Thursday, September 14, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Arjun Munda faces acid test today
Lalu claims support of 43 MLAs
Ranchi/New Delhi, September 13
With barely 24 hours to go before Chief Minister Arjun Munda faces the trial of strength in the House tomorrow to save the NDA government, it is virtually a “shadow” battle between the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his archrival RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on behalf of the NDA and the UPA, respectively.

Nation page: Jharkhand Speaker reserves decision on 3 MLAs

India, Brazil sign nine key pacts

Brasilia (Brazil), September 13 India and Brazil took their bilateral relationship to a new high on Tuesday afternoon with the signing of nine key pacts, including two agreements and seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). In video (56k)

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Sliva (centre) poses with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and South Africa President Thabo Mbeki before their meeting at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Hisar on the boil, prohibitory orders clamped
School Director in police custody
Hisar, September 13
Massive and violent protests against the alleged sexual harassment of girl students by the Director of Vishwas Senior Secondary School here continued today with students of various schools, colleges and Guru Jambheshwar University staging dharnas.

Haryana page: Notice to school

Helipad guidelines were violated
Gurdaspur, September 13
A day after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleague Mr Pratap Singh Bajwa had a narrow escape in a helicopter crash, various theories are being put forward in officials Circles regarding the reasons for the accident.

Editorial: Safe flying
Punjab page: Copter was placed at govt disposal a month ago

US to honour N-deal: Mulford
New Delhi, September 13
As the US Senate takes up the Indo-US nuclear deal for voting later this month, Ambassador David C. Mulford today said Washington would honour the agreement that had already been reached and there was no question of shifting of goalposts.

Nation page: No compromise in N-deal: Kakodkar
World page: Experts ask Senate to fix ‘flaws’ in Indo-US N-deal

Memons to be sentenced today
Mumbai, September 13
The special TADA court hearing the 1993 Mumbai blasts case will announce the punishment to be awarded to four members of the Tiger Memon family tomorrow.

Editorial: Verdict No. 1

Explosives found at Malegaon, Nashik
Mumbai, September 13
There were fears of fresh terror attack after a bag of explosives was found inside a shopping centre at Malegaon today.

Courts can’t interfere, government tells SC
Parliament’s power of expulsion of MPs
New Delhi, September 13
On the issue of courts’ interference in Parliament’s decision of expelling 11 MPs in the cash-for-query scam, the government today took a bold stand before the Supreme Court saying it was the prerogative of the legislature to manage its internal affairs and discipline its members.