Daily News Notes

· Both the Houses of Parliament today took up the discussion on corruption. Dr. Joshi asserted that black money stashed in foreign banks should be brought back and the culprits should be punished. He also alleged that in the last several years, the menace of corruption at the Centre and in States has risen to alarming proportions. Participating in the debate the Congress member K.S. Rao said all governments are responsible for the level of corruption. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today said that the Parliament session may be extended to facilitate the passage of a strong Lokpal bill.
· According to team Anna, differences persisted mainly on three issues- bringing junior bureaucracy under the Jan Lokpal's ambit, establishment of Lokayukta in all the states for state government employees and a citizen's charter in every department to decide on a time frame for completing a particular job. Anna, has, however, refused to be put on a drip even after the doctors suggested him to be hospitalised.
· The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today assured the Lok Sabha that there will be no compromise on safety of plants producing energy. On terror threat to the nuclear plants he said a holistic approach needs to be adopted.
· India and Bangladesh have agreed to work constructively towards resolving differences to demarcate the land boundary. Both the sides have also agreed to take steps necessary to facilitate the process of exchange of enclaves. The Minister admitted that there are undemocratic stretches of about 6.1 Km between the two countries.
· The government will soon bring in a new National Manufacturing Policy to boost industrial growth in the country. The Minister said the government is planning to develop small industrial cities in seven states through which the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor passes.
· The government has formed a committee to look into the modalities of extending concession to distant relatives of Air India employees on travel by the national carrier.
· Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal has said that the government has implemented a number of reforms to provide quality education. These include uniform syllabus across the country, independent appointment of Vice Chancellors and Choice Based Credit Systems, CBCS.
· The government will focus on faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth during the 12th plan. In 11th five year plan, a number of employment oriented schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, (MGNREGA), Swaran jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Swaran Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana and Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme are being implemented.
· In its continuing drive against corruption, the Bihar government has decided to reward informers who give correct information on corruption against public servants.
· In Mizoram, two suspected insurgents of Dimasa rebel outfit were arrested in the capital last night.
· Rebel fighters have seized Muammar Gaddafi's compound in the capital, Tripoli, and are celebrating what they consider a major victory over the Libyan leader and his loyalist troops. A NATO spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, told reporters in Brussels that NATO's mission in Libya is not over, and that it will continue the military operations until all attacks and threats of attacks against civilians have stopped.
· A New York judge has dismissed the sexual assault case against former IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
· Pudducherry is one of the few states where medical education is provided free of cost and fees of engineering students selected through governments centac are reimbursed. Free Laptops, Washing machines, waiver of outstanding housing loan upto one lakh are schemes that could further drain the finances of the exchequer, but the government maintains that these sops are necessary for ensuring inclusive growth.
· Former captain of Indian Football Team, striker Baichung Bhutia today announced his retirement from international sports. The 34 year old, who had an illustrious 16 year old career, was struggling with injuries in the past one year. Baichung however, will continue to play for his club United Sikkim FC which he founded.
· Indians in the United Arab Emirates have been urged to respect local sensitivities and laws when reacting to happenings in their home country.(Anna Hazare)
· The government is trying to revise the existing Bilateral Visa Agreement with Pakistan to ease travel between the two countries. S. M. Krishna said that a proposal to increase the number of pilgrims under 'Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines' has been pursued with the government of Pakistan for over six years.