Thursday, October 11, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

2-phase poll in HP, Gujarat
New Delhi, October 10
The Election Commission today announced the schedule for two-phase assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, on November 14 and December 19 and Gujarat on December 11 and 16. The announcement, however, came as a surprise for the hill state as elections are being held a couple of months before the expiry of the term of the assembly.

Big retail not welcome in Punjab, says Badal
Chandigarh, October 10
Reliance and other big houses are not welcome in retail business in Punjab. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia, made it categorically clear today.

Mumbai traders protest against organised retail

Thermal plant at Mansa okayed
Nod to prevent private printing of Guru Granth Sahib
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Cabinet of ministers today approved the setting up of 1800 MW Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant in Mansa district. The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has established a wholly owned company titled as ‘Talwandi Sabo power limited’ to complete all processes for bidding of the project.

Tantrik Act?
Doctor couple booked for son’s death
Rohtak, October 10
The police has registered a case against Dr Promila Malik and her husband Dr Ashok Malik in connection with the death of their son Peeyush on their residence in the PGI campus here recently. Dr Promila is a professor of anaesthesiology at the PGI, while her husband is a former professor of microbiology at the institute.

India has violated border pact, says China
Beijing, October 10
China on Tuesday claimed that India had built facilities on its side of the Sikkim border in violation of the bilateral agreement on maintaining peace in the region. The claim came a day after Indian government sources said the Chinese army personnel recently demanded removal of two bunkers on the border in Sikkim, which was outrightly rejected.

Tibetans storm Embassy
New Delhi, October 10
Scores of Tibetan refugees today stormed the Chinese embassy here and painted its gates and compound wall demanding independence of Tibet. The protesters , gathered at the embassy, managed to scale the wall and enter through the side gate into the premises shouting slogans in favour of Tibet. — PTI

'Free Tibet' is seen spray-painted on the main entrance of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday. A group of Tibetan exiles entered the embassy in protest against China's new religious measures on reincarnation. — Reuters

Pak elections by Jan 15
Islamabad, October 10
General elections in Pakistan will be held in the first half of January next year under a caretaker government which would be set up to conduct the poll, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said today.

Pak chopper crash not sabotage
Experts see no conspiracy against Musharraf
New Delhi, October 10
By his own admission in his autobiography “In The Line of Fire”, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf gave a detailed account of nine times he escaped death and said: “I only pray that I have more than the proverbial nine lives of a cat”.

CBI raids on a fat General’s premises
New Delhi, October 10
The CBI today raided the premises of a Major-General posted at the Army’s South Western Command in Jaipur for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and claimed to have recovered assets worth several crores. Sleuths of the anti-corruption wing of the CBI conducted simultaneous raids at 12 places in Delhi, Jaipur, Shimla, Gurgaon and Mumbai, a CBI press note said here.