Release of hostages any moment
New Delhi, August 7
The Kuwaiti employer company of Indian hostages in Iraq tonight told the Ministry of External Affairs that agreement had been reached with the captors’ negotiator as it had met all the conditions set by the kidnappers.

Whistle-blower Indian scientist sacked, then praised by PM
It may look strange, a bit bizarre too. But this is what happened to an India-born scientist who served with dedication, Health Canada for 35 years. Shiv Chopra and two other scientists, Margaret Hayden and Gerard Lambert, were sacked as they opposed the approval of certain drugs which they found not up to the standards.

Former Miss World, actress and ambassadress for polio campaign Aishwarya Rai at the inaugural function of the Polio Summit-2004 at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi, on Saturday. — PTI

India, Pak take step forward on Sir Creek
New Delhi, August 7
India and Pakistan today took a small step forward after a gap of six years in tackling yet another territorial dispute — Sir Creek in Rann of Kutch.

Shatabdi stopped  near Lalru
New Delhi, August 7
Within hours of restoration of traffic on Ambala-Chandigarh-Kalka section, Northern Railway was compelled to stop rail service between Ambala and Chandigarh due to sinking of a bridge pillar near Lalru.

Ghaggar breached at 5 more places
Khanauri, August 7
Breaches in the Ghaggar here increased to nine from four till yesterday even as the river, which is flowing at a record high, inundated 10 villages besides inundating crops in another 16 villagers in this area.

Ropar admn sounds alert
Punjab page: Punjab: Chautala “spreads lies” about Narwana canal breaches
Where flood is not bad news
Chandumajra seeks relief for farmers
Ghaggar floods 11000 acres of 9 villages

	PUNJAB: Four youths allege duping by Canway Immigration
	HARYANA: Deluge Chautala’s weapon to corner Amarinder
	J&K: Three Army men among 14 killed
	HIMACHAL:  Flood-scared move to safety
	DELHI: SC hikes rate for DDA acquisitions in 3 villages
	CHANDIGARH: Thefts, burglaries order of the day
	LUDHIANA: Hosiery stocks pile up as trains get cancelled
	OPINIONS: Space research will help bridge the medical divide,  says Kasturirangan
	BUSINESS: TCS fixes IPO price at Rs 850 a share
	NATION: HUDA directed to pay relief to plot allottees
	WORLD: England says, she wasn’t ordered to abuse
	SPORTS: ‘Fortress’ Athens ready to play host

In Spectrum today

Inhuman cargo by Prabhjot Singh Hamburg, a port for all tastes by Mohinder Singh ‘Film fests can do without govt patronage’ by Amitabh Srivastava CAPTION CONTEST Book reviews Driven by the mirage by Darshan Singh Maini and more

Villagers in neckdeep water at Rohar Jagir village, 35 km from Patiala, on Saturday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

No flashflood threat, say reports from China
Shimla, August 7
Maintaining the high alert in the wake of flood threat due to the formation of a lake in Tibet, the government today decided not to dismantle the Bailey bridges and restart generation in the Nathpa-Jhakri project on the Sutlej river in view of latest reports from China that there was no immediate possibility of the blockade giving way and causing flash floods.

Nation page: Tibet-bound experts to be in Chandigarh today
Himachal page: Flood-scared move to safety
Haryana page: Steps to tackle floods

Army chief receives keys of Arjun tank Chennai, August 7 India’s defence capabilities received a major boost as the indigenously designed and manufactured armoured war vehicle, Main Battle Tank Arjun, rolled out of the heavy vehicle factory here today. A soldier guides India’s indigenously developed main battle tank (MBT), the Arjun, as it’s rolled out during an induction ceremony in Chennai on Saturday. — Reuters photo