Dantewada again, toll 36
n 12 SPOs among those killed as Maoists blow up passenger bus 
n IED planted on a metalled road and detonated by remote 
n Attack comes a day ahead of Naxals’ call for 48-hour bandh
Raipur, May 17
Maoists today blew up a passenger bus killing at least 36 persons, including 12 Special Police Officers (SPOs), in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, the attack their second in six weeks.

PC: Need to revisit Maoist policy
5 states on alert
Cong leader killed
Bodies are seen near the wreckage of a bus that was blown up by Naxals in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Monday. — AFP

It’s no more guerrilla war: DGP
New Delhi, May 17
The Naxal attack on a bus carrying tribal “Special Police Officers” (SPOs) in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district has stunned the security agencies here. It has come in quick succession of two major incidents of “red rebels” in the state.

INSIDE IRAN To duck curbs, Iran ready for nuke fuel swap By Raj Chengappa Editor-in-Chief It’s being regarded as a major diplomatic coup that could spell the beginning of the end of the isolation of Iran from world affairs. On the sidelines of the G-15 summit being attended by India, a smiling Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva dramatically announced that the three countries had arrived at a deal that could possibly break the nuclear stalemate, stave off sanctions being contemplated by the UN and the US against Iran and bring the contentious issue back to the negotiating table.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C), his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) wait for the signing of agreement ceremony during the G-15 in Tehran on Monday. — Reuters

Obama admn slams Tehran deal
Not enough to stop sanctions: UK
Reacting to the Iran’s deal with Brazil and Turkey, the US today pointed out that Tehran’s decision to continue with some enrichment of nuclear fuel is a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Punjab okays equal tenancy rights for daughters
Chandigarh, May 17
The Punjab Cabinet today decided to give equal tenancy rights to adult daughters by approving amendments in the Punjab Security of land Tenure Act, 1953 and Pepsu Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1955.

Monsoon’s here!
n Andamans gets first showers
n May reach Kerala before May 30
New Delhi, May 17
The much-awaited south-west monsoon today brought first showers to the Andaman and Nicobar islands, setting the stage for its early progression towards Kerala.

Cyclone warning

82 R’sthan MLAs tied knot in childhood Jaipur, May 17 Even as child marriages were solemnised in a clandestine manner at various places in Rajasthan on the occasion of Akha Teej (Akshay Tritiya) on Sunday, a glance at the Rajasthan Assembly website reveals that more than one third of the House members’ marriage, too, falls under this category.