Patiala, Jan 31: Five new born babies were burnt alive and two others were seriously injuried on Saturday, when the incubators they were kept in caught fire at a private hospital in Patiala.

A total of 10 children, undergoing treatment for jaundice at Rajinder Hospital, were kept in phototherapy units. Reportedly, a short circuit in the wires of the machine resulted in the fire, charring five infants to death including three boys and two girls.

Ludhiana, Jan. 29 : Sikh preacher Bhai Pal Singh is today mentioned in social circles as the man who objected to the State ban on the wearing of turbans in schools of France terming it as an attack on the religious freedom of Sikhs.

Today, Bhai Pal Singh travels around the world propagating Sikh customs and beliefs. Recalling his initial days, Singh remembers how on February 24, 1978, he started his journey by road to reach Germany on May 21.

The superstar bubbly actress of bollywood, Preity Zinta, who also happens to own Kings XI Punjab of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is planning to give a chance to promising cricketers at the grass-root level.

A cricket seminar and a T-20 tournament would be held by her team in Chandigarh and Mohali where teams from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will participate.

Priety informed, "My aim is to promote cricket at the grass-root level and to nurture new talent. I also want everyone involved to have fun."

Mohali, Jan. 27 : The northern State of Punjab promises a huge business potential for those willing to invest in the Information Technology (IT) sector.

The State is fast emerging as an information technology destination.

Thanks to pro-IT policies of the State government, Punjab is globally competitive and a leading State in the field of information technology. Availability of needed infrastructure and skilled manpower has attracted multinationals to invest in Punjab.

Amritsar, Jan. 26 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday organized an Akhand Path at the Golden Temple for Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh''s speedy recovery.

The Akali Dal party leader''s gesture holds significance, as it is well known that his party is a key rival of the Congress Party in Punjab.

After hosting the tricolour on the occasion of Republic Day, Badal expressed his deep concern over the Prime Minister''s poor health and wished him a speedy recovery.

Islamabad, Jan. 25 : The unexpected harmony between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) following President Asif Ali Zardari's meeting with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has dashed the hopes of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) to form an alliance with either of the two parties in Pujab.

The discreet meetings and backdoor negotiations between the top leaders of the PPP and the PML-N discussions have ensured the safely of Punjab coalitions till the next Senate elections, The Nation reports.