Tuesday, April 17, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

22 shot in US varsity
Lone gunman also killed
Washington, April 16
In the deadliest campus killing in the US history, at least 22 persons were shot dead and 28 injured, several of them seriously, when a gunman went on the rampage in twin shootouts in Virginia Tech University campus this morning before he was killed.

Injured occupants being carried out of Norris Hall at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Monday. A gunman opened fire in a dormitory and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 22 persons. — AP/PTI

OBC quota
Centre seeks vacation of stay
New Delhi, April 16
After the reported differences between ministries of HRD and law on the strategy to be adopted on the OBC quota, the Centre finally moved an application in the apex court today for vacating the stay on the implementation of new Act extending the reservation in central education institutions.

SC notice to Centre
Constitutional posts for foreigners
New Delhi, April 16
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on an important question of law whether the Constitution permitted a foreigner to hold high constitutional posts in the country on becoming a naturalised citizen.

Tribune Impact
SYL cases : AG wants probe into payments
Chandigarh, April 16
Taking note of The Tribune news report headlined “SYL: Huge payments to lawyers under scanner” published in today’s edition, Punjab advocate-general (AG) Hardev Singh Mattewal today wrote to the chief secretary, asking for a probe at the highest level.

BJP not to play second fiddle to SAD
Chandigarh, April 16
The BJP leadership today categorically told Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that it had joined the SAD- led government to be an equal partner and not to play second fiddle in it.

11 sworn in as chief parliamentary secretaries
Chandigarh, April 16
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s changed “political focus” was reflected in the induction of five dalit MLAs and one Rai Sikh MLA as chief parliamentary secretaries.

Sacha Sauda: HC comes down on CBI
Chandigarh, April 16
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today took strong exception to the failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit the final report of the ongoing investigation into various criminal cases connected to Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda.

Heat stroke claims life
Abohar, April 16
An unidentified person of about 35 years died of heat stroke near a petrol-station outside Gumjal village on the Abohar-Sriganganagar road today, sources said.

Indian Navy holds joint drills with top naval powers
Tokyo/Beijing, April 16
The Indian Navy enhanced its global profile today holding its first ever joint naval exercises with the United States and Japan and separately with China.

India to allay NSG fears on N-deal
New Delhi, April 16
India is making a determined but unobtrusive effort with the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which began its five-day plenary in Cape Town, South Africa, today to put the record straight among those continuing to have misgivings about the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.