Bomb attacks, arson in Maharashtra; 18 hurt
Mumbai, August 27
Eighteen persons were injured today in two separate bomb blasts in quick succession at places of worship of minority community in Jalna and Poorna towns in central Maharashtra, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in Jalna.

Economic scams, terror have strong links, says PM
New Delhi, August 27
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was instrumental in initiating economic reforms in the country over a decade ago, today said that while economic reforms helped reduce scope of corruption, there has been a spurt in economic offences and a strong link has developed between these offences and anti-social and terrorist organisations.
In video: (28k, 56k)

J&K daughters’ Bill rejected
Srinagar, August 27
Amid open confrontation between top leaders of the two main alliance parties, the controversial Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill 2004 was rejected in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today.

Kuwaiti firm halts work in Iraq; Italian hostage executed
Dubai, August 27
The Kuwaiti firm which has seven truck drivers held hostage in Iraq has decided to halt operations in the troubled country.

Editorial: Forgotten hostages
Nation page: India, Kuwait call for denial of
sanctuaries to terrorists

Anju Bobby George set a national record with a leap of 6.83 metres but failed to win a medal as she finished sixth in the long jump final in Athens on Friday. Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia won the gold with a jump of 7.07 metres. Sports page: Anju fails to win medal

Flash floods maroon 8 Uttaranchal villages

Babla used liquor, hotel baits to fool cops
Patiala, August 27
Weakness for liquor and the lure of comfortable bed proved costly for the six-member police team which had taken hardcore militant Gursewak Singh Babla to Delhi for court hearings in connection with various cases.

Nabha jail Assistant Supt booked

Biggest jatha of Pak Sikhs arrives Attari, August 27 It was dream come true for most of the Sindhi Sikhs from Pakistan to get a chance to pay their obeisance at Golden Temple for the first time even as the biggest jatha of Pakistani Sikhs (about 1000 pilgrims) arrived here today. Special train for pilgrims on Sept 2 Amritsar schools, colleges closed Nature page: Miniature Guru Granth Sahib to be exhibited Punjab page: ETC channel to telecast celebrations