Saturday, July 1, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Lt-Col dies in J&K encounter
Srinagar, June 30
A Lieutenant Colonel and three militants were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces at Bandipore in Baramulla district today. Elsewhere, three persons, including two militants, one of them a top militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, were killed in separate incidents in Kashmir valley while four civilians were injured in a grenade explosion at Kulgam in south Kashmir.

J&K page
12 LeT militants arrested
Infiltration bid foiled, 8 killed

N-deal by year-end, hopes US envoy
New Delhi, June 30
The US Congress is likely to pass the Bill regarding civilian nuclear cooperation by next month end after which the stage will be set for India passing the muster at such world fora as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), US Ambassador David C Mulford said today.

Musharraf steps up rhetoric on Kashmir
Islamabad, June 30
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has stepped up rhetoric on Kashmir after a long gap by telling India that he might revert to the demand of third party intervention if his proposals of demilitarisation and self-governance in the region were not considered “positively” to resolve the issue.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

Bush for F-16s to Pakistan
Washington, June 30
A day before a Senate panel approved a Bill on India-US nuclear deal, the Bush administration asked Congress to approve the sale of 18 new F-16 jets to Pakistan.
(Details on World page)

Germany win on penalties
Berlin, June 30
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was the toast of Germany as the hosts progressed into the semifinals of the World Cup with a sensational 4-2 penalty shootout win over Argentina here today.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann stops a penalty kick by Argentinian defender Roberto Ayala during the first quarterfinal at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Friday. — AFP photo (More stories on Sports page)

Shimla, June 30 As many 19 persons were killed and 15 injured, four of them seriously, when a private bus rolled down about 250 ft down the hill slope near Ghanhatti , 13 km from here, today.

Panel set up to monitor prices
Pawar’s wings further clipped 
New Delhi, June 30
NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who has been in the dock for the present jump in prices of essential commodities, finds his wings further clipped with the government setting up a ministerial panel to look into this matter.( Details on Nation page) 

Editorial: Price blow

Duggal may be Delhi Lt-Governer
New Delhi, June 30
Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal is likely to be appointed Lt-Governor of Delhi and the present incumbent B.L. Joshi is likely to be shifted to Andhra Pradesh as Governor. — TNS