NCR SPECIAL
Capital a lucrative turf for kidnappers
New Delhi, October 28
Is Delhi fast becoming a lucrative hunting ground for gangsters specialising in kidnapping for ransom? Going by the official figures of the Delhi Police, on an average a kidnapping for ransom is reported every third day, a trend which could send a chill down the spine of every citizen.

Watch out for the hustlers of the night
New Delhi, October 28
Next time you hear a mysterious hiss or a hush-hush ‘ssshh..ssshh’ from behind a bush or at a traffic intersection, there is no need to get startled. Chances are that it is an invitation from the ‘real queens’ of Delhi – the `eunuchs’ – for a momentary ‘indulgence’.

Thanks to Bill and Putin, Delhi’s hotels bounced back last fiscal New Delhi, October 28 Economic slowdown and job cuts, besides the war on terrorism, are the talk of the time in boardrooms, chat rooms and TV talk rooms. Blue chip bosses aren’t coming here to sign new contracts anymore.

Abductors of 13-yr-old arrested
Ghaziabad, October 28
The three alleged abductors of the 13-year-old son of a correspondent of a f oreign magazine have been nabbed by he police. The boy was abducted on October 9 and a ransom of Rs 10 lakh was demanded. Surprisingly, one of the abductors turned out to be a friend of the boy.

Hockey kept out of festivities
New Delhi, October 28
The Delhi Olympic Association will celebrate the Delhi Olympic Week in grand style, as the Delhi contingent for the National Games, to be held in Punjab next month, will be selected on the basis of their performance in it.

Impasse at Escorts persists
Faridabad, October 28
The stand-off between the Escorts group management and the Escorts Employees Union continues with both sides seem to be holding their ground. While the union has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from November 1, the management hopes that the union would not take any decision in haste.

Pooja Batra springs a surprise New Delhi, October 28 Sunday afternoon frolickers at Appu Ghar were in for a pleasant surprise when film actress Pooja Batra made a brief appearance. Attired in a snazzy outfit, Batra mingled with the crowd, obliged autograph seekers and also posed with kids before shutterbugs. Batra’s visit was part of a promo exercise undertaken by soft drink behemoth Coca Cola, which has recently engaged the services of the actress to market their products as a brand ambassador.

COMMUNITY

Restoring a dug-up road takes an eternity
New Delhi, October 28
In the last three years, residents of several housing societies on the Mother Dairy Road in the prestigious Indraprastha Extension area of East Delhi have come to realise what official apathy means. A 2,000-metre stretch of road in front of the Saraswati Kunj society, which caved in one night three years ago, continues to be in the same condition despite repeated attempts of residents to have it restored to its original, workable condition.

Packaged Ganesha, diyas as Diwali comes calling
If festival of lights is round the corner, can Ganesha be far behind? Archies has introduced in the market idols of Ganesha in various postures and colours like `dancing Ganesha’, `sitting Ganesha’, ‘Ganesha in a box’, `big ear Ganesha’, ‘crawling Ganesha’, `reclining Ganesha’ and `Ganesha with book’.

• Designer candles

• Crystal figurines

• Toast to mothers

• Plastic paint

• Safe geysers

• Green minibus

• Trendy dockers

Effigies of Osama, Musharraf burnt
New Delhi, October 28
Accusing Pakistan of blackmailing the United States for having provided logistical support to the strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan, National Akali Dal activists burned effigies of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Saudi exile Osama bin Laden at the Jantar Mantar today.

Water, power shortage angers people in Jhajjar
Jhajjar, October 28
Peeved at the failure of the authorities to cater to the basic needs of water and electricity, coupled with the controversial new house tax policy and replacement of electricity meters, people’s resentment against the authorities appears to have deepened.

Mobike safari for religious harmony
New Delhi, October 28
A motorbike expedition to spread the message of religious harmony, love and universal brotherhood was flagged off over the weekend from the Rajghat. The expedition will travel across Delhi and Haryana before terminating at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

CRIME

Boy’s body found in canal
New Delhi, October 28
The body of a boy of around three years was retrieved from the Hindon canal in the vicinity of Kali Temple near New Ashok Nagar on Saturday. According to police officials, the body was spotted by passers-by who alerted the police.

BUSINESS

Corporate honchos think up ways to lift morale
New Delhi, October 28
With the economy moving towards recession and corporate morale plunging into depression, it is only natural that industry majors would want to pause for a while, ponder over the scope of competition and ask themselves the question: what will make businesses overcome the challenges posed by the global downturn?

EDUCATION

Doctoring of history worries teachers
New Delhi, October 28
The history, which our parents read, came down to us, and we have had reasons to believe that it would pass on to the next generation. But, the National Council of Education, Research and Training belied the belief by rewriting the History texts. Whether this change in the syllabi will do our future generations any good, only time will, say most of the history teachers in the Capital’s schools contacted by The Tribune.

Play school grabs DDA green belt
A play-school at Preet Vihar in East Delhi has obtained bad remarks in its report card issued by the DDA. The school is alleged to have grabbed nearly 1000 square feet of the DDA’s green belt and designed it a playground for its students.

Eco painting Debate competition Online admission Inter-school poster Spiritual leader meets principals The playground, which is caught in the crossfire between the DDA and a play school

Making of a model student
Mankind owes the child the best it has to give. The sad reality is, while headway is being made in various other fields, problems relating to improvement in the Education system remain entrenched as ever. Despite some praiseworthy achievements, the aim of giving every child a better education remains a mammoth task.

PARENTS CORNER
Admitted on an empty purse
Come October- November, it is the testing time for the parents who seek admission for their children in Nursery or K.G. classes in Public schools. One wonders whether the tiny-tots have any idea, how large the word apprehension is in their parents vocabulary once the time comes for them to appear for the school interview.

CULTURE

Precolour  collection launched
New Delhi, October 28
The Precolour collection, a collaboration of designer Ashish Soni and Sunsilk Pro Colour, was launched at a glittering function hosted by the Ambassador of France in India, Mr Bernard de Montferrand, on Saturday.

HEALTH

Lakhs waiting for an eye, but almost no donors
New Delhi, October 28
The world is a beautiful place. But how many of us who see it everyday in all its vibrant hues are aware that there are innumerable pairs of eyes that have never, neither shall ever, see the world in its true color. Even though thousands of people died in the national Capital last year, “only 500” of them donated heir eyes, said K. L. Batra, manager of A. Edward Maumenee Eye Bank of the Venu Charitable Society.

SPORTS

Bhandari essays superb win at Noida open New Delhi, October 28 Vivek Bhandari essayed a superb back nine charge to emerge victor at the nerve-tingling final round of the Rs 7 lakh Noida Open Golf Championship at the Noida Golf Course here today. Bhandari's final round five - under 67 handed him a winning tally of 19 - under 269 and the first prize cheque worth Rs 1,13,400. It was the ninth leg of the Hero Honda Golf Tour, and was jointly sponsored by the Noida Authority and Oil India Ltd. A mere one-stroke behind the leader at 18-under 270 was second placed Mukesh Kumar.

Simla Youngs, Glorious come out soccer champs
New Delhi, October 28
Simla Youngs and Glorious Club clinched the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)- SAIL ‘A’ and ‘B’ Division Football League Championship titles when they prevailed over Buddhist Blue Stars 4-2 and Cosmos Club 3-0 respectively at the Delhi University ground here today.

Kapil Dev lifts UTI Cup
New Delhi, October 28
Former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev, whose latest passion is golf, lifted the UTI India Open Golf Tournament played at the DLF Golf and Country Club course, Gurgaon, today.

Murali Kartik, Parida wreck Rajasthan
New Delhi, October 28
Spin master Murali Kartik enticed the Rajasthan batsmen to their doom to reduce them to 167 for nine in reply to Railways' first innings total of 292 on day two of the Central Zone Ranji Trophy match at the Karnail Singh Stadium here today.