Friday, April 28, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Arjun promises wider debate on quota issue
Medicos suspend strike till May 12
New Delhi, April 27
The decision to suspend the strike till May 12, was far from unanimous, but following the HRD Minister’s assurance of further discussion on the issue of reservation for OBCs, students of five medical colleges decided to call off their agitation.

Editorial: Divisive quota
Special Article: Quotas in private sector
Chandigarh page: Medicos blast quota policy

In video (28k, 56k) Agitating students of Delhi shout slogans during a protest against reservation in Delhi on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi

Azad wins by record margin NC gets 2 seats, PDP 1 Jammu/Srinagar, April 27 Breaking all previous records of votes polled by any Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad won the Bhaderwah Assembly seat today with the highest margin of 58,015 votes defeating his BJP rival in a direct contest.	Ghulam Nabi Azad
World page: No demilitarisation of J&K, says India

Maoists announce 3-month truce
Kathmandu, April 27
Brightening prospects of return of peace and democracy in Nepal, Maoists today announced a three-month unilateral truce, a move welcomed by the seven-party alliance, which vowed to remove the terror tag on the rebels and hold negotiations with them.

Koirala appointed
Kathmandu, April 27
Mr G.P. Koirala was appointed Prime Minister of Nepal by King Gyanendra here today. — PTI

World page: Prakash Koirala sacked from Congress

Punjab pollution board withdraws clearance to mega projects
Chandigarh, April 27
As the Punjab Pollution Control Board today decided to cancel the provisional environmental clearance given to various mega projects, the construction work on these projects will have to be stopped with immediate effect.

7 tourists among 20 injured in Pahalgam blast
Srinagar, April 27
Seven tourists were among the 20 persons wounded in a hand grenade blast at the crowded bus stand of Pahalgam in south Kashmir this afternoon, official sources said. They said unidentified miscreants hurled a hand grenade towards security forces at a crowded bus stand at the tourist resort in Pahalgam, about 100 km from here, at 1210 hrs.

Term of Pathak panel extended
New Delhi, April 27
The Government today extended by three months the term of Justice R.S. Pathak Committee Inquiry Authority going into the Volcker findings in the Iraqi Oil for Food scam. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting here this evening.