Monday, October 23, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Bill on judges’ accountability in Parliament soon
National Judicial Council in the offing
New Delhi, October 22
After much delay, a Bill aimed at ensuring the accountability of judges is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the winter session beginning next month.

Pak must cooperate, says Security Adviser
New Delhi, October 22
Pointing out that India has “pretty good evidence” of ISI’s involvement in the Mumbai blasts, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan has said New Delhi will share intelligence with Pakistan under the joint anti-terror mechanism if it sees “great deal” of cooperation from Islamabad.

Arbitration on Baglihar project in final stages
New Delhi, October 22
The World Bank arbitration in the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Baglihar hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to conclude in a few months with the neutral expert scheduling his final meeting on draft conclusions on November 7.

Another Army jawan held for spying
New Delhi, October 22
The Delhi Police today claimed to have exposed an organised spy network, spawned by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, with the arrest of another Army jawan at the IGI airport here with some sensitive defence documents.

Infiltration bids foiled
Srinagar, October 22
Twelve persons, including 10 militants, were killed while security forces foiled two infiltration bids from across Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today. Elsewhere in the state, security forces arrested six militants and seized arms and ammunition. Militants damaged a railway bridge on the Qazigund-Baramula section.

Rain brings early winter; paddy harvesting hit
Chandigarh, October 22
Overnight rain in several areas of the region has marked the onset of an early winter while it will hamper the harvesting of paddy and cotton in rain-hit areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Sonia objects to Pranab as Foreign Minister
Kolkata, October 22
The Prime Minister’s plan to shift Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to the Ministry of External Affairs as the country’s new Foreign Minister could not be finalised because of the objection raised by Sonia Gandhi.

Abu Salem starts campaign for UP Assembly poll
Lucknow, October 22
Dreaded don Abu Salem, keen to contest the Assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, has started his campaign with posters in his home constituency of Mubarakpur in Azamgarh district.

Divali celebrated with fervour New Delhi, October 22 Divali was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety amidst tight security arrangements at all important places across the country yesterday. This is how Himachal's famous hill station and capital Shimla looked like on Divali night on Saturday. — Photo by Anil Dayal In videos: Festival of lights and prosperity celebrated across India. (56k) Indian border guards gift sweets to their Bangladeshi counterparts on Divali. (56k)