HEADLINES

• Centre differs with Omar on the AFSPA on the question as to who has authority to lift the operation of the act in J&K
• 2G trial kicks off in the CBI special court on Friday; Court rejects Raja's plea to defer hearing as other aspects of the case (Loop telecom-Essar deal) are still being investigated
• Kingfisher airlines seeks bailout along the lines of that provided to Air India but Govt refuses to bail out the private airline
• Nepal to host next SAARC summit

NATIONAL NEWS

• Train fares to go up with fuel prices
  • Increase in train fares will now become a continuous process, rising as and when fuel prices go up. Further, Tatkal tickets may only be booked a day ahead of the journey. Base prices of tickets may also go up. These changes will come into effect within a week;
  • The fares would have a fuel adjustment component (FAC) which will be shown on the ticket. As and when the fares ior the government administered prices increase the fuel component on the ticket will automatically increase. This will be based on a formula determined by the Railway ministry;
  • The Railway Minister also announced the setting up of a Railway Station Development Corporation for roping in the private sector to create various facilities at stations. The objective is to generate revenue to sustain the railways and push up the demand.
• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for more power, water for nuclear stations
  • A committee appointed by the AERB has recommended extended and enhanced availability of power and water for all the nuclear power stations in the country in light of the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear plant.
• Govt notifies the Justice Majithia wage board recommendations for journalists and other employees of newspapers and new agencies. The board was constituted in 2007 and the wage increase will be applicable from July 1, 2010
• First university for physically challenged to be opened today
  • The university has been opened in Lucknow, UP and named after late Dr.Shankutala Mishra, mother of Satish Chand Mishra, the General secretary of the BSP. It is called the Viklang Uddhar Dr Shankutala Mishra Vishvidhayala;
  • The centre has been promising to open a university for the disabled for the pat 15 years but it has never materialised. UP has more than 35 lakh physically challenged persons and only a small percentage of them are successful in completing higher education.
• Rustom-1 completes fifth flight
  • Indigenously designed and developed unmanned aerial vehicle, Rustom-1 finished its 5th flight in Bangalore. The medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (Male UAV) was developed by the DRDO with the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). It had its maiden flight in 2010;
  • The army is interested in the Rustom-1 as it has potential in military missions like reconnaisance and surveillance, target acquisition, target designation, communications relay, battle damage assessment and signal intelligence;
  • The vehicle can attain a maximum speed of 150 knots, 22000ft altitude and 12-15 hours endurance with an operating range of 250kms.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Australian base for US troops as fear of China grows
  • US president Obama will be visiting Australia next week and will also announce the stationing of US marines at Darwin, in a sign of heightened concerns about China.
• Impasse over Palestine's UN membership continues as the UN delays the vote. Palestine would have needed 2/3rd majority of the 15 members. US could also use its veto right
• Iran looks to Russia for collaboration on security, economic, political and intelligence sectors in an agreement signed between the two countries. This could also mean revival of a nuclear dialogue between the countries