Daily News Notes

· India has urged the ASEAN countries for the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment sectors by March 2012 and emphasized that this would create a positive atmosphere for the implementation of the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. There is already India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement for Trade in Goods with all ASEAN Member States. India’s trade with ASEAN has increased by 30 per cent last year and has crossed the 50 billion US dollars mark (70 billion US dollars by 2012). Dr Singh pushed for early signing of tourism cooperation agreement between ASEAN and India apart from India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway project and its extension to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, and invites its member to participate Nalanda University project. The Prime Minister welcomed the growing cooperation with ASEAN on maritime security, counter-terrorism, training, exercises and disaster management and said that East Asia Summit should pursue the agenda of environmentally sustainable development, renewable energy technologies, education and skill development. Indian Economy has grown at an average of 8.4 per cent since last five years.
· The Prime Minister held bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Australia Ms Julia Gillard who assured to take all steps to see that the ban on the sale of uranium to India was lifted and to prevent attacks on Indian students studying in Australia.
· Leaders of China, Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) held a trilateral summit in Bali to explore ways to further trilateral cooperation and discuss regional and international issues of common concern.
· US President Barack Obama held talks today with China's Premier Wen Jiabao, after a week of sharp exchanges between the two nations following public spats over currency, trade and a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The high-level encounter came after Obama escalated US rhetoric towards China, saying that as the world's second-biggest economy, Beijing needs to start playing by international rules of the road in finance and trade.
· Ms. Clinton has ruled out lifting sanctions on Myanmar and said more concrete steps need to be taken by the new government in the country. She will be the first US Secretary of State to travel to Myanmar in 50 years, in which she is going to meet pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
· Border extradition treaty, management issues, human trafficking, smuggling of narcotics and checking infiltration of illegal immigrants dominate the two day Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh that began in New Delhi this morning. India is also likely to press for early deportation of ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who is reportedly in a Dhaka jail since his arrest in 1997.
· Bihar's legislators (including speaker) will now have to declare their assets annually under new norm. Only Ministers and officials had to do so until now. CM soon enforced a similar norm for officials, including IAS and IPS.
· Kerala Chief Minister Ommen Chandy today said, the safety issue of the Mullperiyar dam is being viewed seriously in the wake of tremors experienced in Idukki region yesterday.
· on 94th birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, The 27th Indira Marathon was organized today in Allahahabd. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Ajay Maken also presented Indira Gandhi National Social Service Awards 2010-11. Government had instituted Indira Gandhi National Social Service Awards in 1993 to recognize the Volunteer Service rendered by NSS volunteers.
· Reacting to claims made by former cricketer Vinod Kambli regarding fixation of 1996 World Cup semi final, the sports Minister asserted that Indian Cricket board, BCCI should launch an investigation into the matter. Government will also come with a strong anti-match fixing law.
· India has made a thumping entry into the finals of the 2nd World Cup Kabaddi by beating Italy.
· Rupee has depreciated to a new 32-month low against the US dollar and atood at 51.34 rupees per dollar