Tuesday, February 22, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Mumbai Attacks
Bombay HC upholds death for Kasab
Also confirms acquittal of two persons accused of providing logistical support to Let
Mumbai, February 21
The Bombay High Court today upheld the death sentence a special court had awarded to Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive in connection with the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008. The high court also upheld the lower court’s decision to acquit two persons accused of providing logistical support to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) that masterminded the terror attacks.
Editorial: Death for Kasab

Govt to combat inflation on a war-footing: President
Stresses on govt’s resolve to tackle black money menace
New Delhi, February 21
Grappling with grave charges of corruption and wrongdoing which have dented its image, the UPA government promised to address the concern regarding the lack of probity and integrity in public life and combat inflation on a war-footing in the Presidential address to the joint session of Parliament that began today.

President Pratibha Patil, accompanied by PM Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar proceeds to address the joint session of Parliament to mark the beginning of the Budget session, in New Delhi on Monday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

PM to announce JPC probe today
New Delhi, February 21
The three-month old impasse over Opposition’s demand for a JPC probe into the 2G Spectrum scam will end tomorrow, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, before the Question Hour begins, informing Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar the government intent to constitute the panel.

Editorial: Breakthrough on JPC

Secret bank accounts
Germany agrees to share info
Paris, February 21
Germany has assured Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukhejee that it would pass on information about Indian citizens holding secret bank accounts. The assurance came at a bilateral meeting between Mukherjee and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on the sidelines of the meeting of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors that concluded here on Saturday.

Mirchpur Case
List steps taken to recover losses, Haryana told
New Delhi, February 21
The Supreme Court today questioned the Haryana government and the Railways on the steps being taken to recover the losses suffered by them during the stir in December last against the booking of upper caste persons in the Mirchpur case. A Bench comprising Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly passed an order to this effect after the state government and the Railways gave in writing the details of the damage caused to their properties and other losses caused by the 11-day dharna (from January 15 to 26) that affected road and rail traffic.

A first: IAF selects woman officer in car rally team
New Delhi, February 21
For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has selected a woman officer in its team participating in an annual desert car rally starting tomorrow. “Squadron Leader Jyothi Yerolkar would be part of IAF's lead Sky Hawks team in the rally and would pair up with Wing Commander S Swami, a Jaguar pilot. IAF is fielding three Sky Hawks teams along with a support team,” an IAF spokesperson said.

A TRIBUNE SPECIAL
‘Tobacco-free’ pan masalas found high in nicotine
New Delhi, February 21
The next time you see a pan masala major marketing itself as “tobacco-free”, don’t get taken in by the promise. Days after the Supreme Court banned the sale of smokeless tobacco products in plastic packages across the country, a study commissioned by the Ministry of Health has shown that top pan masala brands, claiming to be 100 per cent tobacco-free, are actually high in nicotine.

Drugs dent macho image of Punjabi men Patiala, February 21 Not too long ago, robustness used to be synonymous with Punjabi males. The youth in almost every household used to follow a regimen of regular physical exercise and healthy food — ghee and milk being its vital components. Rightly were they then called “gabru jawans” (robust youth), a characteristic that not only people in neighbouring states but also the entire country used to be envy of. A youth being examined during police recuritment drive at Patiala. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar