Daily News Notes: 18th Feb, 2012

· Speaking at the inauguration of an NSG hub at Badu near Kolkata, Home Minister P. Chidambaram (without referring to National Counter-Terrorism Centre, NCTC controversy) has said the security is a joint responsibility of the centre and states, and the constitution of India which assignees Law and Order and police to the state governments has also assigned responsibility protecting every part of India from external aggression or internal disturbance under the article 355 of the constitution. Ms. Mamta Banerjee is among half a dozen Chief Ministers who have opposed setting up of a National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
· The President flagged off the Saakshar Bharat Yatra through a well-known Non-Government Organization, i.e., Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS). The Saakshar Bharat Mission launched by the Prime Minister on International Literacy Day on 8th September, 2009, is primarily focusing on women, SCs, STs, Minorities and other disadvantaged groups in rural areas. In order to ensure success of Saakshar Bharat Mission, it is necessary to create a social environment conducive to literacy as the demand for literacy does not exist uniformly in all parts of the country. For an enhanced participation of learners, voluntary teachers and other stakeholders, a nationwide mobilization campaign is being undertaken by the National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA).
· The High level safety review committee (headed by Dr Anil Kakodkar, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, and former managing director of Delhi Metro Rail corporation E Sreedharan one of its advisors) constituted for the ministry of Railways has recommended many measures to prevent rail accidents. The committee has suggested that there should be an independent body like Railway Safety Authority under the government with chairman and experts from outside; elimination of both manned and unmanned level crossings; and many more. Kakodkar said if all the recommendations will be accepted there will be a total financial implication of one lakh crore rupees in five years.
· Speaking at concluding of the first Interpol global programme on anti- corruption and asset recovery in New Delhi, CBI Director A P Singh said in today's globalised context, effective international cooperation in essential for fighting corruption that transcends international boundaries.
· India-born biologist Kamal Bawa (Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts in Boston) has bagged the world's first international award (Gunnerus Sustainability Award from the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters) for outstanding scientific work that promotes sustainable development globally. Dr. Bawa is most noted for his pioneering work on population biology in rainforest areas. The Gunnerus award is the first major international prize for outstanding scientific work that promotes sustainable development globally, and will be awarded every two years starting this year.
· The World Health Organization has ordered an indefinite moratorium on the publication of new research into the Bird flu virus because of concerns that it could be used by terrorists to create a biological weapon. The researchers passionately believe that the best way to tackle the threat of a pandemic is to understand how the virus can mutate, and that only by releasing their results in scientific journals will progress be made.
· The World’s largest annual food and hospitality show, Gulfood 2012 gets underway in Dubai tomorrow. The India Pavilion at the show has Tea Board of India, APEDA and ITPO participating in the event. Germany has set up the largest pavilion. Gulf food 2012 is the platform for trade on a truly global scale.
· Hockey qualifier rounds for London Olympics will begin at Major Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi today. India, Canada, France, Poland, Singapore and Italy are in the same pool.
· Japan's Emperor Akihito has undergone a successful heart bypass operation at a hospital in Tokyo.