TOP STORIES

Govt machinery oils its wheels for INLD’s Iftar
Gurgaon, December 3
The district administration is firing on all cylinders to make the Iftar party of the INLD to be attended by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala a success. The party is being organised tomorrow at Ferozepur Jhirka in Mewat.

PIL seeks to stall ‘legal’ slums
New Delhi, December 3
The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi Government on a petition seeking to restrain the authorities concerned from taking any decision on regularisation of over 1,600 illegal colonies in the Capital.

Air India players making a move against Indian Airlines in the final match of the Shastri Hockey Tournament at Shivaji Stadium in the Capital. Air India won by 3-1. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Hot & sweet: A model launching a beauty product in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo

Joint patrols to protect Haryana canals
Sonepat, December 3
In order to check theft of canal and river water, the Haryana Police have decided to launch joint patrolling with the staff of the irrigation department on the embankments of the rivers and canals in the state. The step has been taken in view of the Rabi sowings.

Securitymen fan out for Putin visit
New Delhi, December 3
Policemen in plain clothes and commandos were deployed in good numbers as security agencies in the Capital were put on high alert today for the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin and in the wake of the bomb blast in Mumbai yesterday. The forces in all the nine police districts of Delhi have been put on round-the-clock alert and deputy commissioners have been asked to personally monitor the situation. Mr Putin is on a two-day visit to the Capital.

Auto drivers get back to business
Gurgaon, December 3
The strike called by autorickshaw operators and rickshaw-pullers fizzled out with most of them coming on the road today. The unions of these vehicles operators had given a call for indefinite strike on Monday against the tough stand taken by district authorities’ of not allowing them to do business without proper authorisation and documents.

HEALTH WATCH
Nine more kids die of ‘brain fever’ 
Noida, December 3
With nine more kids succumbing to `brain fever’ in Saharanpur and Muzzafarnagar districts, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr M. A. Haq, has, through a letter, alerted all government hospitals and primary health centres in Gautam Budh Nagar about the lethal disease.

Commissioner for disabled soon

New Delhi, December 3 Chief Minister Sheila Dishit has agreed to appoint a full-time commissioner for the disabled persons within the next few months, according to the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), which organised a walk for freedom in the Capital today to mark the World Disability Day. Disabled children at the ‘walk for freedom’ on the occasion of World Disability Day at India Gate in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Woman, baby missing; son’s body found
Ghaziabad, December 3
There is no news about the woman who disappeared along with her baby and a three-year-old son on the night of December 1 in Sisrauli village. Her three-year-old son is believed to be dead; the police have found his body in Rajwahe. The boy was apparently killed.

COMMUNITY

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Ministry directs DC to proceed against circus owners
Gurgaon, December 3
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, to take action against the owners of Asian Circus for violating the Union Government notification which bar the exhibition and the training of certain animals.

Rickety Faridabad bridges cry out for repair
Faridabad, December 3
The Agra Canal, constructed by the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh for carrying irrigation water to its areas, has been proving a bane for the residents here. The canal passes through Faridabad district.

IN PARLIAMENT
Greater Noida may have airport
New Delhi, December 3
The government is considering feasibility reports of proposals to set up new airports at Greater Noida and Navi Mumbai in an apparent bid to cater to the rising number of air travellers from the two Metropolis. Stating this in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said a proposal had been received from the Uttar Pradesh Government to develop Taj International Airport and aviation hub near Greater Noida.

SONEPAT
Rally against attacks on religious places
Sonepat, December 3
Members of the All India Anti-Terrorists Front took out a procession here last evening to register their protest against the increasing incidence of attacks on religious places. According to a report, the procession was led by Mr Jatinder Panwar and Sardar Sandeep Singh, general secretary and the district president of the Front.

L-G takes stock of Dwarka welfare schemes 
New Delhi, December 3
The Lieutenant-Governor, Mr Vijai Kapoor, visited Sector-6 of Dwarka along with VC, EM, DDA, Commissioner, MCD and Chairperson, NDMC. Land for 44 societies was allotted in this sector, of which 40 societies have already constructed their flats and habitation has started.

Vijay Goel inspects Metro station
New Delhi, December 3
The Minister of State in Statistics and Programme Implementation and Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Vijay Goel, yesterday visited Kashmiri Gate Metro Station and inspected the most modern techniques and systems installed for the convenience of the passengers at the station.

Helping children of a lesser god
New Delhi, December 3
The Rotary Club of Delhi Midtown presented a mobile health van to Mrs Maneka Gandhi, chairperson Rugmark Foundation, an NGO engaged in eliminating child labour from the carpet industry. The mobile health van would be used take care of the health of carpet weavers and their families in Uttar Pradesh.

No-trust move against ZP chief falls
Rohtak, December 3
The no-confidence motion moved by nine members of the Zila Parishad against its Chairman, Mr Dharam Pal Makrauli, fell today for want of quorum. Although the no-confidence motion was signed by nine members out of a total of 13 members of the Zila Parishad, only two members - Mr Suresh Nandal and Ms Usha Parmar — came for the meeting fixed for today by the Deputy Commissioner to consider the motion. 

CRIME

60-yr-old woman raped by taxi driver
New Delhi, December 3
A 60-year-old woman was raped by a taxi driver late last night behind Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in New Delhi district after he offered a lift to the woman to Ghaziabad. The police said the woman was waiting for a bus at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib bus stand around 10 pm, when the accused Rajinder Singh (28), a resident of Pithoragarh, offered her a lift and promised to drop her at a place where she would get her conveyance easily.

BUSINESS

The world at your fingertips with Touchtel
Gurgaon, December 3
The private telephone service provider, Touchtel, has launched entertainment based ‘phone plus services’ in Haryana. These services range from providing cricket scores, musical greetings to astrology and bhajans. It also provides subscribers with a ready access to information and services that would otherwise take a lot of time, money and effort.

EDUCATION

ROHTAK
MDU stresses the need for computer awareness
Rohtak, December 3
The Department of Computer Science and Applications of Maharshi Dayanand University celebrated ‘World Computer Literacy Day’ with a unique exposition on the importance of computers and information technology in day-to-day life. The Vice-Chancellor, Maj-Gen (retd) B S Suhag visited the exposition in the department on Monday and interacted with the students regarding the utility of computer and information technology.

ISO status for DAV
Faridabad, December 3
DAV Public School, Sector-14 here has joined the select band of prominent educational institutions in the country, which have been awarded ISO-9001 (2000) certification for achieving excellent standards of education and overall academic environment.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Saas-bahu soaps take the cake

It was the D-day for over 1,729 nominations from 442 serials, we are talking about the Hero Honda ITA Awards, 2002. The ceremony saw people from the world of television, cinema, fashion and even sports inch ahead in the venue bursting at the seams. In spite of having more brickbats than bouquets it was the Saas Bahu Kahani, ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ that walked away with not just the award for best serial, but also saw Smriti ‘Tulsi’ Irani walked away with the Best Actress trophy.

Bollywood Dreams

An actor in  the making

WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED MAN IS WEARING The male wardrobe is getting flashier A quiet revolution is taking place right in front of our eyes. Mankind has taken a giant leap, as the signature line of a popular brand of jeans proclaims. In this man-eat-man world, it all comes down to the survival of the fittest and the best dressed.

SPORTS

Air India down IA, lift Shastri hockey title

New Delhi, December 3 Star players may not guarantee you the title. But good hockey would. Air India, Mumbai played good hockey to humble the star-studded Indian Airlines 3-1 to lift the 13th Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tournament Trophy at the Shivaji Stadium on Tuesday. Air India players with the Shastri Cup in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Anuj Jain stars for Gyan Bharti
New Delhi, December 3
A fine all-round performance by Anuj Jain (59 and 2 for 15) and deadly bowling of 3 for 33 by Sarbjeet Singh helped Gyan Bharti South Delhi Cricket Academy defeat Hooty Hill by 17 runs during their Australia tour match.

Cambridge beat St Giri

Turf Sports Cricket

Apex School enter semis New Delhi, December 3 Apex Public School, Sant Nagar defeated Guru Govind Singh Sports School, Lucknow 4-0 in the first quarter-final match of the Subroto Cup Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday.

Dayal Singh College bag boxing title
New Delhi, December 3
Dayal Singh College (Morning) emerged champions in the Delhi University Inter-College Boxing Championship, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Fifteen college teams participated in the championship.

Disabled cricketer gets Timex watch
New Delhi, December 3
Balwinder Singh of India, who was adjudged the Man of the Match in the first All-India Cricket Association for the Disabled series, played between India and England, was awarded a Timex watch.

• Bharat Kennel Club show a big hit

MC drive to collect development tax
Sonepat, December 3
The Sonepat Municipal Council has launched a vigorous campaign for the recovery of development tax from the residents of those colonies that have been regularised by the state government in and around the city.