Badal govt goes in for damage control
Puts Manpreet on the mat by getting the Chief Secy to clarify that the Centre made no formal offer to waive the state’s debt
Chandigarh, October 8
Embarrassed by an intra-party conflict on the issue of Central debt waiver, the Punjab Government has gone into damage-control mode. Punjab Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal — speaking for the indisposed Chief Minister at a press conference here today.

Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal (centre) addresses a press conference in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph

India's gold rush continues
New Delhi, October 8
Indian women wrestlers struck a purple patch with Alka Tomar and Anita Kumari bagging two more golds today in 59kg and 76kg freestyle event. With Babita Kumari bagging silver in 51kg category, India’s total tally in women freestyle wrestling jumped to three golds, two silvers and one bronze.

VICTORY RUN: Anita celebrates after winning a gold in the 67 kg women’s wrestling final at the CWG on Friday. Canada got silver and Nigeria bronze in the event. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

The Tribune Ladakh Relief Fund: An Appeal To Readers

Situation in neighbourhood volcanic, says IAF chief
New Delhi, October 8
Air Chief Marshal PV Naik today described the security scenario in India’s neighbourhood as “volcanic” and said the “control of aerospace” is the key to success in case of future conflicts.

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik

UN body shows J-K, Arunachal as separate nations
New Delhi, October 8
Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh have been shown as "independent entities" by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, which said this was its approach towards "disputed" areas.

Thapar varsity comes to Chandigarh
Derra Bassi, October 8
Thapar University president Gautam Thapar and chairman & CEO Avantha Group today laid the foundation stone of Thapar University’s Chandigarh campus here. The university will offer graduate and postgraduate programmes in engineering, IT and management.

Karnataka Crisis
Yeddy complains, 11 MLAs get notice
Governor tells rebels to explain stand under anti-defection law 
Bangalore October 8
Acting on a complaint by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah today served notices to 11 rebel BJP MLAs asking them to explain why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law for indulging in anti-party activities.

Peace Nobel for jailed Chinese rights activist Oslo, October 8 Jailed Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for decades of non-violent struggle for human rights, an award that Beijing had anticipated and bitterly criticised. Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia in an undated photo released by his family. — Reuters