Srinagar rally banned
One killed, 40 hurt in violence, curfew clamped
Srinagar, August 24
Apprehending violence, the state government today decided to ban the ‘Lal Chowk chalo’ march, called by the Hurriyat Conference-led coordination committee for Monday. The government imposed curfew in the wee hours across the 10 districts and put senior Hurriyat leaders under house arrest.

J&K page: Samiti extends Jammu bandh till August 31
CRPF beats up journalists

Singur under siege
Mamata launches indefinite dharna against land acquisition
Singur (Hooghly), August 24
The indefinite dharna at Singur, which was launched by Mamata Banerjee today, received an overwhelming response from almost all the opposition parties, different activists and human rights organisations.

Editorial: Tata’s ultimatum

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh at a dharna in front of Tata small car factory at Singur on Sunday. — PTI photo

Return of Judges
Zardari gives no time frame
Agreements with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) “are not sacrosanct like the holy Quran and the Hadith” and can be modified if circumstances change, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said in an interview with BBC Urdu.

World page: Lawyers divided over restoration of judges

Farewell Beijing, London beckons

Fireworks light up the sky over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, at the start of the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday. — AFP photo

JMM to stake claim today
Ranchi, August 24
Optimistic over forming a new government in Jharkand, the JMM tonight said it would stake the claim tomorrow as Shibu Soren’s party got more support with RJD supremo Lalu Yadav even vowing to install him as Chief Minister at all costs. After meeting Governor Syed Sibte Razi at Raj Bhavan tonight, Soren’s son Durga and ally NCP’s MLA Kamlesh Singh said “we called on him and sought a meeting at 4 pm tomorrow.

Hostesses to serve train passengers
New Delhi, August 24
The next time you travel by train, don't be surprised if a woman smilingly approaches you to serve food as the Railways are planning to introduce hostesses in select routes to compete with the airlines. According to the plan being finalised by the Railways ministry, refurbished AC coaches will have hostesses to serve meals and snacks to travellers.

A Tribune Exclusive Kerala favourite spot for SIMI activists New Delhi, August 24 ‘God’s own country’ — as Kerala is popularly known — seems to have emerged as the favourite spot for the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’s terror training camps. The famous backwaters, small islands and lush green coconut jungles of the coastal state appear to have helped in the recent years in concealing the terror outfit’s weapon training and motivation camps.