Swine Flu Scare
Screening of international passengers begins
*Alert at 17 Indian airports
*WHO warns of pandemic
*Virus spreads to Germany
New Delhi, April 29
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) raising the worldwide pandemic alert level from swine flu virus to Phase 4 today and the toll in Mexico alone rising above 150, India set itself the deadline of 8 am tomorrow to start screening every passenger entering international airports from affected as well as other countries.

Swine influenza: Frequently asked questions and precautions
Nation page: Goa battles rumours about swine flu
Opinions page: It’s the worst time to suffer a pandemic in the world

Workers from the Richardson Independent School District work to disinfect a classroom inside Canyon Creek Elementary School, which was shut down after one case of swine flu was confirmed in Richardson, Texas. — Reuters

Prabhakaran, Pottu hatched Rajiv killing, says former aide
Colombo, April 29
Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottu Amman hatched the diabolical plot to kill former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi "silently" without the knowledge of anyone in the outfit, a former close confidant of the LTTE supremo said today.

Manhole deaths cause furore
Two municipal employees from Ludhiana die at Mansa
Mansa/Ludhiana, April 29
Two municipal employees from Ludhiana entered a manhole at Mansa, over 120 km away, in the wee hours today and died within minutes, asphyxiated by poisonous gases.

Third phase of polling today
New Delhi, April 29
Political heavyweights Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani and H D Deve Gowda are among 1,567 candidates whose fate would be decided by voters in the third phase of elections to Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Nation page: Fate of Sonia, Advani to be sealed today

Rajnath denies any commitment on Gorkhaland
Jalaun, April 29
BJP president Rajnath Singh has denied making any commitment to create a separate Gorkhaland. Speaking exclusively to The Tribune Rajnath Singh said, “We have not talked of separate Gorkhaland.

Post polls, Congress to look for new allies
New Delhi, April 29
As the ongoing electoral battle advances into its third phase tomorrow, the Congress today maintained it would emerge as the single largest party but also indicated that the post-poll composition of the ruling combine will not be the same as the present UPA.

Terror an issue in South Mumbai
Mumbai, April 29
The 26/11 terrorist strikes are a major issue in the Mumbai south Lok Sabha constituency, since it was the staging ground of the Pakistan-based terrorists. Mumbai south, once one of the smallest constituencies of the country, has now expanded to include the mill-lands of the central Mumbai.

Valley hit by curfews & boycotts It is five minutes to eight - just three hours after campaigning to the third phase of polling in the state came to an end. Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, after a hectic day of campaigning in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency arrives at Coffea Arabica on the Mulanna Azad road, sitting in a co-driver seat of silver Ford Icon. CRPF personnel patrol deserted streets at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Wednesday to thwart planned protests against holding elections. Tribune photo: Mohd Amin War