123: PM, Sinha exchange salvos
No US pressure against Russian deal: Govt
New Delhi, December 4
The government today came under fire from the NDA, the Left and the UNPA on the Indo-US nuclear deal during the short-duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha with opposition members asking it not to proceed with the agreement as it lacked majority support in Parliament. The discussion, which saw arguments being marshalled by all sides, also witnessed a few heated exchanges between the BJP and the treasury benches.

N-deal dangerous folly: CPM
New Delhi, December 4
The CPM today warned the government that it would be a “dangerous folly” to proceed with the Indo-US nuclear deal, but steered clear of the BJP suggestions of voting the government down if it failed to listen.

US ‘encourages’ India to complete N-deal
New Delhi, December 4
On a day when the Rajya Sabha witnessed a bitter debate on Indo-US nuclear deal, US Ambassador David C. Mulford here today said Washington ‘encouraged’ India to complete the deal and exhorted the country to speed up economic reforms in crucial sectors like insurance and financial services.

No re-negotiation of N-deal: USA
Washington, December 4
Firmly ruling out re-negotiation of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the USA has expressed confidence that the agreement, which was "fundamentally important" and in the "best interests" of both countries, would go forward.

R.S. Talwar is Tribune Trust President
Chandigarh, December 4
Mr R.S. Talwar has taken over as President of the Tribune Trust. He was elected unanimously by the members of the Trust at their meeting in New Delhi on Monday. Mr Talwar has filled the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Justice R.S. Pathak. He was the senior-most Trustee, having joined the Tribune Trust in 1986.         R.S. Talwar

Buddha regrets statement on violence
New Delhi, December 4
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya today regretted his statement on the Nandigram violence that villagers allegedly targeted by his CPM cadres were “paid back in their own coin.” He admitted he should not have said so. Bhattacharya told mediapersons here that the violence in Nandigram was a “political and administrative” failure.

Hoax hijack call sends security into tizzy
New Delhi, December 4
A Kanpur-bound Alliance Air flight with 42 passengers on board faced a hijack threat, which turned out be a hoax, this morning forcing the airport security agencies to take over and carry out not only an anti-hijack drill but also an anti-sabotage drill. The flight later left Delhi for Kanpur around 2.30 pm with all passengers on board.

Ministry launches scheme for trafficking victims
New Delhi, December 4
The Ministry of Women and Child Development today launched Ujjawala, a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking, rehabilitation, rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked women and children, including cross-border victims.

Gujarat Votes
Gujarat Muslims left in the cold
Congress, BJP woo Hindu voters
Ahmedabad, December 4
Call it Moditva or the Narendra Modi effect, but the Muslims of Gujarat comprising 9 per cent of the population have been left in the cold as the Congress and the BJP are concentrating on wooing the Hindu majority.