Daily News Notes

· The Law Minister, Mr. Salman Khurshid said that 71 CBI courts will be set up to fast-track anti-corruption cases for more than 10 years and make recommendations for their speedy disposal or withdrawal. Ten thousand such cases are pending at present. Time-limit of three months has also been set to grant sanction for prosecution against tainted officials. He also said that Ministers will no longer have discretionary powers in allotment of land, petrol pumps and telephones barring the cases of compensation to victims of Maoist violence or war widows.
· National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said that India is developing a doctrine for use of force in maritime security beyond its shores, and thus continue developing its maritime capabilities and fulfill its responsibilities in contributing to security in the Indian Ocean littoral. Observing that the country is willing to work with its Asian partners for enhancing security of the region if they have a similar desire.
· The President(during India-Austria delegation meet in Vienna ) said that India has been focused on improving its infrastructure, and investments of close to one trillion US Dollars would be required in the coming years, to implement these plans. This provides an excellent investment opportunity for foreign companies. Power, roads, railways, airports and ports are all India’s overarching priorities. Austria is known for the high quality of its research institutions oriented to industry and commercial application. India has also successful in many frontier areas - space, nuclear energy, Information Technology and bio-technology, among others. She hoped that there will be great opportunities for expansion of trade in goods and services
· India and Iran have agreed to set up a mechanism for payment of crude oil and ensure bilateral trade. Iran is second only to Saudi Arabia as an oil supplier to India, while India is Iran's second-biggest crude buyer after China, accounting for about 20 per cent of its exports.
· India has strongly pitched for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, CCIT to further strengthen the anti-terror legal framework as convention is at an advance stage of consideration before the UN. Terrorists had become truly globalize, to give effect to their sinister plans, they recruited in one country, raised funds in another and operated in others, advocates their own ideologies and had developed global logistical supply chains and trans-national financial support systems. India is party to 13 global conventions and protocols on terrorism thus support zero tolerance towards terrorism, and that no cause or grievance whatsoever, could justify terrorism.
· Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has said that the signing of the strategic partnership agreement with India had only put in words what they have been doing all these years which include India’s offer of over 2000 scholarships for Afghan students, built roads and the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, raised power transmission lines from North Afghanistan to Kabul and built the Parliament building, India will train the Afghan army and other security personnel. He also advocated a free South Asian region where there is no restriction on the movement of people, goods and services.
· India today proposed to set up a Indo-Japan science centre to strengthen safety measures at all its nuclear power plants in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident.
· In the biggest catch of the year, heroin worth 135 crore rupees in the international market has been seized on the Indo-Pak border at Attari by BSF personnel.
· Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai is leaving on a two day visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday. He will review the progress made during the meeting of the 4th India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries, developmental projects being taken up in various parts of Northern Sri Lanka under Government of India's assistance and global, regional and bilateral issues with Sri Lanka.
· Steve Jobs, the founder and former CEO of Apple company died in the US yesterday. Jobs invented and masterfully marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone.
· The Delhi Government has called a meeting with all stake holders today to discuss the issue of prevalence of Super bug in the city as study by Gangaram hospital has found prevalence of such a virus.
· Asian Games gold-medallist Vikas Krishan was the lone Indian boxer to assure the country of a medal at the Wold Championship.
· The Maharashtra government yesterday decided to put a complete ban on sale of hookah and other tobacco products at restaurants and eating joints in the state under the provisions of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition) Act. The action of the state government comes in the backdrop of a public interest litigation filed by an NGO.