National:

AI threatens to stop flying to North-east Air India has threatened to stop flying to the North-east from January 1, if immediate steps are not taken to address the issue of non-payment of nearly Rs. 100 crore by the North East Council (NEC) to it in the last two years. If the threat materialises, thousands of passengers flying from Tezpur, Lilabari and Shillong will be badly hit. The non-payment has also led Air India subsidiary Alliance Air not renew the lease of three turboprop ATR planes operating to these cities. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnans Mysore bungalow restored to past glory The majestic bungalow that was the residence of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, when he was a professor and taught Philosophy at the University of Mysore, has been restored to its original glory. Slated for inauguration this is the first positive news of significance on the heritage conservation front in a city that suffered the shock of the collapse of another landmark structure in Lansdowne Building early this year. Argentine honour for Peter Hassan Honorary Consul for Russian Federation (Hyderabad), Peter Toghrille Hassan, who is also Adviser, Strategy and Planning, FICCI, has been chosen for the Order de Mayo-Officer of the Order, the highest Civilian Award of the Republic of Argentina. Bravery of a different kind On September 27, 2009, 20-year-old Rukhsana Kousar of upper Kalsi, a Class X dropout, had done ever since the insurgency broke out around her birth in 1989. With an axe, she hacked to death a Lashkar-eTaiba terrorist Abu Usama, forcing two other armed intruders to flee from her home. She became the first National Bravery Award recipient from Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. SpiceJet to expand international network Domestic low cost carrier SpiceJet has announced that it will launch flights from Delhi to Guangzhou, China and Delhi to Riyadh from early next year. India-born doctor faces resentencing An India-born doctor sentenced to life in prison for a 2009 bombing that nearly killed the head of the Arkansas state medical board should be resentenced on some convictions, a federal appeals court ruled. A jury convicted Randeep Mann in 2010 of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and other charges. The February 4, 2009, bomb attack took away Dr. Trent Pierces sense of smell and left him blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. Indira Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Development at Oxford University approved As a tribute to the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, the government gave an in-principle approval for setting up of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville College, University of Oxford. Mrs. Gandhi was a student of Somerville College. An inter-ministerial committee is already in place to discuss the proposal. Pakistan Senate chairman backs frequent exchanges Visiting Pakistan Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari backed frequent exchanges between Parliamentarians of both countries to create a better atmosphere for resolving all outstanding issues. Mr. Bokhari is leading a seven-member delegation of Senate members including three from the minority community on a five-day visit.

International:
Hamas chief Meshaal in Gaza on first-ever visit Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal made his first visit to Gaza kissing the ground and saying he hoped he would one day die a martyr in the Palestinian territory.

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Taliban hires on Facebook Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has created a Facebook page to recruit writers for a planned quarterly magazine and to work on video editing and translation. The Umar Media TTP page, with nearly 290 likes, had a message posted on November 22 seeking writers for Ahyah-e-Khilafat.

Business and economy:

Panel slashes base price by 30 % for unsold spectrum A ministerial panel on telecom decided to lower the base price of spectrum in the 1800 Mhz band by 30 per cent in four circles for a fresh auction this fiscal. This is a suggestion that could fetch the exchequer Rs. 6,200 crore. These four circles Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka and Rajasthan were some of the most expensive circles in last months 2G spectrum auction and had attracted no bidders. ADB lowers India growth forecast to 5.4 per cent The Asian Development Bank (ADB) cut Indias growth forecast to 5.4 per cent in 2012-13, barely two months after it had made a projection of 5.6 per cent growth for the Asias third largest economy.

Sports:
Gayathry reigns in 100m hurdles Tamil Nadus G. Gayathry bagged the gold medal in 100 metres hurdles in a timing of 14.0 seconds on day three of the National womens sports competitions at Chennai.

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