Thursday, June 19, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

BREAKING NEWS
Canada bans 3 Sikh groups, terms them 'terrorist'
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 19 (Reuters) 
Canada has banned three Sikh militant groups as “terrorist” organisations, including the one allegedly linked to the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182.Federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter yesterday said Ottawa had determined that Babbar Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation “knowingly engaged in terrorist activity.”

India blocks Pakistan’s entry into ARF
Sinha meets Powell in Phnom Penh
New Delhi. June 18
The Indo-Pak peace process today received a fresh jolt, this time not through the ongoing war of words between the two nuclear arch-rivals, but through a concrete development that took place in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell (left) talks with his Indian counterpart, Mr Yashwant Sinha, during their meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Check terrorism, UK tells Pervez
Lahore bus service from July 1

USA to resume F-16 sale to Pak
Washington, June 18
In an unexpected development that was deftly kept out of the media’s knowledge, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani during a meeting in Washington last week of America’s intent to resume the sale of F-16 fighters to Pakistan, a US newspaper has reported.

India gets first stealth frigate
Troops ready for Iraq, says Gen Davar
Editorial: Just say no

Vajpayee clears air Is all praise for Advani, Venkaiah
Mumbai, June 18 Putting behind the unsavoury leadership controversy that rocked the party recently, BJP leaders today closed ranks at their brainstorming session with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee heaping lavish praise on Deputy Premier L.K. Advani and party President Venkaiah Naidu.	Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (right) laughs while sitting besides BJP President Venkaiah Naidu during a meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Atal my leader, says Advani

Punjab cops interrogate Badal
Chandigarh, June 18
In less than 24 hours of the physical search of his farmhouse at Balasar in Haryana, two senior officers of the special investigation team questioned former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his official residence here today.

'Come clean on assets abroad' (Punjab page)
Judicial remand for 4 Wimpy workers
Kanwal says he is receiving threats
Punjab page: SIT to probe Narottam case
Judicial remand for Narottam till July 1

Panchayat poll as scheduled, says AG
Chandigarh, June 18
The orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court suggesting reconsideration of reservation of gram panchayats as per guidelines notwithstanding, the Punjab Government will go ahead with the panchayat elections as scheduled.

Punjab page: Punjab asked to relook panchayat poll timing

Parched region revels in rain
Chandigarh, June 18
Heavy rains lashed most of the northern states early today, providing respite from the heatwave which had gripped the region for the past fortnight and claimed several lives.

Bhindranwale aide is taksal chief Amritsar, June 18 A former priest of the Golden Temple, Bhai Ram Singh (40), an aide of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has been appointed 15th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal. A decision to this effect was taken at an emergency meeting in Tressy, USA, presided over by Baba Thakur Singh, Acting Chief of the taksal.