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.

New Delhi, Oct 16 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for the construction of a Greenfield Airport in Sikkim''s Pakyong town.

The new greenfield airport with a 1700 meter long runway and two parking bays will be operational for ATR 72 type of aircraft in fair weather condition.

The terminal building would be able to handle 100 passengers (50 arriving and 50 departing) at a time.

Sikkim is a land locked State with connectivity only by road. It is also one of the two States in the country, which has no civil airport. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra.

New Delhi, Oct 16 : Inflation fell to 11.44 per cent for the week ending October 4 due to decline in oil prices and manufactured goods.

In the previous week the inflation was 11.80 per cent.

The index for fuel prices declined by 1.1 per cent on account of lower prices of naphtha, aviation turbine fuel and furnace oil.

In manufactured goods category, wholesale prices, declined by 0.5 per cent on account of cheaper imported edible oil, steel, pig iron and lead ingots.

New Delhi, Oct 16 : The US Chief of Army Staff, General George W Casey, who is on a three-day visit to India, received a ceremonial welcome here today.

Casey was received by Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor and is scheduled to visit the Siachen Glacier base camp near Leh.

That apart, the defence establishment will hold a lengthy discussion with General Casey on the emerging security scenario in South Asia, particularly in the wake of heightened tension along the Pak-Afghan border.

General Casey is expected to hold talks with the top brass of the Indian defence forces on ways to further enhance bilateral military relations between New Delhi and Washington.

New Delhi, Oct 16 : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who underwent a gall bladder surgery at a hospital here, was discharged today.

The Nobel Laureate underwent a successful surgery. He was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital last Thursday to remove gallbladder stones.

A smiling Dalai Lama waved to people as he left the hospital.

Pradeep Chowbey, the Dalai Lama''s doctor, said that the Tibetan spiritual leader is hale and hearty.