Shibu Soren resigns
New Delhi, July 24
In keeping with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s directive, Union Coal and Mines Minister Shibu Soren submitted his resignation ringing down the curtain on a week-long drama which had paralysed the functioning of Parliament.

Nation page:
PIL for securing Soren’s presence in trial court
Soren’s resignation eyewash: BJP
Profile: Shibu Soren: A turbulent career

Hostages safe, Kuwaiti firm talks to kidnappers
New Delhi, July 24
National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit today said the government was making all efforts for securing the release of three Indian hostages in Iraq, while External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh met the father of one of the hostages, Antaryami, and assured him that the crisis would be resolved peacefully.

World page: Kenya urges abductors to free hostages Egyptian diplomat taken hostage in Iraq External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh with Mr Ram Murti, father of truck driver Antaryami, who is being held hostage in Iraq, in New Delhi on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

106 Punjabi youths take refuge in Teheran gurdwara

Chandigarh, July 24 As many as 106 Punjabi youth, mostly from the Doaba, financially and mentally broke, are now looking forward to returning home, thanks to the joint efforts of the Sikh community of Teheran and the Indian Embassy in Iran.

A group of Punjabi youth outside a Teheran gurdwara.

Items used in T-72 tanks missing
Mohali, July 24
In what could mean a serious lapse on the part of the Punjab Government, certain items used in the production of a vital component of India’s T-72 tanks have been found missing from a public sector unit here.

Left opposes court order on strikes
New Delhi, July 24
The Left parties today urged the Centre to enact a law for protecting the rights of the people in holding demonstration and opposed the Bombay High Court order that imposed a fine on the Shiv Sena and the BJP for holding a ‘bandh’.

Isolated rain not revival of monsoon Chandigarh, July 24 Isolated showers in some parts of the region do not indicate revival of the monsoon, Met officials said here today. They added that today’s rainfall was not being viewed with significance considering the massive rainfall deficit in various parts of this region. Chandigarh page: Rain pays surprise visit