Daily News Notes

· Headline inflation (measured by the Wholesale Price Index, Base year: 2004-05) fell to a two-year low of 7.47 per cent in December 2011, as against 9.11 per cent in November which indicate that there is some improvement in the overall macroeconomic parameter. The Finance Minister said that it will be between 6-7% by the end of March.
· The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma urged the center and state government to give more focus to strengthen the National Cadet Corps. Around 13 Lakh cadets are in the country and there is need to increase the number as it rendering yeomen service to the Nation since it is reception in 1948.
· In Bihar, persons convicted by any court and whose appeal against sentence rejected would be debarred from availing of various facilities including licences for arms, passports, jobs or contracts. The objective of the launching the website is that if a person commits a crime, he will have to face not just punishment but also the consequences in civil life. 1450 records retrieved from jails have been put on the website.
· 1st Regional Conclave on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR an integral component of good governance) is being organized. This Conclave is the first of a series of Regional Conclaves being organised with Central Public Sec;tor Enterprises (CPSEs) located in each region, in the next couple of months. All CPSEs will be required to participate in these conclaves to highlight the CSR activities being undertaken by them, share their views and experiences and give suggestions on making the CSR guidelines more clear, robust, effective and in tune with the trends and best practices in the fields.
· India has declared year 2012 as the year of intensification of routine immunization. The present full immunization coverage of children is 61%. The strategies that are being deployed include: Updating of Micro plans to cover all villages and hamlets in the country; Special immunization drives in pockets of low immunization coverage; Intensification of immunization activity by observing immunization weeks in low performing states; IEC related activities for demand generation towards immunization; Deployment of adequate number of Health workers; Prioritization of areas with exclusive strategy for 200 districts poor performing districts in the country; and Special focus on migrant and mobile populations. Government of India has also expanded the Universal Immunization Progranme (UIP) by introducing 2nd dose of Measles, Hepatitis B and Pentavalent vaccination (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza B; introduced in KL & TN)
· The Ministry of Corporate Affairs Government proposes to set up National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) which will replace Company Law Board, Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction and Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction.
· The Ministry of Mines is preparing a detailed Strategic Plan document “Unlocking the Potential of the Indian Minerals Sector” in order to systematize the functioning of the Ministry and align it more directly with the vision emanating from the National Mineral Policy. The priorities are (i) expanding resource and reserve base by stepping up exploration and aiding international acquisition of strategic minerals (ii) reducing permit delays to create a more favourable policy environment (iii) setting up core enablers for mining—infrastructure, human capital and technology (iv) ensuring sustainable mining and development (v) creating an information, education and communication plan and (vi) establishing the right governance structure for effective implementation.
· Pakistan's Supreme Court today issued a contempt of court notice to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for failing to re-open graft cases (corruption case) against President Asif Ali Zardari. A Supreme Court-appointed panel is also probing the memo case.
· 5th edition of World Future Energy Summit began in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi to discuss global issues related to energy policies and the challenges. The theme of this year’s World Future Energy Summit is "Sustainable Energy for All". UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon expressed concern at the fast depleting conventional energy sources and called upon the people to harness alternative sources like solar, wind, small hydro energy etc.
· India & Nepal, discussed cooperation in countering cross-border crimes & terrorist activities during Home Secretary level talks between the two countries. They discussed wide ranging issues including countering circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes, smuggling of arms/ammunitions, trafficking of narcotics & psychotropic substances and misuse of SIM Cards.
· India and China today resumed their 15th round of boundary talks. The focus of the talks between the two special representatives (Indian National Security Adviser Shivshanker Menon and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo) will be on confidence-building measure that will facilitate real-time contact in case of violations of the Line of Actual Control. Besides the boundary issue, they will also hold discussions on regional and global issues that will include the global financial crisis, climate change, the BRICS summit which New Delhi will host in March and Mr. Xi Jinping visit to India who will succeed Chinese President Hu Jintao.