Saturday, August 19, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

President clears ‘Profit’ Bill
UPA government heaves a sigh of relief
New Delhi, August 18
Much to the relief of the Congress-led UPA government, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today gave his assent to the controversial office of profit Bill, which had been passed by Parliament for the second time without changes. The danger of disqualification, weighing down heavily on the heads of 40 MPs, was now over.

Editorial: President gives assent

Cabinet clears pay hike for MPs
New Delhi, August 18
The Union Cabinet tonight cleared the hike in salaries and other allowances of MPs. The salaries of MPs are expected to go up from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 a month. Currently, an MP gets salaries and perks worth Rs 40,000. After the hike, this would become around Rs 65,000.

N-deal: PM silences critics
New Delhi, August 18
When India’s top scientists meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on August 26 to discuss Indo-US nuclear deal, they are unlikely to have any clarifications left to seek after Dr Singh’s elaborate and scholarly reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
In video: Opposition rejects PM's clarifications. (56k)

Editorial: Nuclear plans intact

India: The Tasks Ahead
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

SC restrains CBI in J&K sex scandal
New Delhi, August 18
The Supreme Court today restrained the CBI from acting in an indiscriminate manner by picking up anyone they please for interrogation in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal in which some state politicians, civil, police and security forces officials were allegedly involved.

Working group for easing travel, trade along LoC
Srinagar, August 18
The working group on strengthening relations across Line of Control (LoC) will suggest and work out measures to ease procedural complexity being felt by travellers visiting across LoC.

ISI spy held with photos of military station

Bathinda, August 18 The police today claimed to have arrested an ISI agent and recovered secret information and photographs of a military station, a pistol and cartridges from him.

Mohammad Sedur Rehman is taken to a court in Bathinda on Friday. — Photo by Kulbir Beera

Khel Ratna for Pankaj Advani
New Delhi, August 18
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2005 will be bestowed on world billiards champion Pankaj Advani. He will receive the honour from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on August 29. Besides, 15 sportspersons have also been selected for the coveted Arjuna Award.

Centre may clear Rs 40 as bonus on paddy
Chandigarh, August 18
The Punjab Government has got information that the Union Ministry for Agriculture and Food has approved Rs 40 per quintal as bonus on paddy. An announcement in this regard is expected soon. (Details on Punjab page)

SC notice to Centre, states on unborn daughters New Delhi, August 18 In the backdrop of the recent recovery of a large number of foetuses from a well behind a private clinic in Patiala, the Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and all states on a petition by a private organisation from Punjab seeking action on the issue.