Armed forces, BJP against AFSPA dilution; Omar won’t quit

As the Centre grapples with the issue of deciding on withdrawal of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces today made it clear that they would like "legal protection" in dealing with the situation there. A day after CCS called an all-party meeting after deferring a decision on withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said a soldier, to perform his duty efficiently, "deserves all the legal protection" that he could get.

"I am sure the government is sensitised to this problem and whatever decision they will take I am sure it will be the correct one," Naik, who is also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, said when asked for his opinion on the AFSPA, which the government is reportedly considering withdrawing from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir. His views were echoed by senior BJP leader LK Advani accused the Centre of "bending over backwards" to placate secessionists in the Valley.

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US invests in R&D to compete with China, India: Obama

President Barack Obama says his administration had made the largest investment in research and development in history so that the US can compete with China and India and Germany over the long term. Defending his economic policies as the US battles its worst recession in decades, he lashed out at Republicans Monday, saying that an opposition push to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for people making over USD 250,000 is unaffordable.

His administration is "in this wrestling match" with the Republican leadership over whether to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cutes for the richest Americans, Obama said. Doing so would cost another USD 700 billion, "and we just can't afford it," he declared-a slap at Republican cries for fiscal responsibility.

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Court calls for amicable settlement of Ayodhya dispute

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has called upon the rival parties to explore the possibility of a last-minute amicable settlement of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. The court has asked all parties in the title suits to appear on September 17 in this regard. If no reconciliation takes place, the court will go ahead with declaring the verdict on September 24.

The order was passed on an application moved by senior advocate Prashant Chandra on the 125-year old litigation over claims by Hindus and Muslims to the disputed site in Ayodhya. Even as a three-judge special bench of the high court is to pronounce the verdict in the case Sep 24, Justice Dharam Veer Sharma chose to hear the application and pass an order.

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Inflation in August at 8.5%; FM says no room for complacency

The government Tuesday claimed a 1.37 percentage point dip in the politically sensitive inflation, as a new series measured it at 8.5 percent in August, but the Finance Minister said there was no room for complacency. Although the drop is substantial, when measured using the old series, inflation during the month under review works out to 9.5 percent, down from 10 per cent in July.

"Even though the good news of lower inflation is reported today, yet there is no room for complacency... (government) will continue to bring it down further," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier this year said he expects inflation to drop to 6 percent by December.

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ICC plans to start Test league from 2013

In its bid to promote the traditional version of the game in the age of slam bang Twenty20 cricket, the ICC is contemplating of introducing a Test league from where top four teams would qualify for a quadrennial play-off event to begin in 2013. Apart from the Test play-off, the ICC Chief Executives` Committee (CEC), which assembled here for a two-day meeting that concluded today, also recommended an ODI league from next year.

"The Future Tours Programme should consist of a Test league to provide context for all Test matches. The league would determine the top four teams to qualify for an ICC Test play-off. The play-off should be held once every four years to determine the Test champion team with a request to hold the first such play-off in 2013," the ICC said in a statement.

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