After a day’s respite from curfews and strikes, Kashmir was again closed on Monday, the first day of a new week-long calendar of shutdowns and protests issued by separatists.

The phrase “come hell or high water” is going to have a chilling resonance for the people of Ladakh. On August 5, after a day of incessant rain and a sudden drop in the temperature, residents of Leh experienced continuous lightning for several hours on the night of August 4. Reactions ranged from being disconcerted to being frankly

The people of Leh and its neighbourhood continued to cremate or bury their dead on Monday as rescuers retrieved more bodies from under the rubble of flattened homes and other buildings or those overwhelmed by heaps of mud and slush.

Even as the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile is “ready for induction into the services”, the government could soon clear a defence deal worth over Rs 20,000 crores for procurement of another 42 Russian-origin Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft that are currently being manufactured under license from Russia by the Bengaluru-

In perhaps an effort to apply some balm to simmering sentiments in the Kashmir Valley, and perhaps even look for a way out, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be meeting an all-party delegation from the troubled state here Tuesday evening.

With the operation of India’s new satellite-based air navigation system, Gagan, three years away, the government is moving one step closer, with the launch of the “final operational phase” on Tuesday by civil aviation minister Praful Patel. Airports Authority of India (AAI) sources said the final operational phase would include assembling of all equipment, getting the satellites in place and certification of the system.

The JD(U) on Sunday made light of senior party leader Prabhunath Singh joining the RJD. JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav remarked that the membership of the RJD and his party is “transferable”.

A decision to finish co-education in a New Ashok Nagar-based government school allegedly led the students to stone pelting. While students were left after being given warnings by the police officers, at least two low-floor buses, one RTV mini bus and a car were badly damaged in the incident. The incident happened in the Dallupura area of New Ashok Nagar.

A 62-year-old woman was killed by unidentified armed assaila-nts who managed to barge into her house at Shahpur Jat in Hauz Khas police station area of south Delhi in the early hours of Saturday. The police suspect personal enmity to be the reason behind the incident.

Two persons were killed and five others were injured in an accident involving a trailer, a mini truck, a motorcycle and a Tata Sumo.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Friday at Rajouri Garden in west Delhi. No arrests have been made in the case.