreement (protocol) that envisages the manufacture by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of an additional 42 Su-30 MKI aircraft. Second agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Competition Commission of India and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (Russian Federation). Third agrement is a Protocol of Intentions between the Department of Science and Technology and Russian Federation on fly ash utilization and safe management. Fourth pact was a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on drug quality and safety standards in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development. The fifth and final agreement signed between the two sides was a educational exchange programme. Dr. Manmohan Singh will announce the commissioning of the Unit 1 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Project built with Russian assistance within few weeks and the 2nd Unit after six months. Russia backed India's bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council as well as its aspirations to join the Shangha Cooperation Organisation, while Dr.Singh welcomed Moscow's entry to the WTO.
· Intense cold wave conditions prevail over northern parts of the country including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh following heavy snowfall in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The night temperature in Srinagar has dipped to -4.3^oC. A portion of world famous Dal Lake has frozen. This time cold wave in the valley has intensified ahead of ‘Chillay Kalan’ the peak cold season of the winter months.
· In Sikkim, 2 crore rupees will be spent for creating awareness on earthquake in the rural areas. State Rural Development & Management department is also going to distribute disaster management kits.
· In Iraq, the US military has handed over the last of its military bases in the country and officially announced shutdown of its operations in Iraq. US embassy will retain only 157 US soldiers for training of Iraqi forces along with a group of marines to secure the diplomatic mission in Baghdad.
· Flash floods in the Philippines have killed at least 140 people as a tropical storm rages across the country. Due to heavy rains in the last 24 hours, have caused rivers to burst their banks.
· Eleven people were killed and four reported missing yesterday in Colombia after heavy rains caused a landslide and forced already swollen rivers to burst their banks.
· Indian eves will take on South Africa in their last round robin league match in the Four Nation Hockey tournament, Argentina today. India needs to win this match in order to play the final tomorrow.
· India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal will today lock horns with fifth seed Tine Baun of Denmark in the semi-finals of the BWF World Super Series Badminton Tournament in China. World Number 4 Saina yesterday defeated third seeded Xin Wang of China in the third and final group match, ending the round-robin stage at the top of pool 'B'.