Daily News Notes

· The Government said that the Lokpal Bill will be brought before the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage during the Budget session of Parliament.
· The very severe cyclonic storm “Thane” over the south-west Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed North Tamil Nadu coast. The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further. Pondicherry, which was getting ready to celebrate the New Year, bore the brunt of the cyclone Thane as the gushing winds with speed over 125 kms per hour ripped apart the town. The entire city looks war ravaged as giants trees uprooted, Power lines dangling dangerously, twisted lamp posts, inundated roads etc. More than 1000 people have been taken to cyclone safety centres.
· The Election Commission has deployed over 200 officers from the Income Tax Department, who will also head specially created flying squads, to curb the use of black money during the forthcoming Assembly Elections in five states (Goa, UP, Pb, UK and Manipur).
· The Assam government said a major group of the anti-dam protesters who are carrying out the road blockade on the national highway number 52 against construction of the 2000-megawatt Lower Subansiri Hydel Power-Project, are influenced by Maoist ideology. Their only objective is to bring about instability in the country. Thus it will never compromise on national interest and will take stern action against activities of the protesters.
· During Indo-UAE legal lecture series at Dubai, eminent jurists have called upon the expatriate Indians to exercise their rights under the Right toInformation Act to address the issues back home as it is one of the means to avoid inordinate delays in processing of issues.
· Bangaon, the largest village, both by area and population, in Bihar’s Saharsa district has bagged at least 45 jobs of IAS and IPS, and the trend continues. Besides a good number of youth belonging to the village have become doctors, engineers, scientists and academicians. The village is also known as the work place of well-known 18th century saint poet Laxmi Nath Gosai(saint and poet) and 8th century scholar and philosopher Pundit Mandan Mishra(contributed to Indian philosophy).
· On the 100th anniversary of White Star liner “Titanic-“, more than 5,000 artifacts will be sold in one lot at auction in New York.
· After Pyongyang proclaimed the son of late leader Kim Jong-Il as its new supreme chief, North Korea has ruled out any policy changes and rejected any engagement with South Korea's current government.
· About 200 delegates belonging to different social groups, civil society activist and Human right activists from Pakistan are expected to join the 8th joint convention of the Pakistan-India People’s forum for Peace and Democracy in Allahabad.
· The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD, India) has initiated 149 anti-dumping cases against China, which account for over half of such actions taken by the country against foreign nations. Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.
· The United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency has created a new hotline for people arrested for immigration violations to help ensure their rights are protected by giving instructions on what to do if they feel their civil rights were infringed on. The announcement comes amid increasing reports of US citizens being deported and with a number of states tightening their enforcement efforts and enacting controversial new laws against immigration.