Canada govt blamed for Kanishka crash
Toronto, June 17
A long-awaited inquiry into the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing, which killed 329 persons, mostly of Indian origin, today blamed the Canadian government for its failure to prevent the tragedy and recommended the appointment of a powerful security czar to resolve disputes between conflicting interests among security agencies.

The horror: June 23, 1985 AI Flight 182 leaves Toronto and explodes near Ireland, killing 329

Ram Jethmalani, who contested election against former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004, won a vigorously contested election to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket from Rajasthan today. So did Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma as a Congress candidate.

In Chandigarh, many envy KD’s hot wheels: Nation page

Nod to relaxation in OBC quota norms
New Delhi, June 17
Within two years of the Supreme Court mandating 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in all central educational institutes (CEIs), the Union Cabinet today approved major relaxations to the quota policy by clearing related amendments to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. The amended Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament.

Judicial custody for 13 Maoist sympathisers
Lalgarh, June 17
Thirteen persons, including three intellectuals, arrested for alleged links with Maoists in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district have been remanded by a court to judicial custody for 14 days. The 13, who have been booked for waging war against the state and charged under various sections of penal code, were produced in a court in the Jhargram district.

WB unveils special package for Maoists: Nation page

Oz teen held for Nitin’s murder
Melbourne, June 17
A 15-year-old boy was arrested in Australia today in connection with the murder of Indian student Nitin Garg, who was stabbed to death in January this year, sending shock waves back home. The teenager was arrested by the Victoria police in the western Melbourne suburb of Yarraville at 9 am (local time) and homicide detectives said he was expected to be charged with one count of murder.

Bhopal Tragedy
GoM may seek more relief  for victims
New Delhi, June 17
The reconstituted group of ministers (GoM) on the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is holding its first meeting on Friday, is expected to take a fresh look at a pending proposal asking Dow Chemicals to pay for the clean-up at the abandoned Union Carbide site and for extra compensation being contemplated for the victims.