Daily News Notes: 5th March, 2012

· Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Afro-Asian Rural Development organisation, Prime Minister Dr. Singh said the union government is giving large resources towards human development to enable the poor to benefit from the process of economic reform and modernisation. He said the need of the hour is to use science, innovation and entrepreneurship to give a boost to growth and employment in rural economies. The Prime Minister said India has a vision for a partnership with Africa to deal with issues like clean drinking water, quality education and affordable health care including the India Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development, soil water and tissue testing laboratories. Dr. Singh said India has also approved lines of credit worth nearly 1 billion USD for projects in rural Africa in the sugar sector, for rural power transmission and purchase of agricultural machinery. He added that the Afro-Asian Rural Development organisation has the potential of playing a vital role in the collective battle against hunger, disease and despair that afflict large segments of the population.
· The Election Commission of India has decided to further strengthen its various initiatives at all levels to ensure maximum turnout in the next General Election due for 2014. It said that the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation - SVEEP programme which was started two years back has shown good results in the Assembly Election of 5 states of Manipur (79.41% from 84.83% in 2007), Uttarakhand (65.75% from ~60% in 2007), Punjab (78.5% from 72.12% in 2007), Goa (81.75% from 70.51% in 2007) and Uttar Pradesh (~60% from 46.07% in 2007). He said, in these states a historic record turnout was registered except for Manipur due to some other reasons.
· The government has banned exports of cotton to increase supply of the natural fiber in the domestic market. In August 2011, the government had removed restrictions on the export of the natural fiber and permitted shipments under OGL (Open General License) till September 2011.
· Congress President and UPA chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi today returned from abroad after a routine health checkup. [lol ;-)]
· India and Iran have agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of renewable energy. Iran called India a leading country in the production of renewable energy and said it intended to develop renewable energies in cooperation with India. Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy highlighted the progress of India’s National Solar Mission which has resulted in significant increase in installed capacity and an almost 40% fall in costs
· In Russia, Vladimir Putin and his supporters are celebrating victory in the elections by securing nearly 64% of the votes that will give him a third presidential term after spending the last four years as the country's Prime Minister.