L A T E S T      N E W S

Maoists release Italian hostage 

NEW DELHI: The Maoists have finally released Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco who was in their captivity since March 14. According to TV channels, the Maoists relased Paolo in Mohona village of Odisha.

Earlier, there were reports that the Maoists have set a new demand for the release of the Italian hostage. TV reports claimed that the Maoists wanted the release of Aarti Manjhi before freeing Paolo. Aarti Manjhi's bail plea is likely to come up for hearing in court later today.

There was suspense over the release of the Italain hostage since Thursday morning with some reports suggesting that he might have been released on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda had welcomed some steps taken by the Odisha government and had hinted at release of the Italian hostage.

SC upholds Right to Education Act 

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the various provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009. The apex court ruled that the act would apply to all categories of public and private schools except unaided minority schools.
The SC judgement makes it clear that all schools will have to keep aside 25% of seats for poor children. The SC said the judgement would come into effect from today.
The SC said the RTE Act will not apply to those institutions run by minority organisations and which do not receive a single penny as aid either from the government or local bodies.

Pawar writes angry note to PM 

NEW DELHI: Irked by curbs on milk, cotton and sugar exports, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating that the government's policies are hurting farmers who are being asked to subsidise the industry.

Pawar wrote to the Prime Minister on Tuesday, a day after group of ministers disallowed cotton export beyond 13 million bales for the current marketing year.

He strongly criticised Food Ministry headed by K V Thomas and the Textile Ministry under the charge of Anand Sharma for the policies which are "ambivalent" and go against farmers. Describing restriction on cotton exports as "retrograde", the NCP chief said: "Indian cotton farmers should not be asked to bear the burden of subsidising the textile mills.