Our nukes in place: NSA
Dismisses doubts on efficacy of Pokhran-II
New Delhi, September 20
Quelling all doubts over country’s nuclear abilities, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan has emphasised that India has thermonuclear capabilities, adding that the scientists who questioned the success of the 1998 nuclear tests in Pokhran had personal motives to do so.

Mumbai man held for blackmailing Anoushka
New Delhi, September 20
Police have arrested a Mumbai businessman for allegedly blackmailing sitar player Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. The accused, Junaid (29), allegedly used some of Anoushka's photographs to blackmail her after hacking into her e-mail account, police said today.

AQ Khan admits to Pak link with Iran, N Korea
London, September 20
In a damning revelation of Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation, its disgraced scientist A Q Khan, the father of the country’s nuke weapons programme, has admitted to the Pakistani nexus in the controversial atomic programme of Iran and North Korea, a media report said today.

I’ll never abandon Soniaji: Lalu
Patna, September 20
RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, today said the two parties had strong bonds and that like-minded secular forces should come together to keep the NDA at bay.

Gold lures investors
Chandigarh, September 20
High prices of the yellow metal notwithstanding, gold is fast emerging as a major investment option for investors in the region. Despite prices having risen by almost Rs 4,000 per 10 grams since last year, dollar volatility and fall in general demand for jewellery, retail investment demand for gold has taken a sharp upswing. According to rough estimates, daily trading in gold futures from Punjab and Chandigarh region is to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,300 crore.

Oz ministers’ mission damage control Rising violence, dubious education institutions tarnish Melbourne's multi-cultural image. The safety of Indian students and corrupt practices by private colleges is expected to figure prominently during the official visits of Victoria’s Premier John Brumby and his Minister of Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan, both of whom will separately arrive in India this week on official visits that will last more than a week each.