Thursday, March 17, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Japan struggles to avert meltdown
* Nuclear crisis worsens as fire breaks out again at No. 4 reactor 
* Workers pulled out from Daiichi plant as radiation level rises 
Fukushima/Tokyo, March 16
Japan’s nuclear nightmare worsened today with radiation levels surging at a quake- crippled reactor at Fukushima plant, forcing authorities to briefly pull out emergency workers even as another fire erupted slowing desperate efforts to avert a meltdown.

PM reviews safety of Indian plants
World page:
Snow hits rescue work in Japan
Japan was warned over N-plants: WikiLeaks

Thousands flee Tokyo as experts try to allay contamination fears
The stuff of science fiction novels and bad disaster movies has arrived in the world’s largest metropolis after radioactivity was detected in Tokyo’s city centre on Tuesday, the possible prelude to a disaster forewarned but never really expected: the meltdown of a nuclear power plant and the showering of fallout over 28 million people.

2G SCAM
Raja to be chargesheeted by March 31, says CBI
* To be booked for forgery * Special trial court soon
New Delhi, March 16
The main chargesheet in the 2G Spectrum scam will be filed against former Telecom Minister A Raja and two companies by March 31, while a special court for holding speedy trial in the case will be set up before that, the Supreme Court was assured today.

Raja’s close aide commits ‘suicide’

Pak frees Davis after ‘blood money’ deal
Raymond Davis, a CIA contract employee involved in the double murder of two Pakistani youths, was released under mysterious circumstances by a sessions court in Lahore on Wednesday. 
File photo of Raymond Davis being escorted by the police out of a Lahore court. — Reuters

Special to the tribune
Poisonous snakes in Pak backyard biting neighbours: US 
An “enduring solution” in Afghanistan is the best way to make Pakistan realise how to achieve its national security aims without “allowing elements on its soil who create problems for their neighbours,” Gen David Petraeus, top US commander in Afghanistan, told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday.

No-first-use nuke doctrine to stay: Govt
New Delhi, March 16
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today said India would stick to the “no-first- use” nuclear doctrine. It will also remain committed to its policy of maintaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent.“India would pursue its policy of universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament,” Krishna told the Lok Sabha.

Talks inconclusive, Jat stir to go on
New Delhi, March 16
Rejecting a request by the Centre to suspended their agitation, the Jat community tonight decided to continue with its ongoing stir while keeping open the option for the next round of talks.

Camelot in Sukhna catchment: Govt map  Chandigarh, March 16 The Punjab and Haryana High Court order staying all construction activity in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake has come as another jolt for the multi-tower high-rise Camelot project of Tata Housing Development Company (THDC). With the map outlining the catchment area of the lake being placed on record, it is now clear that the site of the controversial project falls within the catchment area.