Govt keen to soften Armed Forces Special Powers Act
New Delhi, June 20
The Central Government is keen to amend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which will mean reduction in powers for the Army when it operates in anti-militancy operations. According to official sources, the Home Ministry wants certain modifications to speed up the process of sanctioning prosecution for any “guilty” Army officials and also make it more “humane”.

Nation Page: Defence Ministry opposes dilution of the Act

BJP flexes muscles after Nitish snub
Patna/New Delhi, June 20
The BJP and ally JDU today appeared to be on a collision course with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi boycotting Nitish Kumar's functions over Gujarat flood aid row and another BJP leader daring the chief minister to announce snapping of ties if he wished so.

Nation Page:Lalu hits out at Nitish, BJP

2 porters killed, two jawans hurt in Pak firing
Srinagar, June 20
Five days ahead of Home Minister P Chidambaram's visit to Islamabad, Pakistani troops today violated the seven-year-old ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) yet again, firing at Indian positions at Machhil sector in Jammu and Kashmir killing two porters and injuring two jawans.

J&K Page:Pak using Border Action Teams to refuel militancy

Saina wins Singapore Open
Singapore, June 20
Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal put behind a nervy start to clinch the second Super Series title of her career by winning the Singapore Open with a straight-game triumph over qualifier Tzu Ying Tai in the finals here today. (Details on sports page)

Saina Nehwal hits a return against Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying during the women’s singles final of the Singapore Open Super Series 2010 badminton tournament on Sunday. Saina beat Tai 21-18, 21-15 to win her second Super Series title. — AFP

Key man behind train sabotage held
Kolkata, June 20
Bappi Mahato, one of the prime accused in the Gyneshwari superfast train accident on May 28 near Jhargram, West Midnapore, in which 148 passengers had been killed, was arrested today from a private guest house at Jamshedpur. His relative Bimal Mahato along with his wife was also arrested. But the two other accused Ashit Mahato and Umakanto Mahato were still at large.

Question Hour to be made more effective
Srinagar, June 20
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today said some important decisions had been taken recently to make Question Hour more effective from the 5th session of the 15th Lok Sabha. This would meet the long-felt need to regulate Question Hour, Meira Kumar said while inaugurating the 75th All-India Presiding Officers Conference at the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Complex here today.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar at the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Amin War