Maoists attack CRPF party in Chhattisgarh, 26 jawans killed

Twenty six CRPF jawans have been killed and seven injured in what is being seen as another major Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. Sources said at least 90 Maoists ambushed a 63-strong CRPF road-opening party in an area under Dhaurai police station, 3 km from the CRPF camp in Narayanpur district of the state, at about 3 pm on Tuesday.

The CRPF men from 39 Battalion, E and F company, were securing the area ahead of a two-day Naxal-sponsored bandh starting tomorrow. Home Secretary GK Pillai says that the injured have been evacuated. IAF helicopters would be used bring back the dead early on Wednesday morning, sources said.

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Anti-nationals exploiting J-K situation: PC

In the backdrop of the spiralling violence in J&K, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram extended his full support to J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday who said that anti-national elements were behind the incidents in the Valley.

“There are reliable reports that anti-national elements are trying to exploit the situation. Some militants may also have sneaked into the valley to trigger violence,” he said, adding that “parents should ensure that their children should stay indoors during curfew.”

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Govt says will go for Anderson extradition

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said that his government will try to ensure that the US takes a "more favourable attitude" towards the extradition of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson to stand trial in India in the Bhopal gas leak case.

Singh told journalists accompanying him on his way back home from Toronto that he did not raise the issue in his discussions with US President Barack Obama during his meeting with him on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.

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Automakers hike prices as input costs rise

A fourth round of increase in automobile prices since January is on with firms such as General Motors, Ashok Leyland and Bajaj increasing rates to offset pressure from rising input costs, mainly that of steel and tyres. Others such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Toyota Kirloskar are also evaluating options.

While Ashok Leyland today said it will increase prices of the entire range of commercial vehicles by anything between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 with immediate effect, Hero Honda and Bajaj Auto have already hiked their two-wheelers prices by up to Rs 1,000.

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Venus crashes out as Serena, Clijsters target semis

Venus Williams crashed out of the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Tuesday to the lowest-ranked player left in the draw as her sister Serena and Kim Clijsters went in search of semi-final spots. Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion and the world number two, was knocked out 6-2, 6-3 by Bulgaria's unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova, the world number 82, who had never been past the second round here before.

In Thursday's semi-finals, Pironkova faces either Belgian eighth seed Kim Clijsters or Russia's 21st seed Vera Zvonareva, who were disputing their quarter-final on Centre Court.

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