Monday, September 17, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Pak amends poll rules
Hurdles in Mush’s way removed
The Election Commission of Pakistan has amended the rules governing presidential candidates to pave the way for Pervez Musharraf’s re-election as president for five more years, a minister said on Sunday.
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3 Generals in race for Pak army chief’s post
New Delhi, September 16
Announcement from Islamabad yesterday that Pakistani Presidential candidate Gen Pervez Musharraf will doff the uniform after re-election early next month has shifted the focus on who would assume charge of the most powerful and the critical post in Pakistan’s fragile political scenario.

88 die in Thai plane crash
Phuket (Thailand), September 16
A budget airliner crashed on the Thai resort island of Phuket today, killing 88 persons as it broke up and burst into flames while trying to land in heavy rain, a senior official said.
Rescue workers stand next to the wreckage of Thai budget carrier One-To-Go MD-82 plane after it crashed at Phuket airport in Phuket island on Sunday. — AFP photo

Ban on Turban
Sikhs in France open own school
London, September 16
With the government ban on the wearing of the religious dress in the schools, forcing many Sikh students to drop out in France, the community has opened its first school in a Paris suburb. The Sikh school was built by a local entrepreneur whose son was excluded from a public school three years ago after he had refused to remove his turban in the class, the BBC reported.

Himalayan Diplomacy
Menon leaves for China
New Delhi, September 16
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon left tonight for a crucial visit to China as the two Asian giant neighbours are going to be engaged in Himalayan diplomacy over the next two days.

14 undertrials escape in Goa
Panaji, September 16
Fourteen undertrials escaped during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations here last night. The four also assaulted four jail guards in Margao judicial lock-up before fleeing off, the police said today.

Army jawan commits suicide
Jammu, September 16
An Army jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a service rifle in Jammu district today. Vijay Sohar fired at himself in 4th Signal unit in the Birpur area of Jammu district.

Now, Karunanidhi questions existence of Ram
Chennai, September 16
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi today questioned the existence of Lord Ram and warned the central government not to succumb to threats from communal forces who were trying to block the Sethusamudram ship canal project on the pretext of “mythological Ram Sethu”.
(Details on Nation page)