Thursday, October 12, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Clemency powers: SC warns Executive
New Delhi, October 11
In a stern reminder to the Executive of its constitutional responsibility in exercising the power of pardon to convicted persons, Supreme Court today warned the Central and state governments against recommending clemency petitions on political, religious and caste considerations and said such trend was fraught with dangerous consequences.

Manmohan calls for new global vision
Cambridge honour for PM Cambridge University (UK), October 11 Over a year after being honoured with a doctorate by Oxford University, Cambridge University bestowed upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Doctor of Law degree here today. In video (56k) Manmohan Singh at the special convocation of Cambridge University on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Suicide by farmers: HC notice to Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, October 11
In a scathing comment on the lackadaisical attitude of the government vis-à-vis suicides by debt-ridden farmers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that the “government is taking no remedial steps to save poor farmers from committing suicides”.

Punjab page:
Quash notification on land for SEZ, demand farmers
Farmers’ debt: one-time settlement scheme on cards

236 new cases of dengue nationwide
New Delhi, October 11
Aedes Egypti mosquito, which causes dengue and chikungunya, is giving the public, doctors and Health Ministry officers a tough time.

Delhi page: Dengue continues to spread unabated
Jalandhar page: Hospitals launch dengue helplines
Himachal page: 2 suspected dengue cases in Baddi
Haryana page: 31 found showing dengue symptoms
Chandigarh page: 22 more cases of dengue in city

Spat between former IAF, Army chiefs continues
IAF ex-chief’s remarks over Kargil war create flutter
New Delhi, October 11
The spat between the Indian Air Force and the Army over former Air Chief A.Y. Tipnis saying that the Army was reluctant to inform the government about the intrusion by Pakistan in Kargil and that it did little initially to jointly plan and evict the intruders.

Back-channel talks on: Pervez
Islamabad, October 11
Terming as “unfair and misplaced” the criticism in India against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for reaching an accord with him to set up a joint mechanism to deal with terrorism, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said back-channel talks were on between the two countries to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Constable kills colleague, two others
Mathura, October 11
A police constable went berserk and allegedly gunned down three persons, including a colleague, near a temple at a village on the Rajasthan-Uttar Pradesh border today.

Kiran Desai wins Booker Youngest-ever woman to win prize London, October 11 Kiran Desai, daughter of prominent Indian origin writer Anita Desai, created literary history by becoming the youngest ever woman to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for her book “The Inheritance of Loss”at the age of 35. I couldn’t have faced it if Kiran had lost: Anita Desai Editorial: Kiran does Anita, India proud Kiran Desai displays her book “The Inheritance of Loss” that won the Man Booker Prize after a ceremony at The Guildhall in London on Tuesday. — AP/PTI photo