Daily News Notes

· Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned on the issue of ban on the translated version of Bhagwat Geeta in Russia and sought the revocation of ban.
· The Union Cabinet has approved draft National Food Security Bill which will give legal entitlement to food-grains at cheaper rates to 62.5 per cent of the country's population with approx. 3.5 lakh crore rupees budgetary liability, required to raise agriculture production, create storage space and publicity among others. The Congress Party had promised food law in its manifesto for 2009 election. Central govrt. will develop a mechanism to share the additional cost on the Food security Bill with the states and has expressed confidence that there will be no financial strains with the implementation of this bill.
· As per the latest report by the National Sample Survey Organisation, NSSO, the number of working children is nearly 50 lakh, a decline of 45% from 2004-05. Under the National Child Labour Project, children below 14 years of age are rehabilitated, sent to school with proper health care, stipend and vocational training after being withdrawn from work.
· Defence Minister has said that in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands joint operational exercises are being conducted by the Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and other agencies to check poaching by foreign fishermen, noticed in recent times. He also informed that round-the-clock surveillance and patrolling of the Indo-Pakistan border has been mounted following intelligence reports that Pakistan has constructed a large number of bunkers, towers and outposts on our borders. He said that the Indo-Pak border is being further strengthened by constructing fences and floodlighting.
· The government is planning to cover all the BPL families in the unorganized sector under its Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana by 2012-13.
· Goa is celebrating the golden jubilee of its liberation as on this day in 1961, Goa was liberated from the Portuguese regime. Both the Houses of Parliament today congratulated the people of Goa and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of their Independence.
· India has invited several friendly countries including China to witness the President's fleet review (PFR) ceremony in Mumbai tomorrow. PFR is a rare occasion where all the warships, submarines and aircraft assemble together to display maritime assets. Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil would be the first woman President to review the Naval might of the country.
North Korea today announced the death of its leader Kim Jong-il (69). Kim's iron rule and nuclear ambitions dominated world security fears for more than a decade. Kim's third son, Kim Jong Un, will be his successor.