New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for moving necessary amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill, 2005 pending in Rajya Sabha.

The bill will help to prevent spread of economically important infectious and contagious diseases from one part of the country to another.

It will help to establish "Controlled" and "Eradicated areas" within the country in order to reduce economic losses on account of major economically important infectious and contagious diseases of livestock.

New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for inclusion of maternity benefit in the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana subject to the condition that the premium is within the existing limit of Rs. 750 per beneficiary.

The modification would be applicable with immediate effect.

This would encourage institutional delivery of infants among the Below Poverty Line'' (BPL) workers.

Washington, Oct. 16: A fast-growing anti-Republican wave threatens to significantly shrink the party''s ranks in Congress.

According to the Washington Times, nearly a dozen Senate Republicans are locked in tight races with Democrats.

Analysts and operatives agree that such a change could put Democrats within reach of a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority.

Democrats also are poised to make significant gains in the House, where they now have a 36-seat majority in the 435-member chamber.

Analysts are predicting that Republicans could lose as many as 30 additional seats, which are nearly double recent expectations for net losses.

Brussels - The French government on Thursday was pushing for a European Union deal on fighting climate change in December, despite persistent opposition from Poland, official documents revealed.

Poland on Wednesday threatened to veto a draft EU summit statement if it involved a pledge to approve a sweeping package of laws on fighting climate change in December.

But after a night of intensive negotiations, the French government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, set out a new draft summit statement insisting that EU member states "reaffirm that (their) objective is to reach agreement in December."

New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Winter Session of parliament will begin on Friday. The session will have 24 sittings spread over 36 days till November 21.

During the sitting, 71 legislative, two financial and one non-legislative items have been identified to be taken up.

Sixteen bills would be introduced, including the Prevention of Corruption Amendment bill, the Representation of the People, second amendment bill, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education bill and Prevention of Money Laundering amendment bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayliar Ravi said, the opposition parties have been requested to cooperate with the Government in completing the listed business during the session.

Wellington - Winston Peters, leader of the nationalist New Zealand First party and former foreign minister, vowed Thursday to fight to cut immigration if he is in the government after next month's general election.

"Immigration numbers will be cut to ensure Kiwis do not have to compete with immigrants for jobs as our economy goes into decline," he said at a campaign meeting in Nelson, a coastal city on the north end of the South Island.

"When times are tough internationally, immigrants are attracted to New Zealand like moths to a neon light," Peters said.