Sunday, July 16, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Parliamentary delegation calls off Pak visit
New Delhi, July 15
The first sign of India-Pakistan peace process coming to a jerky halt was visible today as a two-member Indian Parliamentary delegation that was scheduled to be in Islamabad tomorrow for a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting called off its visit. Moreover, this correspondent understands, New Delhi has taken a position that no Pakistani official delegation or a ministerial visit to India would be welcome.

Indo-Pak talks deferred

Lashkar-e-Qahhar claims responsibility for blasts
New Delhi, July 15
Little-known outfit Lashkar-e-Qahhar tonight purportedly claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s serial blasts in Mumbai. An e-mail, received by Aaj Tak news channel, said it was sent by Lashkar-e-Qahhar and the outfit was associated with Al-Qaeda and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

300 held in Mumbai

Nation page: Suspected LeT terrorists to undergo forensic test Bomb hoax call disrupts train services More CCTVs at railway stations Mulayam backtracks on SIMI statement Army personnel keep vigil near Amar Jawan Jyoti behind a ‘No Entry’ sign at India Gate as security is beefed up in New Delhi on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

2 Punjab boys go missing in Iraq
New Delhi, July 15
Five Indian nationals are reported missing somewhere in Iraq. The missing include two persons form Punjab and three from Kerala.

Chandigarh page: Missing youths: Amarinder assures action against travel agents

PM to leave for G-8 summit today
New Delhi, July 15
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is leaving tomorrow morning for St Petersburg in Russia to participate in the G-8 summit which will discuss a wide range of issues including terrorism and energy security in view of spiralling crude oil prices.

BJP MLC claims he has tape against party leader
Bangalore, July 15
The Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition has been put to test with BJP Legislative Council member Janardhan Reddy now claiming that he has a tape in which Forest Minister Chennigappa has been recorded making embarrassing comments about Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. Mr Chennigappa is a senior BJP leader.

Amarinder disagrees with Chief Secy
Chandigarh, July 15
Disagreeing with an order issued by the Chief Secretary, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, to curtail the powers of the Vigilance Bureau, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today said: “I have also seen the order and do not agree with it. The powers to investigate cases of corruption and other related aspects will remain with the Chief Director of Vigilance”.

Chandigarh page: Mohali to have 140 sectors

PPSC fails to fill 27 PCS (Judicial) posts Chandigarh, July 15 It's Haryana all over again in Punjab! Mandated the task of selecting 63 candidates for filling the 63 available vacancies in the judicial set-up of Punjab, the Punjab Public Service Commission could not do so. In the end, the PPSC yesterday forwarded a list of just 36 names to the Punjab government for appointment as judicial officers.