22 killed as bus hits tree near Ferozepore
Behak Pacchadian (Ferozepore), July 4
As many as 22 persons were killed and 14 injured, some of them seriously, when the chartered bus they were travelling in from Jalalabad town of this district to Dera Beas in Amritsar district hit a tree at a blind curve near this village on the Zira-Makhu road early this morning.

Town mourns death of its residents Chandigarh page: Verma, CM express grief The bus that hit a tree in Ferozepore district on Sunday. — Photo by Anirudh Gupta

PM ready for debate on ‘tainted’ ministers
Govt going the Hitler way, says Opposition
New Delhi, July 4
With the Budget session beginning tomorrow likely to be stormy, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today appealed to the Opposition to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament and expressed his readiness to debate all issues, including “tainted” ministers.
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BJP’s stir from tomorrow
Nation page: Advani calls sack of governors grave issue

3 killed in firing in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, July 4
Three persons, including two barbers and a vegetable vendor, were allegedly shot dead and two others were found missing when a group of gunmen opened fire at them in Shakti Nagar near Basti Jodhewal at 10.30 pm here.

Greeks script Euro victory
	Sports page: Greece stun Portugal to complete odyssey Greece's Angelos Haristeas (centre) celebrates his goal against Portugal with team-mates during the Euro 2004 final at Lisbon's Luz stadium on Sunday. — Reuters

Muslim board to launch awareness drive on talaq
Kanpur, July 4
In the backdrop of debate over triple talaq system among Muslims, the community’s Personal Law Board today discussed the sensitive issue and said it would launch a public awareness campaign focussing on social reforms.

Amarinder, HP CM meet Sonia on downsizing
New Delhi, July 4
The Central leadership of the Congress continued to grapple with the issue of downsizing of ministries in the party-ruled states with the party chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, having parleys today with chief ministers.

Season of suicides takes its toll in Southern Punjab Moonak (Sangrur), July 4 Less than a fortnight ago, Bhagwan Singh, 38, a “landlord” of Gobindpura Jawaharwala, a village in southern Sangrur, tried to kill himself. Using a method followed by many before him, he took a large swig of pesticide he used in his fields.