Lok Sabha Polls
No national-level alliance: Cong
New Delhi, January 29
In a clear message to its demanding allies, the Congress today categorically ruled out an alliance at the national-level in the coming Lok Sabha elections but qualified that it would continue its seat-sharing arrangements with its partners in the states.

Wheat MSP up Rs 80 a quintal
New Delhi, January 29
On recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved the minimum support prices (MSP) for Rabi Crops of 2008-09.

We would rather import, say traders
Punjab page: Farmers reject MSP hike

Hijack Warning
Maharashtra airports on alert
Mumbai, January 29
All major airports in Maharashtra have been put on high alert following a warning by the Central intelligence agencies that terrorists may either attack these installations or hijack aircraft, Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil said this evening.

Police okay must for hiring choppers

ATS to question Muthalik
Mumbai, January 29
Karnataka Shri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, who has been arrested in connection with the assault of several women at a pub in Mangalore on Sunday, is wanted by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of the Mumbai police.

Misuse of Funds
CVC gives clean chit to Mehra
Chandigarh, January 29
In a significant development, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has given a clean chit to UT adviser Pradip Mehra in an alleged case of misuse of CITCO funds for the renovation of his house in New Delhi.

Lanka Conflict
DMK may distance itself from UPA
Chennai, January 29
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu is likely to distance itself from the UPA government on February 3 if the Centre does not do anything concrete to stop the ongoing war in Sri Lanka. As the pressure is mounting on the DMK following Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s blunt refusal to speak about a ceasefire, the party had announced that it would convene its executive committee meeting on February 3 to decide the next course of action on the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue.

TN scribes flay murder of colleagues in Lanka
Assault on LTTE: Youth commits suicide
Safe passage to civilians: India hails Lankan offer

No SC/ST reservation for IIT, IIM, AIIMS faculty
Govt decision applies to 47 institutes of excellence
New Delhi, January 29
Faculty positions in 47 institutes of excellence in higher education will not be subjected to reservation for the Schedules Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The government’s decision in this respect stems from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2008, passed by the Rajya Sabha last December.

UK to allow 36,000 Gurkhas to home in London, January 29 In a U-turn of its earlier policy, Britain is set to allow an estimated 36,000 Gurkhas who served in the British Army before 1997 and their families to settle here, conceding a long-pending demand by the former soldiers. The home office was forced to take action after a ruling from high court judges in October that the government needed to review its policy on whether the Gurkhas who had served the army before 1997 — the year Hong Kong was handed over to China — could live in Britain.