15 dead, 90 hurt in Pulwama blast

Srinagar, June 13 A powerful explosion rocked Pulwama in South Kashmir today, killing at least 15 persons and injuring over 90 others, many of them seriously. Many shops, houses and vehicles were damaged in the explosion.
Books and shoes of schoolchildren lie scattered in a classroom after an explosion in Pulwama, 39 km south of Srinagar, on Monday. — Reuters photo In video (28k, 56k)

Geelani condemns blast, seeks probe Nation page: Patil reviews J&K security

Pataudi moves HC, says he is being implicated
Chandigarh, June 13
Former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi has denied his involvement in the case relating to alleged killing of a black buck and two rabbits in the first week of this month at Jhajjar in Haryana.
                              Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi

Priceless tapestry to be hung back
Chandigarh, June 13
The priceless tapestry designed by Chandigarh’s planner Le Corbusier, which was removed from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1994, will soon be hung back. However, since the original was sold off as junk by callous Punjab and UT government officials, a new tapestry, with almost similar design and size, has been got woven at Varanasi.

Panel discusses Indo-US economic ties
New Delhi, June 13
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the high-powered Trade and Economic Relations committee to devise a blueprint to deal with the challenges and opportunities provided by the processes of globalisation.

Opinions page: Is the US economy slowing?

Vacate Siachen, says Pak
Islamabad, June 13
Giving a cold response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement favouring the conversion of the Siachen glacier into a peace mountain, Pakistan today maintained its stand that India vacate its “aggression” and withdraw its troops to positions held at the time of 1972 Simla Agreement.

Editorial: Peace mountain

Budget debate on expected lines
Chandigarh, June 13
The debate on the Haryana Budget opened today on expected lines. While members of the ruling party supported it, Dr Sushil Kumar Indora of the Indian National Lok Dal found fault with it. Opening the debate, Dr Raghbir Singh Kadian (Cong) said the Budget reflected the priorities of the government and showed that it was moving in the right direction. He said the previous government misled the farming community on the arrears of power bills.

Monsoon progressing well, say Met officials New Delhi, June 13 Farmers need not panic as the information about the monsoon available on date does not predict any grim scenario, but Indian Meteorological Department officials are playing it safe and not making any guesses on when it will hit other parts of the country, particularly the North. In graphic: Progress of Monsoon