Monday, October 1, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SC bans DMK bandh over Ram Setu
Says such acts of political parties can’t be tolerated
New Delhi, September 30
In a severe jolt to the Karunanidhi-led DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court today banned Monday’s state-wide bandh called by it on the Sethusamudram issue in the backdrop of the Chief Minister questioning the very existence of Lord Ram and the Ram Sethu built by him and trying to make it an issue of north-south divide and clash of Aryan-Dravidan culture.

Karunanidhi to lead fast
‘Nothing against Ram’

Over 230 Pak Opposition lawmakers resign
Islamabad, September 30
Upping the ante, over 230 opposition lawmakers have resigned from Pakistan’s national and provincial assemblies to resist President Pervez Musharraf’s re-election bid, as journalists observed a “black day” today, condemning the police action during protests against the General.

Edit: General has his way

UN envoy meets Suu Kyi, junta leaders
Yangon, September 30
A United Nations envoy held back-to-back meetings today with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s military rulers trying to find peaceful solution to the crisis that has engulfed the impoverished country.

Pope appeals for peace
Hundreds rally in Tokyo

UPA-Left Meet
Basu hopes for positive outcome
Kolkata, September 30
CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu said today his party would finally decide on their withdrawal of support from the Manmohan government after the left parties’ forthcoming meeting with the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and the Prime Minister on October 14.

World page: Nothing to do with Left’s stand: China

Dismissed cop sets himself, family members on fire
Wife dead; police harassment alleged
Behman Jassa Singh Wala (Bathinda), September 30
In a bizarre incid- ent, Gurjant Singh, a dismissed cop, set himself and members of his family on fire here last night.

Anil Garg, SDM, Talwandi Sabo, and senior police officials inspect the spot where Gurjant Singh set himself and other family members on fire in a village in Bathinda district on Saturday night. — Photo by S.S. Sonu

Former SSP Rai to be summoned
VB unearths 3 more scams akin to City Centre
Ludhiana, September 30
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has unearthed three more major scams akin to the alleged City Centre scam in which family members of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh were involved.

Anand is undisputed world champion
Mexico City, September 30
Viswanathan Anand regained the world championship after a gap of nearly seven years, drawing his 14th and final round game in quick time against Hungarian Peter Leko here. Playing with white, the writing was already on the wall for the Indian ace as he just needed a draw and achieving it was never going to be too difficult given his stupendous form.

Prez congratulates Anand

Religious Hatred Act to protect UK Hindus, Muslims London, September 30 Incitement to religious hatred will become a criminal offence in England and Wales with the commencement of a new Act from tomorrow that will extend the protection to Hindus, Muslims and Christians, hitherto enjoyed by only Sikhs and Jews.