FM gives housing a booster dose
n Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill
n Home buyers to get 1% interest subsidy 
on loans
n Tax sops for infrastructure, natural gas sectors to push growth
New Delhi, July 27
A dream home for the common man may no longer remain a mirage due to high interest rates. The government, while proposing amendments to the Finance Bill, has decided to provide a one per cent interest subsidy on housing loans up to Rs 10 lakh to individuals, provided the cost of the house does not exceed Rs 20 lakh.

• Tax on new services effective from Sept 1

Uproar in J&K Assembly on first day
Mehbooba wrenches Speaker’s mike, 
marshalled out of House
Srinagar, July 27
On its opening day in the summer capital, the state Assembly witnessed pandemonium today when PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrenched the mike of the Speaker, prompting him to get the members marshalled out of the House.

Sampat joins Congress
Chandigarh, July 27
“The right man has come to the right party.” This is how Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda welcomed former senior INLD leader Sampat Singh to the Congress here today.

Hooda is in hot seat now

NEW ALLIES: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (right) and former senior INLD leader Sampat Singh, who joined the Congress in Chandigarh on Monday, seem to be discussing future plans. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

3 found guilty in Mumbai blasts case
Mumbai, July 27
A special court set up under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) has found three persons guilty of carrying out two bomb blasts at Zaveri Bazaar and the Gateway of India in Mumbai on August 25, 2003.

Pulses production lags behind demand
Ludhiana, July 27
Danish Joshi, a teacher in a local school, Young Blossoms, did not buy arhar or moong this time. “I think we can make do with gram (kala chana) for Rs 40 per kg instead,” he declared.

Ready to open new chapter with India, says Gilani
Islamabad, July 27
Pakistan is prepared to work with sincerity to open a “new chapter in improving relations” with India and the two sides should share credible information to counter possible future terrorist threats, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.