India need 193 to win
Sports page: Sensational Agarkar wrecks Aussies   India’s Ajit Agarkar celebrates after dismissing Australia’s Stuart MacGill to end the Australian second innings and finish with six wickets during the fourth day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday. India are 37 for no loss, requiring a further 193 runs to win after Australia were all out for 196 runs in their second innings. — Reuters photo

Defiant dissidents threaten to resign today
New Delhi, December 15
The Congress Central leaders were today working overtime to resolve the week-long crisis in the party’s Punjab unit following reports that the dissident ministers and legislators were threatening to resign en masse on Tuesday.

Punjab page:
Sukhbir rushes to Delhi to counter Cong propaganda
BSP for dissolution of Punjab Assembly

4 NCP rebels in Lapang govt
P.A. Sangma blames Congress for crisis
Shillong, December 15
With the induction of four of the six rebel National Congress Party MLAs into the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government this evening, the size of the D.D. Lapang-led Council of Ministers rose to 42, including 10 Ministers of State.

Pak army insider behind attack
New Delhi, December 15
Yesterday’s failed attempt on the life of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has the hallmarks of a wheels-within-wheels conspiracy which indicate that Gen Musharraf’s potential assassins may be in the Pakistan army itself.

Rain boosts rabi prospects Chandigarh, December 15 The first winter rain across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh has gladdened. the farmers. Farm experts said the rain was likely to augment the area under dry crops like gram, pulses, oilseed and even wheat. Farmers could hope to get better wheat and other rabi crops this year. Himachal page: Heavy snow, region shivers  under cold wave