*CURRENT AFFAIRS (13:02:2014)

1. The direct rail route all the way to foothills of Vaishno Devi
shrine to soon begin operation.
- The construction on Udhampur - Katra section will facilitate the
journey of lakhs of Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
2. Interim Rail Budget for 2014-15 keeps the passenger and freight
fare unchanged.
- 72 new trains, extension of three trains and increase in frequency
of three trains announced.
- It also proposes elimination of all unmanned crossings.
3. India gets a dismal 140th rank among 180 countries in the World
Press Freedom Index 2014.
- Finland has topped the Ranking followed by Netherland and Norway.
- The report, published by Paris-based organisation 'Reporters without
Border', cites violence to muzzle free speech both by state and
non-state actors as a grave concern in India.
- India, though, outperforms neighbours China (175th) and Pakistan
(158th) in the index.
4. Karnataka secures its 5th Irani Trophy by thrashing Rest of India
by an innings and 222 runs in final played in Bangalore.
- The one-match fixture is played annually between the incumbent Ranji
Trophy winner and the Rest of India Team.
5. 103 people died in Algeria in the deadliest air crash since its independence.
- The military aircraft C-130 Hercules crashed into the mountains of
Algeria owing to poor weather conditions.
6. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) launches an Institutional Trading
Platform (ITP) for small and medium enterprises.
- The launch will facilitate the start-up companies and SMEs to list
without IPO.
7. K Raghu has been appointed as the new president of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
- ICAI, the second largest accountancy body in the world, has also
elected its vice-president for 2014-15 in Manoj Fadnis.
8. Pune Metro Rail Project gets 'in principle' approval of Union Urban
Development Ministry.
- It will cover a length of 31.51 km along two corridors.