Daily News Notes: 11th Feb, 2012

· Government says that the implementation of National Competition Policy will trigger the second generation reforms. Introduction of such a policy in the US, prices of petroleum products came down by 50 percent. Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily said the policy can trigger 4 to 5 percent more GDP growth in the country and attack inflationary trends. The policy is a tool to unleash economic growth and create jobs. He also said his Ministry plans to come out with a national corporate governance policy which will spell out risk factors, on innovative steps to be taken by corporate and stress on dynamic and inclusive growth.
· The digitalization is expected to bring in major gains to all stake holders in the broadcasting industry. This included reduction of taxes for digital handsets, set-top boxes and income tax holidays. It also bridges the digital divide in the country which will benefit the common man.
· In Assam, 20 new Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya are being opened in the Educationally Backward Blocks under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, SSA in the current fiscal. It is a scheme to provide elementary level quality and life skilled education to girl children of the age group 10 to 14 years belonging to SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities in a residential mode. The blocks where rural female literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy more than the national average are known as Educationally Backward Blocks. In all KGBVs, students are provided vocational education like weaving, knitting, doll making tailoring, embroidery etc.Some of the quality products were sold through exhibitions and the earning credited to the account of the particular school. Apart from class room activities, they are also imparted self defense training which helped them in building discipline, courage and empowerment.
· Refusing to stay the criminal proceedings against the website, Justice Suresh Kait said that the criminal proceedings will continue against Yahoo India, which had moved the Delhi High Court against a lower court order summoning it for allegedly hosting objectionable content.
· All Indians living in crisis ridden Maldives are safe. Out of 3 lakh population of the island nation, there are around 29,000 Indians in that country and 22,000 of them live in capital Male. Meanwhile, new Maldives President, Mohammed Waheed Manik has rejected the demand by the former President to hold snap polls to resolve the political standoff as the current environment is not conducive for holding free and fair elections. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has made it clear that India wants to make use of its influence to encourage resolution of the crisis through dialogue. The United States says, it will work with the new Government but is seeking clarification on the transfer of power.
· In Egypt, there is a nationwide strike today. The strikers are demanding immediate exit of military rulers and handing over powers to a civilian administration. However, the military rulers have made it clear that the interim Government led by Prime Minister Kamal El Ganzouri will not be removed.
· Sudan and South Sudan signed a Non Aggression Pact on their disputed border in Addis Ababa. The deal calls for setting up of a monitoring mechanism where either side can lodge complaints in case of border disputes.
· In its latest report on the forecast for global oil demand, the International Energy Agency, IEA says the oil embargo on Iran will not affect the global oil supplies much since the supply is sufficient. On the other hand, the oil demand in developing nations will grow up by 2.8 per cent. This will offset the reduced demands from the industrialized nations.