Thursday, August 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SAARC agrees on combating terror
India rejects Pak dialogue offer
Kathmandu, August 21
In what is being considered a diplomatic success for India in its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, SAARC Foreign Ministers today accepted New Delhi’s proposal to hold a ministerial meeting of the member-countries in the near future to formulate a joint plan of action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, even as India rejected Pakistan’s offer for talks without pre-conditions.

Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha (left) shakes hands with Pakistan Foreign Affairs Minister Inamul Haq after the opening ceremony of the ministerial meeting of SAARC in Kathmandu on Wednesday. — AFP photo In video (28k, 56k)

SHIVANI MURDER CASE
Medical proof on accused sought
New Delhi, August 21
A Delhi court today directed the Delhi police, investigating the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, to present proof of medical examinations conducted on accused Pradeep Sharma while in 14-day police remand.

PM’s no to SGPC jatha for Pak
Amritsar, August 21
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has refused to accept the demand of the SGPC to send a jatha of kar sevaks to Pakistan for the maintenance of Sikh shrines.

Gujarat poll: SC hearing on Aug 26
New Delhi, August 21
The Supreme Court will hear on August 26 the Presidential reference regarding the standoff between the Vajpayee government and the Election Commission over early Assembly elections in Gujarat.

40-yr-old tractors still in service Polluting Holy City of Amritsar Amritsar, August 21 Weaponry used during the Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars may have found its way into museums, but most of the tractors and lorries bought in 1962 and 1965 for the removal of garbage here are still on the road, emanating pollution. A Massey Ferguson tractor bought by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation in 1962 collects garbage in Amritsar. — Photo Rajiv Sharma