News Wrap: IAS official returns home; more setbacks for Nupur

- Thirteen days after he was kidnapped by Maoists, Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon was finally received at home by his family. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh was quick to point out that no secret deal had been struck with the rebels to secure his release. As for the negotiations of his release, mediators BD Sharma and Professor Hargopal said that the Maoists had given a list of 5 people, out of whom the government could release any 3.

- In a further setback to Nupur Talwar who has been in Dasna jail since Monday, the Supreme Court refused to intervene with the Ghaziabad sessions court order that refused her bail. The court will however, continue hearing a petition by the Talwars challenging a decision that cites them as the main respondents in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case.

- Air India became the first airlines to be issued a penalty since since the US Department for Transportation’s new airline consumer rules took effect in August, 2011. The airlines has been fined $80,000 for failing to post customer service and tarmac delay contingency plans on its Web site.

- Regional cinema dominated the top honours at the National Awards, with Girish Kulkarni receiving the best actor for Marathi film Deool and Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee being awared the Dadasahab Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement. But it was Bollywood’s bold and beautiful Vidya Balan kept the Hindi film industry in the reckoning, receiving the best actress trophy for The Dirty Picture.

- Over to world news, and trouble in Egypt again as thousands of Egyptians flocked to Tahrir square in Cairo, demanding the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to step down and hold a fair presidential election as scheduled.

- Facebook said it will sell 337.41 million shares and the initial public offering (IPO) price will be between $28 and $35 per share.At this range, the company will be valued at between $77 billion and $96 billion.

- Samsung’s latest Galaxy- the galaxy SIII- is creating a huge buzz. The phone has a high-definition touch screen that’s nearly twice the size of the iPhone, while being thinner and lighter. Even so, with that size, will we have to re-invent our pockets?

- Finally, Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has dismissed as speculation reports that he has emerged as a frontrunner in the race for presidential election, though the buzz that he is the front runner is growing. Keep following us for what happens next.