Sunday, February 26, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Let us build a new J&K: PM
Says need to evolve common understanding on autonomy

New Delhi, February 25 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said there was a need to evolve a common understanding on autonomy and self-rule for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and an arrangement can be found within the vast flexibilities provided by the Constitution which provides real empowerment and comprehensive security to the people of the state.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mufti Mohammed Sayeed with his daughter and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti at the roundtable conference on Kashmir at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal In video (28k, 56k)

Strike hits life for second day in Kashmir
Srinagar, February 25
Life in Kashmir remained crippled for the second consecutive day today due to a strike call given by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference in protest against the round-table conference on Jammu and Kashmir convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Shops, business houses, banks, semi-government establishments and courts remained closed and vehicles were off roads.

N-deal will be tough, says Bush
To take up terror camps issue with Pak
Washington, February 25
Just days ahead of his visit to India, US President George W. Bush has said “there’s still work to be done” on the hard, tough and difficult issue of implementing the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy deal, but assured New Delhi that he would take up with Pakistan the question of the dismantling of terrorist camps. In video (28k, 56k)

Nation page: India, US still in touch to clinch N-deal
World page: Some clarifications needed, says US

2 fresh cases of bird flu, “but no need to panic”
New Delhi, February 25
The government is not letting its guard down despite all 95 samples testing negative for human avian influenza. At the same time, it has said that reports about two fresh cases of bird flu in a poultry in Uchhal in Surat district of Gujarat actually pertain to samples that had been previously sent for testing to Bhopal.

Nation page: Bird flu in south Gujarat
Ludhiana page: Chicken sale picks up
“Don’t confuse human influenza with bird flu”

2 labourers killed as earth caves in
Contractor flees
Babaehali (Gurdaspur), February 25
Two labourers were killed today and five others injured, one seriously, when they got buried under a mass of earth at a construction site of the micro-hydel project on the UBDC canal, about 10 km from Gurdaspur.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: CM asks Chief Secy to look into MLAs’ charges
	HARYANA:2 held for YC leader’s murder
	HIMACHAL: Power project row: relief panel constituted
	J&K: Govt in spot over boys’ killing
	CHANDIGARH: High-level meeting on plans for Mohali
	LUDHIANA: INTUC hoists flag at Hero factory
	DELHI: Demolitions suspended as violence erupts
	Opinions: 'SYL issue can be resolved amicably'
	BUSINESS: SME, agriculture sectors pin low hopes on Budget
	NATION: CBI gets nod to prosecute Dawood, 2 gutkha barons
	WORLD: Iran promises answers on atomic work
	SPORTS: Munaf sends England crashing to defeat

Cop’s letter gives new turn to Jessica case
New Delhi, February 25 
A fresh controversy has arisen in the Jessica Lall murder case with the surfacing of a letter written by the then Joint Commissioner of Police, Mr K.K. Paul, to the Commissioner, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma, suggesting an internal probe against officials investigating the case.
(Details on Nation page)

Bhagwat re-elected RSS gen secy
Nagpur, February 25
Mr Mohan Bhagwat was tonight re-elected general secretary (sarkaryavaha) of the RSS, sources said here. Mr Bhagwat was first time elected sarkaryavaha six years ago and this will be his third term. — PTI

Surgeon’s marathon surgical feat
Agra, February 25
A surgeon’s deft fingers have helped him achieve a unique feat — 85 operations in a day, that too without a break. Ajay Prakash started the marathon feat on Thursday afternoon at a hospital here, using a minimally invasive surgical technique described by him as “uncomplicated, efficient and time-saving”.

‘Black’ wins 12 Filmfare awards Amitabh is Best Actor, Rani Best Actress Mumbai, February 25 Continuing its dominance on the awards circuit, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Black” tonight bagged a lion’s share of the awards at the 51st Filmfare Awards night. It won all major critics and popular awards, while it won the critics award for Best Actor and Actress for Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee, respectively, as well as the critics award for Best Film and Best Director award for Sanjay Leela Bhansali.