Diesel prices to be decontrolled: PM
Subsidy to continue on LPG, kerosene
On Board PM's Special Aircraft, June 29
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said diesel prices, too, will be freed from government control as part of "much-needed reforms" but LPG and kerosene will continue to be subsidised. He did not say by when the diesel prices will be decontrolled, but said LPG and kerosene prices will continue to be regulated by the government.

Nation page: Call for Bharat Bandh on July 5

The Prime Minister addressing the media. — PTI

Naxals kill 26 CRPF men
Raipur, June 29
Maoists today shot dead 26 CRPF personnel and wounded eight others in an ambush in a remote area of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district in the latest of a series of deadly attacks by the ultra-Left activists.

An injured CRPF personnel at a Bastar hospital late Tuesday evening. — AFP

Violence spreads in Valley
3 more killed in Anantnag
Srinagar, June 29
With violence spreading to south Kashmir, at least three youths were killed and five injured allegedly in firing by the CRPF during clashes in Anantnag town today.

Nation page: PC tells J&K govt to act tough Editorial:Valley at boiling point Policemen remove bricks and stones from a road a day after violent clashes with protesters in Srinagar on Tuesday. — PTI

Kandhamal: 7-year jail for BJP MLA
Phulbani (Orissa), June 29
Sitting BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan was today sentenced to a seven-year rigorous imprisonment by a fast-track court in a case of murder during the 2008 communal riots in Kandhamal in Orissa. Fast-track court-I judge SK Das awarded the sentence to Pradhan after convicting him for his role in the murder of Parikhita Digal, a Christian from Budedi village, under the Raikia police station limit on August 27, 2008.

No HC relief for Rathore
Wife-cum-counsel alleges hanky panky in case listing, next hearing tomorrow
Chandigarh, June 29
Haryana’s former Director-General of Police SPS Rathore’s wife-cum-counsel Abha Rathore today alleged “hanky panky” in the listing of cases, as his appeal against conviction and sentence could not be taken up for detailed hearing. With this, it is clear that Rathore will remain behind bars for another few days, at least.

New Oz migration rules to hit 15,000 students
New Delhi, June 29
The controversial amendments to the Australian migration system, likely to affect nearly 15,000 Indian students in the Kangaroo land, are all set to come into force from July 1. Australia has slashed the existing Skilled Occupations List (SOL) from 400 skills to just 181 for vocational courses and jobs, which are the prerequisites for getting permanent resident status and student visas Down Under.