HEADLINES

• Blockade in Manipur reaches its 100th day
• TMC says it won't compromise on the petrol price rise issue. Outside support may be an option
• Quake in Afghanistan's Hindukush region; impact felt in north India

NATIONAL NEWS

• Outdated 1894 land acquisition act should go, says court
  • The bench of the Supreme Court has called for a replacement of the land acquisition act 1894 as it does not provide for rehabilitation of persons who are displaced from their land although their livelihood is affected by compulsory acquisition;
  • The court said that they expect the lawmaking process for a comprehensive enactment with regard to acquisition of land being completed without any unnecessary delay.
• Fukushima-like accident can be avoided at Kudankulam – former president Kalam
  • Kalam visited the Kudandulam nuclear plant and highlighting the safety features, asserted that a Fukushima like accident can be avoided here;
  • He said that the plant has installed 154 hydrogen recombiners across the plant, which can absorb any leaked hydrogen and prevent structural damage. The most advanced safety feature of the plant is the installation of the Passive Heat Removal System (PHRS) which ensures rapid cooling in the event of a reactor problem;
  • The PHRS is a unique steam re-circulating system, which can continue to cool the plant in the event of the failure of AC power and even when the worst coolant malfunction takes places. The plant is built to withstand earthquakes of 6 on the Richter scale;
  • To counter any risk from tsunami and cyclones, the plant was elevated to a minimum height of 6-9.3 metres for various machinery.
• Russia to present 'Order of Friendship' award, the highest civilian award for promoting cultural ties between Russia and other countries, to Tamil writer – D.Jayakanthan, who is famous for translating many works of Russian author Pushkin into Tamil

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Russian power boost for Pakistan, Afghanistan
  • Russia's PM Putin has offered at least USD 500 million to invest in a central asian electricity project which will provide energy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The offer was made at the first day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet at St.Petersburg;
  • The Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Trade and Transmission Project (CASA 1000), is one of the projects that is being discussed by the proposed energy club of the SCO.
  • CASA 1000 is a project whereby hydropower rich Krygyzstan and Tajikistan will export 1000MW of electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan and Russia is investing in this project.
• Greek PM, George Papandreou to step down from power in a deal reached as part of the confidence vote – this win in the no-confidence vote saved the country from going to elections again but would mean that a new Govt would be set up under the deal of the political parties

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Here is a good article from Paul Krugman on the risks of fracking and why we should harness solar energy

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

• Post office savings deposits to earn higher interest
  • Govt has increased the interest rate from 3.5% to 4% on deposits without fixed maturity. Further, interest rates of small saving instruments such as the National Savings Certificate will be indirectly linked to the market and the rates may be applied retrospectively from July 1 of this year. The next set of rates will be announced in April 1 of next year;
  • This move has been made to deal with the freeing up of savings bank rates by the RBI which has resulted in persons moving funds from post offices to savings bank accounts;
  • The Govt is also proposing to withdraw the Kisan Vikas Patras, a popular plan, which allows the investors to make their investments and get 8 and a half percent return and assured of double the amount in 9 years. The plan and subscription for Kisan Vikas Patra is available at every post office.