Serial blasts in UP 13 die, 60 injured Lucknow, November 23 The state has been put on high alert after strikingly similar six cycle bombs struck terror in the crowded civil courts of Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow this afternoon. As many as 13 persons were killed and 60 others were injured in the blasts. Among the dead are four lawyers. With many of the injured in serious condition, the number of dead is likely to go up. Indian Muzahideens claim responsibility Sketches released US, UK condemn UP terror attacks

The site of a bomb blast in Faizabad on Friday. — Reuters In Video (56k)

Punjab, Haryana on high alert
Chandigarh, November 23
Punjab and Haryana have sounded a general alert following bomb blasts in Uttar Pradesh. Both the states have received an “alert” note from the Union Government asking them to step up vigil, saying that the groups behind bomb blasts in three cities of Uttar Pradesh may try to target innocent people in other parts of the country.
Hoax call terrorises Mumbai
Intelligence failure, says Maya
Safety concerns sidelined

Commonwealth suspends Pak
India optimistic of Sharma as secy-gen
Kampala, November 23
India is “cautiously optimistic” of getting its UK High Commissioner Kamlesh Sharma as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Asked about Sharma’s chances, foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon said, “We are cautiously optimistic”, but a decision would be taken tomorrow or day after by the head of states at their informal meetings during their retreats. In Video (56k)
Editorial: Sheer condemnation

Uphaar Case
Ansals get 2-year jail, freed on bail
New Delhi, November 23
Uphaar cinema owners Ansal brothers, Sushil and Gopal, and three officials of the MCD and the Delhi Fire Service were today awarded two years in jail by a city court for causing death to 59 cine goers 10 years ago due to their act of negligence.
Editorial: Too little, too late

Taslima shifted to Delhi
New Delhi/Jaipur, November 23
Virtually hounded out of Kolkata, controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen was today packed off by Rajasthan police from a hotel in Jaipur and taken to Delhi after a day-long mystery about her exact whereabouts.

Import of Inferior Wheat
Centre rejects BJP’s demand for CBI probe
New Delhi, November 23
The UPA government’s rejection of the Opposition demand for a CBI inquiry into the import of inferior quality wheat at a higher price than the ruling domestic rate led the BJP stage a walkout in the Lok Sabha today.

National policy for farmers approved
New Delhi, November 23
In a move that could bring cheers to the peasant community, the government today said it had approved a national policy for farmers to substantially improve their net income. Tabling a statement in the Lok Sabha, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the policy also aimed at improving their productivity and profitability and providing an appropriate price policy and risk management measures.