Daily News Notes

· Prime Minister today announced 100 million US dollars stand by credit facility to the government of Maldives (President Mohemmed Nasheed) to help stabilize its fiscal position (including in the areas of banking and financial infrastructure and capacity building). Both the govt. heads have also signed a frame work agreement on cooperation for development such as trade an investment food security, fisheries development, tourism, transportation, information technology and renewable energy, communications and connectivity. The Memorandum of Understanding signed today by the two foreign secretaries of the countries on combating terrorism, drug trafficking, disaster management and coastal security will provide the framework for expanded cooperation. India will also undertake extensive renovation of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male. India will also support the construction of a National Police Academy in Maldives and explore the possibility of developing a port North of Male.
· The two most vexed issues facing the nation are price rise in essential commodities and petro-products. While it is not possible for the Centre to decrease the price of petro-products because huge subsidies are already being given to the oil companies for sale of fuel at controlled rates. This was reviled by Finance Minister. Suggesting a way to tackle inflation in essential commodities, he said the PDS system should be strengthened.
· Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information and Innovation, Sam Pitroda today said that the education system should be equipped with the latest technology to make it more accessible and economical and thus each education institute in the country should be assigned with an internet protocol address to make the system more transparent. Thus govt. should pass a long pending Education Bill which plays a significant role in upgrading the education infrastructure of the country.
· Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued show cause notice to two news channels (Shara Samay and News 7) over the telecast of a video purportedly showing nurse Bhanwari Devi and former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna in a compromising position.
· The government has proposed two new expressways from Delhi to Jaipur and Delhi to Chandigarh.
· In Jammu and Kashmir, security forces busted a militant hideout and recovered a large quantity of explosive material including 40 kilogram Improvised Explosive Device (IED), three Chinese grenades etc.
· Arab League leaders are meeting in Cairo to discuss the Syrian response to its peace proposal. Arab League ministerial delegation has come out with the action plan which calls for withdrawal of tanks and heavy military vehicles from streets, release of political prisoners, access to Arab League, global and Arab media and a national dialogue with the opposition, While the opposition groups and Human Rights activists have called for international monitors and appealed to Arab League to suspend Syria from its membership and to stop violence.
· Greece's new interim Cabinet was sworn in with former European Central Bank Vice President Lucas Papademos at its helm as prime minister.
· Iran has urged the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,(OPEC) nations to cut the oil production back to pre-Libya crisis volumes which was raised to meet the global demand in the wake of a shortfall in supplies from Libya.
· National Public Service Broadcasting day is being observed today. Prasar Bharati Chairperson Ms. Mrinal Pande said that it was on this day in 1947 when Mahatma Gandhi visited the studios of All India Radio for the first and the last time and spoke to the refuges from Pakistan staying at a camp in Kurukshetra.