Wednesday, May 17, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

New Delhi, May 16 As the stir against reservation spread across the country like wild fire, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to consult political parties from tomorrow to deal with the issue lest the student protests get out of control.

To draw plan for 3-phase implementation No assurance on timeframe. House to take up issue again today

Health services remain affected New Delhi, May 16 Determined to carry on their indefinite hunger strike till the government announces a rollback of the proposed quotas for OBCs, medical students in the Capital have now put forth a demand for setting up of a commission to study the reservation policy. In video (28k, 56k) Medical students protest over the government-proposed reservation policy in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. — PTI photo

LS clears ‘profit’ Bill amid walkout
New Delhi, May 16
The Lok Sabha today passed by a voice vote a bill that provides for exempting 46 posts, including the National Advisory Council Chairmanship, from the purview of the office of profit.

Broadcast Bill
International airport at Halwara: Patel
Editorial: Rite of passage

Punjab Cong “big fight” to shift to Delhi
Chandigarh, May 16
The scene of the “big fight” among senior leaders of the ruling Congress party in Punjab is expected to shift to Delhi soon.

MARKET REBOUNDS: The stock markets rebounded and closed higher over Monday’s close as market players regained confidence. The 30-share Sensex, after witnessing a swing of over 576 points during the day, closed at 11,873.73 points, up by 51.53 points. Mr Chidambaram termed the initial steep intra-day fall in the market as a correction triggered by factors, including a fall in metal prices.—PTI

Hailstorm damages fruit, vegetable crops
Girl dies in house collapse in Hisar
Shimla, May 16
Several areas of Himachal were lashed by a severe storm followed by hail and rain, disrupting life. The storm provided relief from heat but caused extensive damage.

Centre restores HP’s wheat quota 
New Delhi, May 16
The Centre has restored Himachal Pradesh's quota of wheat for families living below poverty line to the original level, and the decision of the reduced quota share would be withdrawn immediately.

Monsanto moves SC on Bt cotton price issue

Jewellery worth over Rs 10 crore stolen
Hyderabad, May 16
Jewellery worth over Rs 10 crore was stolen from a showroom in a posh locality here.

Screening of ‘Da Vinci Code’ stayed I&B Minister to personally watch film New Delhi, May 16 The release of the controversial film “Da Vinci Code”, based on Dan Brown’s bestseller, has been withheld by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. In video (28k, 56k) Catholic nuns offer prayers at a protest rally at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Tuesday in a bid to ban the screening of the film ‘Da Vinci Code’ in India. — AFP photo