Thursday, October 18, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Bloodbath on Dalal St.
Minutes after trading began, the Sensex plunged to a low of 17,307.90, down a huge 1,744 points. Officials had to stop trading for one hour. It, however, recovered from  P-note jitters to close at over 18K.
Mumbai, October 17
The Sensex staged a dramatic recovery from a 1700-point deep fall in the opening hours after Finance Minister P Chidambaram quickly moved in to calm the fears of investors following a shocker by the Security Exchange Board of India that it would ban investment in the bourses via participatory notes. In video (56k)
Business page: FIIs can roll over PNs
Nation page: BJP seeks JPC probe

"I must make it clear that we have not banned P-notes but have only put a cap — P. Chidambaram, union finance minister A stock broker reacts at a brokerage firm in Mumbai. — Reuters photo

Pause & Correct N-deal not in cold storage nor is PM quitting: Cong
New Delhi, October 17 Even after an explanation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to US President George Bush about difficulties being faced by him in going ahead with the nuclear agreement the Congress continues to put up a brave face by saying the deal has not been put in cold storage and is very much in the offing. World page: Burns holds talks	Manmohan Singh
Dr Singh has full confidence of all the allies and there is no question of either him or the government resigning. — Shakeel Ahmed, AICC general secretary

HP polls will not be deferred, says EC
Shimla, October 17
The Election Commission has outrightly rejected the Congress demand for deferment of Assembly elections and instead offered to advance the second-phase poll scheduled for December 19 by a fortnight to avoid a clash with the school examinations.

D-day Today Pakistan’s most expensive welcome awaits Bhutto
Islamabad, October 17 With a million people expected to gather in Karachi on Thursday to greet former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto as she returns home after nine years, the expenses are also likely to be in billions of rupees - perhaps Pakistan’s most expensive welcome party to date.
A supporter of Pakistan’s former prime minister Benazir Bhutto makes a V-sign in front of her picture ahead of her arrival in Karachi on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Petitions on Mush eligibility
CJ turns down request for full-court hearing
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Wednesday turned down the request for full court hearing of the petitions challenging the eligibility of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to contest election. (Details on World page)

PM scales up IBSA trade target
Calls for a common social development strategy
Johannesburg, October 17
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for considerably enhancing trade among India, Brazil and South Africa by 2012 with goals of energy security and a common social development strategy to benefit millions in these countries.