Friday, May 19, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

CRASH OF 2006
Sensex plunges by 826 points

Mumbai, May 18 Sensex plunged a steep 826 points in the wake of a global meltdown, taking the index to 11,391 at close. In the broader markets, Nifty also fell by 6.8 per cent or 246 points to close at 3,389.

A fatigued stock dealer rubs her eyes as the share prices plunge in Mumbai on Thursday. — AFP photo Manufactured crisis: FM Business page Retail investors panic over  market crash

Stir to continue; Pranab meets agitating docs
New Delhi, May 18
With a late night meeting between the agitating students and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes remaining “inconclusive”, the government’s attempt to persuade medicos to call off their stir came a cropper, as the students decided to continue their indefinite strike.

Cong’s balancing act on quota
New Delhi, May 18
Compelled to undertake a delicate balancing act with union Human Resource Development minister Arjun Singh having raised the pitch for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning much to the bewilderment of the Congress leadership, the Committee constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held its first meeting here today.

Chandigarh page: PGI’s ultimatum to striking doctors 
Ludhiana page: ‘Bandh’ paralyses health services
Himachal page:Strike paralyses OPD services

In video (28k, 56k) Representatives of striking AIIMS doctors talk to media representatives after meeting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Thursday. — AFP

Nepal Parliament clips King’s wings

Kathmandu, May 18 In a historic step, Nepal's Parliament today unanimously decided to drastically curtail the King's political and military powers by stripping him of the title of the Supreme-Commander-in-Chief of Army. In video (28k, 56k) Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala speaks in Parliament in Kathmandu on Thursday. — Reuters photo

“Da Vinci” cleared minus cuts

New Delhi, May 18 The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given the go-ahead for the screening of the controversial film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and given it an “adults only” certification. The film will be screened minus any cuts and will be preceded by a disclaimer.

Workers carry a poster of the controversial film Da Vinci Code for display in a multiplex in Mumbai on Thursday. —PTI photo

CM spells out curbs on Reliance
Chandigarh, May 18
The project of Reliance Industries Limited for procuring vegetables and milk in Punjab will carry on as scheduled.

Another case of sexual assault in Army
Chandigarh, May 18
Close on the heels of a lady officer alleging sexual assault by her commanding officer, another case has come to light where a lady officer has alleged molestation at the hands of a senior officer.

Jewellery theft case solved
Hyderabad, May 18
Barely 48 hours after the sensational heist, the burglars in the Alukkas jewellery theft case were caught by the Mumbai police today.

Feroze Khan barred from entering Pak Karachi, May 18  President Pervez Musharraf has banned veteran Bollywood actor Feroze Khan from entering Pakistan after his reported remarks highlighting comfort levels of Muslims in India in comparison to that in Pakistan triggered a nationwide controversy.