55 injured as militants blow up Army vehicle
Jammu, December 30
In renewed spate of violence just four days before the SAARC summit in Pakistan, terrorists, blew up an Army vehicle with an IED, injuring 55 soldiers and three civilians at Lawapora on the Srinagar Baramula highway today.

Troops stand near the damaged bus after a landmine explosion at Lawaypora, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday. 
— Tribune photo by Amin War

Foreign Secys to resolve differences
Islamabad, December 30
Foreign Secretary D. Shashank and his counterparts from other SAARC countries will begin a two-day meeting here tomorrow to resolve differences on terrorism and other issues in the draft declaration circulated by Pakistan ahead of the 12th summit of the regional grouping.
In video (28k, 56k)

Advance team in Pak for security tie-up
IA’s inaugural flight to Pak on Jan 9  video (28k, 56k)
Vajpayee may meet Pervez, says Shashank
LoC no solution to Kashmir, says Pervez
Punjab page: Pak must act to fight terror: Shashank
World page: USA for Indo-Pak conciliation on Kashmir

BJP to consult allies on early poll: Advani
Mumbai, December 30
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today said that the BJP was in favour of early Lok Sabha elections and that it would consult with its alliance partners in the National Democratic Alliance government before taking a final decision on the issue.
In video (28k, 56k)

Sonia meets Surjeet, speaks to Karunanidhi
New Delhi, December 30
Following up on her public declaration on the formation of a national secular alliance, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today took the first concrete step in that direction.

Sonia must lead on forging alliances: Pranab report
Editorial: Looking for allies

Daler gets bail in absence of evidence
Patiala, December 30
In a complete about-turn, the Patiala police, which had accused pop star Daler Mehndi of being involved in human trafficking, today claimed there was no evidence against him, helping the singer to get bail in the case.

Judeo tape is authentic, says forensic lab New Delhi, December 30 In a setback to former Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo, ahead of the Lok Sabha poll, the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory is understood to have confirmed to the CBI that the videotape showing him accepting cash is “authentic” and not “doctored”.