India, Russia come closer
Manmohan Singh, Putin sign 10 agreements
New Delhi, December 3
India and Russia today moved closer vowing to reconcile their positions on two contentious issues of Russian entry into the WTO and New Delhi according market economy status to Moscow.

In video (28k, 56k) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a word with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference after the two signed a joint declaration in New Delhi on Friday.  — PTI photo

5 jawans killed as ultras storm CRPF camp
Sopore, December 3
Five CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack on their camp at Sopore in north Kashmir today.
In video (28k, 56k)

A jawan takes position during an encounter at Sopore on Friday. — Tribune photo by Amin War

Kashmir still a core issue, says Pervaiz Elahi
Chandigarh, December 3
“Peace is not a choice but a must. It can only be ensured if certain core issues, including Kashmir, are settled at the federal level,” says visiting Chief Minister of West Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi, hoping that a satisfying solution would be found to this problem through continuous dialogue.

World page: India, Pakistan agree to restore rail link
Punjab: World Punjabi Conference ends with promises
Muqabala mohabbat ka hai: Pervaiz Elahi

Demolition act of God, says Kalyan
New Delhi, December 3
Former Utter Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today retracted his statement against top BJP leaders, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi that they were allegedly involved in the Babri Masjid demolition conspiracy, while deposing before the Liberhan Commission.

SC disposes of petition on judges’ mass leave
New Delhi, December 3
The Supreme Court today disposed of a PIL petition on the issue of Punjab and Haryana High Court judges mass leave over alleged differences with its Chief Justice B. K. Roy in April this year, saying the petition had become infructuous.

Punjab page: Justice Roy’s transfer: Mann may move SC

Way cleared for Monica’s extradition
New Delhi, December 3
The Supreme Court of Portugal has turned down the plea of Monica Bedi, girlfriend of underworld don Abu Salem, to quash a lower court’s order to extradite her.

For average Pakistani, sati is still practised in India Back home, do you touch one another?” innocently asked the stringer of an Islamabad-based Urdu daily at Mirpur in “Azad Kashmir”.  A Pakistani student speaking to Indian journalists. — Photo by writer