Tuesday, February 27, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

BREAKING NEWS
Cong routed in Punjab, Uttarakhand
New Delhi, February 27
The Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday stormed to power in Punjab, while the BJP scored a morale-boosting win in Uttarakhand in the Assembly polls, dealing major blows to an already besieged Congress ahead of the politically decisive Uttar Pradesh ballot.

Fares down, freight same
We are on track to become Number 1: Lalu
New Delhi, February 26
In a please-all budget, railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav banked on volumes by proposing reduction in passenger fares across the board and left freight rates unchanged barring those of diesel and petrol which will be slashed by 5 per cent to check inflation. In video (56k)
LALU FARE
GRAPHICS: RAILWAY BUDGET AT A GLANCE
THE RAILWAY RUPEE
Nation page: Railways eyes No. 1 slot in world
Lalu is best, says Rabri
Editorial: Pleasing all, Lalu style

India: The Tasks Ahead
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

Nation page: Hirakud Express extended to Amritsar

Bofors is back
Quattrocchi freed on bail
New Delhi, February 26
Cocking a snook at CBI's effort to get him extradited to India, Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi today secured bail from a Buenos Aires court on his February 6 detention.

CBI goof-up a serious matter: SC
New Delhi, February 26
The Supreme Court today took cognizance of a petition against alleged attempt by the UPA government and the CBI to suppress the information about the arrest of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in Rs 64 crore Bofors pay-off case in Argentina. In video (56k)

Nation page: Issue rocks Parliament

Punjab Jitters
Puzzling quiet on D-day eve
Chandigarh, February 26
With the Congress as well as the SAD-BJP putting up a brave face, the verdict given by 1.68 crore voters of Punjab on February 13 will be finally made public tomorrow.

Happy Oscar night for Martin Scorsese Martin Scorsese won the Academy Award for best director on Monday. Forest Whitaker earned the best-actor Oscar for “The Last King of Scotland,’’ in which the soft-spoken actor played an uncharacteristically flamboyant role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. (Details on World page) Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren and Alan Arkin. — AP photo “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Could you double check the envelope, please?” — An overwhelmed Martin Scorsese after his best director win. World page:  ‘Water’ loses out