Wednesday, April 4, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Duty-free access for LDCs: India
New Delhi, April 3
It was a unique 14th Saarc summit in many ways that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated today. Pakistan did not mention the K-word.
In video (56k), In video (56k), In video (56k)

• Throttle terror sources: Karzai
• Saarc sidelights

Kashmir first, rest later, says Aziz
New Delhi, April 3
Pakistani leaders are known to be masters in the art of media management and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz proved to be no exception today.

• Result-oriented talks must: Aziz

CLU cancellations
CM seeks fresh guidelines
Chandigarh, April 3
In a desperate bid at damage control, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today, while washing his hands off the decision to withdraw the change of land use (CLU) approvals to promoters of mega-housing projects, directed the chief secretary to submit within 10 days fresh guidelines for setting up of residential projects in the vicinity of industrial units.

Rahul draws youth in Mulayam’s bastion

Bharthana, (Etawah), April 3 Rahul Gandhi is facing a tough competition from Hema Malini who has started campaigning for the BJP candidate. Yet in the heart of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s fiefdom, an impressive crowd, especially of young men, came to hear the youthful MP from Amethi. Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi waves at the crowd during a public meeting at Bharthana in Etawa on Tuesday. — PTI

EC cautions poll officials in UP
New Delhi, April 3
The Election Commission today directed poll officials to act fast in gathering advance information about any possible trouble ahead of the Assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, after expressing concern over the violence in Lucknow and Kanpur.

Portland cement import made duty-free
New Delhi, April 3
With cement companies refusing to cut prices, the government today abolished all duties on import of portland cement and said it was open to reviewing dual excise structure announced in the Budget 2007-08 to make the construction raw material cheaper in domestic market.

US indicts 4 for tech smuggling
Washington, April 3
An Indian, heading a US electronics supplier, and three of his compatriots employed in the firm have been indicted for allegedly exporting sensitive US missile technology to India in violation of laws.

Quake rattles parts of region
Islamabad, April 3
An earthquake measuring 6.2 on Tuesday hit mountainous area of northeast Afghanistan, sending powerful tremors across neighbouring Pakistan. Mild tremors also hit northern India, including Jammu and Kashmir, where people rushed out of their houses for safety.