S P O T L I G H T

Bush signs resolution on Iraq
Washington, October 16
President George W. Bush today signed a congressional resolution giving him authority to wage war against Iraq if needed and said Baghdad would be unwise to test the US resolve. “I have not ordered the use of force. I hope the use of force will not become necessary. Yet confronting the threat posed by Iraq is necessary by whatever means that requires,’’ Mr Bush said in the White House East Room remarks before signing the resolution. The joint resolution was approved in convincing fashion by the House of Representatives and the Senate last week after a debate over whether Iraq and its suspected weapons of mass destruction pose an imminent threat. Mr Bush said the resolution “symbolises the united purpose of our nation.’’ Reuters

Salman's bail plea rejected
Mumbai, October 16
Sessions Court Judge P.V. Bavkar today rejected the bail plea of actor Salman Khan, involved in a hit-and-run case, on the ground that he may “tamper’’ with the evidence. The Judge upheld the contention of special public prosecutor R.V. Keni that Salman, if released on bail may tamper with the evidence as he was “economically influential’’. UNI

Former MPSC chief
Mumbai, October 16
A Special Sessions Court here today remanded former Chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Pandharinath Dodhu Wani in police custody till October 21 in a multi-crore examination scam. The special public prosecutor argued that due to the conspiracy to hold MPSC re-examination, the government had suffered a loss of Rs 65 lakh. UNI