Telangana: All set for decision, PM assures MPs
New Delhi, December 21
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured a delegation of Congress MPs from coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions that a decision on initiating the formation of separate Telangana state could be taken by Tuesday.

Fasting MP flees hospital, surfaces in Hyderabad
Vijaywada DIG suspended

Ruchika Molestation & Suicide
Rathore gets away with six-month jail
Chandigarh, December 21
The much-awaited verdict in the 19-year-old Ruchika molestation case came today with the CBI special magistrate, J Sidhu, convicting the former Haryana DGP, SPS Rathore for the crime. Holding him guilty, Rathore was sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1000 on him.
See also Chandigarh Tribune

SPS Rathore and his wife and counsel, Abha, after Monday’s sentencing

Life comes to a halt in Europe
n Flights late, cancelled 
n Power cuts in Bulgaria 
n Eurostar suspended for third day
London, December 21
Snow and freezing temperatures caused transport chaos across Europe, with the Eurostar rail service suspended for the third day on Monday and flights grounded at snowbound airports across the continent.

Snow-covered bicycles on the side of a Munich street on Monday. — AFP

Tripartite talks on Gorkhaland flop
Kolkata, December 21
A three-hour long tripartite meeting at Darjeeling today failed to take any decision on the Gorkhaland demand. But it was decided that further talks would be held at the political level within 45 days to reach a solution.

India, Nepal to ink defence pact
New Delhi, December 21
In a move that may further strengthen New Delhi’s strategic reach in the region, India and Nepal are closing in to arrive at a formal defence cooperation framework between the two countries.

On Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, seven lives lost every day 100 dead in two years; still no safety audit conducted New Delhi, December 21 On an average seven persons lose their lives daily trying to negotiate the high-density Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, built as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project to connect the capital to Mumbai.