Daily News Notes

· As government has taken several steps to reduce unemployment, the number of unemployed persons in the country has come down from 3.47 crore in 2004-05 to 2.85 crore in 2009-10. Many more job opportunities are likely to be created on account of growth in Gross Domestic Product, investment in Infrastructure Development and growth in export.
· The government today said the creation of any new state has wide ramifications and direct bearing on the federal polity of the country and thus the government will takes a decision on the matter of formation of new states after taking into consideration all relevant factors and formation of broad consensus in the parent state.
· Delhi government has inked an agreement with the National Institute for Smart Government, NISG, Hyderabad for digitisation of its archival records, including CID records, Gazettes, Maps, Manus, photographs and records of eminent personalities.
· In Rajasthan, more than 6500 in-service Doctors went on indefinite strike from today in support of their demands, including pay parity with the Central Government Doctors, and protest against the imposition of Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act -RESMA for three months.
· India’s Ambassador to Nepal inaugurated the newly constructed cultural museum at Janaki Mandir Complex in Nepal. The project has been constructed with Indian assistance under the Nepal- India Economic Co-operation Programme.
· British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Britain will not extend its military involvement in Afghanistan beyond 2014 and has planned to withdraw nearly 500 troops. Presently about 9,500 British troops are posted in Afghanistan. Since the beginning of war in Afghanistan in 2001 nearly 400 have died during different operations and insurgent attacks.
· Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Cairo today to discuss the progress on the Gaza-West Bank reconciliation pact. The issue of political detainees is also likely to figure in their talks.
· In Hong Kong, 17,000 chickens were culled today and live poultry imports have been suspended for 21 days after three birds tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus.
· In Chess, India (D Harika, Tania Sachdev, Padmini Rout and Soumya Swaminathan) beats South Africa in the third round, jumping to the joint second spot in the World Women's Team Championships at Mardin in Turkey.