BJP delegation calls on Prez, seeks special Parliament session
New Delhi, December 24
As a wave of anger and protests continues to sweep across the capital against the gang rape of a young woman, President Pranab Mukherjee today acknowledged there was a “sense of national outrage” on the incident.

India, Russia ink major defence deals
New Delhi, December 24
Setting aside their differences over civil nuclear cooperation and Russian telecom giant Sistema’s investment, India and Russia today signed two key defence deals worth about Rs 25,000 crore for the supply of 42 new Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 Mi-17V5 helicopters to this country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the joint statement after a meeting at 7RCR in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI

Advance tax collections up 10.44%
New Delhi, December 24
The third instalment of the advance tax collections recorded a growth of 10.44 per cent to Rs 78,226 crore, the Finance Ministry said today. The tax collections for December registered a growth of 10.44 per cent over the corresponding period last year, which stood at Rs 70,826 crore.

3 weeks on, police yet to present challan
Amritsar, December 24
Despite the fact that all the accused involved in the broad daylight killing of ASI Ravinderpal Singh three weeks ago have been arrested, the police is yet to finalise its report and present a ‘challan’ in court. The investigating officials said that the main reason behind the delay was the still-awaited forensic report of the arms used in the crime.