Wednesday, April 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

16,000 Iraqi soldiers surrender
Focus on to set up interim administration
Dubai, April 15
Sporadic fighting was reported across Iraq a day after all of Saddam Hussien’s strongholds fell to the US-led forces, which concentrated on restoring order and putting in place an interim administration today amidst fears that an oppressive regime was being replaced by American occupation. Day 27 in the war zone was relatively quiet. In video (28k, 56k)

World page: Veiled US threat to Syria continues
Edit page: US scheme of world domination

Iraqi people take water from a polluted area for household needs in Basra, southern Iraq, on Monday. Water is in great demand since the bombing cut off the city’s water supply. — AP/PTI photo

Petrol, diesel prices slashed
New Delhi, April 15
State-owned oil firms today decreased the retail selling prices of petrol and diesel by up to Rs 1.08 and Rs 1.18 per litre respectively, in step with the global softening of crude oil prices.

Air-India, IA sell-off stalled
New Delhi, April 15
The Union Cabinet tonight decided to take off Indian Airlines and Air India from the disinvestment list, invite fresh bid for Shipping Corporation of India, remove quantitative restrictions on onion exports and provide an additional grant of Rs 40 crore under the "Aid to Nepal" programme for the B P Koirala Institute of Health and Science in the Himalayan Kingdom.

Cops beat up octogenarian couple
Two suspended, investigation starts
Ropar, April 15
Violating Supreme Court guidelines on the detention of persons, the Nangal police at 3 am today raided and beat up Raja Ram (82) and his wife Parkasho Devi (80) of Bass village near Nangal.

Woman constable paraded naked
Srinagar, April 15
A woman constable was paraded naked in this city by her colleagues after she was allegedly caught in the company of four paramours in an abandoned house here.

Row over law panel chief’s appointment
Chandigarh, April 15
Justice A.S. Garg who cited “personal reasons” to quit as the one-man enquiry commission against the previous SAD-BJP Government on May 14 last year, has stirred yet another controversy, this time over his appointment as Chairman of the Punjab State Law Commission.

Truckers invited for talks
New Delhi, April 15
Prices of fruits and vegetables soared in some states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the second day of the nationwide indefinite strike by truckers, demanding stable fuel prices and fewer levies. In video (28k, 56k)

  Editorial: No truck with truckers?

56TH HIMACHAL DAY Virbhadra promises higher daily wages Dharamsala, April, 15 Presiding over the 56th Himachal Day celebrations today, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, announced that as promised before the elections, the daily wages would be enhanced to Rs 75 and all daily wage earners having completed seven years would be regularised. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inspects the parade on the occasion of Himachal Day at Dharamsala on Tuesday.