A herd of cows crowds around a truck waiting for fodder in the outskirts of Bhachau in Gujarat on Wednesday. Thousands of cows are being moved to a cow shelter for fodder following the death of their owners in the January 26 earthquake. 
— Reuters photo

MAJITHA BYELECTION
Proxy pension camps to woo voters
MAJITHA, Feb 7 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has found a novel way to woo voters of this constituency. As the aged were running from pillar to post to get their pensions sanctioned, activists of the SAD have spread all over the constituency to hold “proxy pension camps” where forms are being filled. 

Cong leaders meet Gill
NEW DELHI, Feb 7 — Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill has assured a delegation of Punjab Congress leaders that their complaints pertaining to the Majitha byelection would be looked into and corrective measures taken.

Sharon to be new Israeli PM
TEL AVIV, Feb 7 — Right-wing Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon today scored a landslide victory over Prime Minister Ehud Barak to become the 11th Premier of Israel. Sharon, who trounced Barak by around 24 points in a stunning turnaround, called for establishment of a national unity government to restore security to Israel and peace in West Asia.

• Edit: Israel votes out peace
  IN his campaign for re-election caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak used to tell the voters that they had to choose between war and peace. On Wednesday the Israel voters gave their verdict, which was overwhelmingly against Mr Barak and his West Asian peace policy.
  
  

3 ministers accused of abduction
DHARAMSALA, Feb 7 — The Kangra Zila Parishad election may cast its shadow on the winter sojourn of the Chief Minister as the Congress today threatened to launch an agitation, alleging abduction and harassment of two other Backward Classes women members by some ministers to prevent them from casting their votes.

President accepts PMK ministers’ resignations 
NEW DELHI, Feb 7 — The resignations of the two PMK ministers—Mr N.T.Shanmugham and Mr E.Ponnuswamy—were accepted by the President here today. 

Youngest MCSE female pro
CHANDIGARH, Feb 7 — At 12, she became the world’s youngest female Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Internet expert. And today she is one of the successful freelancers in macromedia flash, creating fully flash interactive websites, introductions and high-impact interactive presentations.

78-yr anti-liquor tradition DHAPALI (Bathinda), Feb 7 — Unknown to the outside world, power of the people has prevailed in this village for the past 78 years in keeping the liquor shop away. This village has not any liquor shop since 1922. Every time the government dangled the bottle, the people led by women successfully battled to get the shop shifted away from the village.