NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

MAILBAG

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

THE TRIBUNE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

Govt in bind on EPF interest rate
Left, UPA allies join Oppn protest
New Delhi, December 8
Left parties and several UPA allies joined the Opposition in Parliament today in demanding the restoration of 9.5 interest rate to EPF, thus putting the government in a bind.

PM may hike EPF rate by 0.5 per cent
Editorial: Pragmatism prevails
In video: PM speaks on democracy. (28k, 56k)

Bhandari names Vajpayee aide in oil scam
New Delhi, December 8
Former Foreign Secretary Romesh Bhandari has alleged the involvement of a person very close to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Iraq’s ‘Oil-for-Food’ scam and accused the then National Democratic Alliance government of burying the issue at that time.

Cong set to take Volcker battle into BJP camp
Sonia, Vajpayee targeted in Parliament
BJP objects to PM’s remarks
Natwar ticks off Congmen who spoke against him
Editorial: Parliament on hold

Nation page: Sharmila is UNICEF Ambassador
	Latha, affected by HIV, ties Suraksha Bandhan on Sharmila Tagore, who was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Delhi on Thursday. UNICEF Executive Director Ann Vebeman is also seen in the picture. —  Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi In video: Cultural event organised for HIV patients. (28k, 56k)

Cabinet nod to education reservation Bill
May overturn SC order on quota
New Delhi, December 8
The Cabinet today approved a Constitution Amendment Bill to provide reservation for backward classes and SCs and STs in educational institutions, including the unaided private professional educational institutions, and to regulate admission or fee in such institutions. The Bill is aimed at overturning the Supreme Court judgement which ruled that the State had no authority to reserve quota in private unaided institutions.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: Singla positive on state’s fiscal health
	HARYANA: Acid test for government
	HIMACHAL: Villagers decide to abstain from panchayat poll
	DELHI: ‘Hiking charges at AIIMS aimed at needy’
	J&K: CM examines files of 43 corrupt officers
	CHANDIGARH: Love and money were their motives: police
	LUDHIANA: 4 held for dumping carcasses on road
	OPINIONS: Parliament on hold
	BUSINESS: BMW chooses Chennai for Rs 180-cr plant
	NATION: Establish holder of assets in graft cases: SC
	WORLD: Volcker panel ‘favoured’ Annan
	SPORTS: Lankans practise under tight security

BCCI invites fresh bids for telecast rights
New Delhi, December 8
In an attempt to steer clear of legal tangles, the Marketing Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India here today cancelled the existing tender for telecast rights floated by the previous body and decided to invite fresh bids to give an “equal opportunity” to all contenders.

Military court sacks Anjali
Bangalore, December 8
Flying Officer Anjali Gupta today became the first woman officer of the Indian Air Force to be ordered dismissed from service by a military court here. Anjali has been found guilty of five charges, including misappropriation of funds, insubordination and failure to report for duty.

US marshals kill passenger
Witness says the deceased was sick
Miami, December 8
US air marshals shot and killed an American Airlines passenger who claimed to be carrying a bomb in his backpack at Miami International Airport. While many details remained confused, federal officials yesterday said the 44-year-old American made threats and indicated he had a bomb in his bag.

Afforestation scam in Dhar unearthed Salti (Gurdaspur), December 8 A scam of afforestation by the Department of Forest under the Japan bank-aided scheme in Dhar subdivision of the area has come to light. Forest Department officials allegedly carried out thousands of fake plantations in Dhar sub-division under the Japan bank-aided scheme.