Daily News Notes

· In Bihar, the conflict over the 3300 MW Super thermal power power plant at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district on land acquisition and rehabilitation has been settled. The state government has agreed to pay over 21 lakh rupees per acre compensation to the farmers instead of the earlier rate rupees 14.62 lakh per acre. Once completed, Bihar will get 70 percent share in power generated by it, while the balance will go to other states of the eastern region.
· Election Commission’s attention has been drawn to a sting “Operation MLA” that was telecast in India TV on 26.01.2012 in which it was alleged that some of the candidates belonging to various political parties are procuring bribe from the corporates, allegedly for the purpose of their election expenditure (between 1-3 crore rupees which includes expense in the name of dummy candidates, liquor for the electors, etc) in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The Commission has taken serious note of the contents of this sting operation and called for the transcript. After considering the transcript, the Commission has taken the following decisions and measures: (1). Any attempt to obtain or procure gratification for exercising any electoral right, including right to stand or not to stand at election, is offence of bribery under IPC. (2). The Commission has reiterated its stand that such bribery under the IPC should be made a cognizable offence.
· In the West African country of Senegal, clashes have erupted in the capital Dakar, after the highest court ruled that Abdoulaye Wade can run for a third presidential term in next month's poll.
· The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, is in Britain to meet Prime Minister David Cameron following France's decision to speed up the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan. President Karzai and Mr. Cameron will sign an agreement setting out how the two countries will work together after British combat troops withdraw in 2014.
· Ministers Anand Sharma of India, Antonio Patriota of Brazil and Rob Davies of South Africa, had a meeting of the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Trade Ministers forum on the sidelines of the 42nd meeting of the World Economic Forum, on January 27, 2012 in Davos, to review the current global financial and economic situation. They recalled the fifth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the IBSA Dialogue Forum that took place in Pretoria in October 2011. They recognized that Brazil, India and South Africa are doing their part to promote growth while maintaining economic stability and successfully fostering social development. The Ministers underlined the importance of resisting protectionist tendencies and underscored the importance that developing countries use WTO consistent measures to achieve their legitimate objectives of growth, development and stability. They also noted that distortions caused by high levels of protection in the form of tariffs and subsidies in agriculture in developed countries continue to undermine the development prospects of developing countries, especially the least developed among them. The Ministers emphasized that “plurilateral initiatives” go against the fundamental principles of transparency, inclusiveness, and multilateralism.
· Victoria Azarenka (of Belarus) holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony after defeating Maria Sharapova in their women's singles final at the Australian Open. It was Azarenka's 2nd title of the year and 10th of her career. It was her first grand slam title.