Saturday, October 14, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Gujarat HC nullifies Banerjee Committee
Probe into Godhra carnage
Ahmedabad, October 13
In a setback to the UPA government at the Centre and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the Gujarat High Court today quashed the appointment of the U C Banerjee Committee whose report negated the conspiracy theory behind the Godhra train carnage, holding it as “unconstitutional, illegal and void.”

2009 elections to have redrawn boundaries
SC seats in Punjab to go up
New Delhi, October 13
Major political parties today agreed to delink delimitation of constituencies from 33 per cent reservation for women and hold the elections in 2009 on the basis of redrawn boundaries as per the Delimitation Commission’s report.

B’desh economist, Grameen Bank win Nobel Peace Prize
Manmohan lauds his microcredit concept
Oslo, October 13
Bangladeshi Professor Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today for their work in advancing economic and social opportunities. The economist and his bank, who will share the prize, were cited for their efforts to help “create economic and social development from below” in their home country by using innovative economic programmes such as microcredit lending.

Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is hugged by his daughter Dina in Dhaka on Friday after receiving the news of his award. — AFP photo

Strong Q2 results drive Sensex to new peak
Mumbai, October 13
The BSE benchmark Sensex today shattered records as it closed at a new high of 12.736.42 points, thanks largely to the confidence reposed by investors in the earnings potential of corporate. The rally, which saw the index breeze past the previous record close of 12,612.38 on May 10, was also influenced by a strong trend globally.

Ban elected UN Secy Gen
United Nations, October 13
The 192-member United Nations General Assembly today elected by acclamation and without vote South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon as the eighth Secretary General for a term of five years beginning January 1.

Dengue toll rises to 92
New Delhi, October 13
The nationwide dengue toll has doubled during the past six days from 46 to 92. There seems to be no end to the worries of public health experts as 484 fresh dengue cases have been reported from various parts of the country in the past 24 hours.

Delhi page: Dengue claims two more lives
Ludhiana page: Dengue material distributed
Chandigarh page: More dengue cases at PGI

SAD (Longowal) demands white paper on City Centre scam
New Delhi, October 13
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) today demanded white paper from the Amarinder Singh government on the Ludhiana City Centre scam.

Notification on banning child labour
New Delhi, October 13
It is a tad belated, but the notification that specifies a ban on child labour has finally been issued. The Ministry of Labour and Employment late last night released the final notification that bans children under 14 from working as domestic help and from waiting tables in eating joints.
In video: First case of child abuse registered in Pune. (56k)

Terrorism most serious threat to democracies: PM
Helsinki, October 13
Asserting that achieving energy security to provide for safe, affordable and sustainable energy supplies was a common concern of India and the European Union, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged the EU to support India’s quest for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. (Details on World page)

Bhadaur still tense, markets yet to reopen Bhadaur (Barnala), October 13 In the wake of the burial of Ruban Masih (35), who had died on Wednesday night after a clash between the police and local residents over the demarcation of the land, of a gurdwara, the situation in the town remained tense today. Markets also remained closed for the third consecutive day. Punjab page: CM justifies police action at Bhadaur