• Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by 33 Runs  

Pakistan's Top Court Hears Petitions
against Musharraf 
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday began hearing 10 petitions against President Pervez Musharraf in proceedings that would determine the political future of the embattled leader. The petitions filed ... have urged the top court to disqualify Musharraf as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election. Read On

French Minister says War is Possible
over Iran Nukes
Iranian authorities reacted angrily on Monday to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's warning that the world should prepare for a war over Tehran's nuclear programme. Read On

• Bush Nominates Retired Judge as Attorney General
• UN Urges Countries to Ratify CTBT 
• IAEA Assures Bangladesh Help
  in Installing N-power Plant
• Sotheby's Russian Art Collection Acquired Privately

Indefinite Curfew in Terai as Nepal Riot Toll Rises
by Sudeshna Sarkar
The death toll in the violence triggered in south Nepal after the murder of a powerful local leader rose to four resulting in closures by his supporters and an indefinite curfew clamped by the administration. Read On

Musharraf's Electoral Law Changes Subject to Judicial Review: Report
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf may have persuaded a pliant Election Commission to amend the law to facilitate his re-election but this might not be enforceable as it is subject to judicial review, a media report Monday said. Read On
► Call Roundtable on Pak Political Scenario: Altaf
► No Full Bench for Hearing Petitions
    Against Musharraf

• Ganesh Festival Celebrated with Fervour in Britain
• Ganesh Idol Immersed near Sydney
• Vietnam Returns Enriched Uranium to Russia
• Robust China, India Up Asia-Pacific Econ. Growth
• West Not Justified in Putting Sanctions on Iran  
• Finding Drnovsek - Slovenia's Misplaced President
• Greek Conservatives Win
  Despite Voter Fury over Fires  
• Anger at German Politician's Defence of
  Attack Against Indians
• Nothing to Celebrate One Year After The Coup  
• Two-wheeled Revolution Takes Paris by Storm
• Indians Among Foreigners Killed in Pol Pot Prison 
• OJ Simpson Arrested for Las Vegas Hotel Robbery

Indefinite Strike Called in Terai
after Nepal Leader's Murder
The murder of a powerful local leader in southern Nepal, which triggered sectarian violence, arson and looting, kept Kapilavastu district still simmering with tension Monday as the victim's supporters called for an indefinite shutdown. Read On

88 Killed in Plane Crash in Phuket
A Thai budget airline One-Two-Go flight, packed with foreigners, crashed on landing and burst into flames at Phuket Airport in Thailand, killing at least 88 of the 130 people on board, according to reports. Read On

Endgame Has Begun in Pakistan's Politics: Report
The endgame seems to have begun in Pakistan's politics with events set to unfold in the coming weeks that could have a major impact on the political, constitutional and security situation, Read On

Indian Nuke Talks Uncertain
as IAEA Marks 50th Anniversary
Renewed global interest in nuclear power and the ongoing nuclear dispute with Iran are expected to dominate the annual gathering of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) starting here Monday, though it is unclear whether there would be talks of IAEA safeguards at Indian facilities. Read On

Rules Changed for Musharraf Re-election, Opposition Cries Foul
By Muhammad Najeeb
Pakistan's Election Commission has amended rules governing presidential nominees to pave the way for President Pervez Musharraf's re-election for five more years. A furious opposition Sunday reacted angrily and demanded a new poll panel. Read On
► Sharif Meets Saudi King, his Party Upbeat

• 75-year-old Roy Completes 80th Marathon
• At least 19 Killed, 45 Wounded in Iraq Violence 
• Indians Top south Australian Census Figures
• Pakistani Dictators Have a Shelf Life of 10 Years  

123 Will Be Superior to Hyde Act
Once Finalized: UPA
The government Monday clarified that the Hyde Act was a US domestic law and the 123 agreement would be superior to it in terms of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal once it is in place. Read On
► India Has Not Yet Approached Us: IAEA

Congress Asks Leaders Not to Speak Out
on Ram Sethu
The Congress Monday asked its leaders to gag themselves over a shipping canal project after another leader asked Culture Minister Ambika Soni to quit over a court affidavit questioning the existence of Hindu god Ram. In an unusual intervention as a row over the ASI affidavit in the Supreme Court appeared to be spinning out of control, the Congress said it was time everyone kept quiet. Read On

2010 Games Budget
Now Stands at Rs.230 bn: Study
The 2010 Commonwealth Games will cost the government exchequer around Rs.230 billion ($5.70 billion) as against the initial estimate of Rs.17.72 billion, according to an independent study released Monday. "In 2002, the Indian bid for the CWG was $422 million (Rs.1,772 crores)," said the study report, "How much does national prestige cost?" Read On

• Indian, British Troops Engage in High-Altitude Drill
• Soz Offers Help to Make Jhelum Navigational
• AMU Closed Sine Die after Murder, Violence
• Top ULFA Leader Captured in Assam
• Service Tax Exemption 'Half-Hearted': Exporters

Ram Sethu Widens Schisms in Congress 
Internal troubles in the ruling Congress intensified Monday with another senior leader seeking Culture Minister Ambika Soni's resignation over the controversial Ram Sethu affidavit in the Supreme Court. Soni has already expressed her willingness to quit if the party leadership wanted her to. Read On
► DMK's Ram References Anger BJP

Kakodkar in Vienna, Left Serves IAEA Ultimatum  
by Manish Chand
Even as India's nuclear chief Anil Kakokdar is in Vienna to attend a meeting of the IAEA, the Left Monday warned that a dialogue with the government would become "meaningless" if it went ahead with talks with the UN nuclear watchdog to operationalize the India-US nuclear deal. Read On

US Firm Offers India Thorium Reactors
By K.S. Jayaraman
While India is still debating how to make the Indo-US nuclear deal work, an American company, anxious to enter the Indian market, has offered to build commercial nuclear power reactors in the country. Read On

• India's External Debt Rose 22% Last Fiscal 
• Buddha Votes for Nuclear Energy 
• 'Rank-holders' Fail to Get Party Tickets in Karnataka
• Exporters Exempted from Service Tax on Logistics 
• Biotech Opportunity for Public-Private Partnerships
• ULFA Hints at Resuming Talks with Government
• Angry Nomads Want CBI Probe into Bihar Lynching
• Money Fuels Terrorism in South Asia 
• Poachers Gun Down Rhino in Flood-hit Kaziranga
• Hundreds Flee as Elephants Run Amok
  in Chhattisgarh Village

Sethusamudram Canal May Disturb
Endangered Turtles: Expert by Ashis Senapati
The Sethusamudram shipping canal project off Tamil Nadu may disturb thousands of endangered Olive Ridley turtles that come every winter to Orissa for mass nesting. Read On

India Has a Lot to Learn About Twenty20 Cricket 
by Arjun Singh
Indians are rookies in the Twenty20 form of cricket and it showed Sunday. Otherwise, given the electric start to their run chase, they should have wrapped up the game against New Zealand quite easily in the Twenty20 World Championships. Read On
► New Zealand Defeat India  

• Albie Morkel Anchors South Africa
  to 19-run Win over England
• Australia Pulverise Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Signs Pact
  for Apparels Duty-free Export to India 
• Decomposed Bodies of Eight 'Thieves' Found in Bihar
• CSIR Ties Up with Thomson Scientific
• Indian, British Troops Set for High Altitude Joint Drill
• Russia, India Begin Joint Anti-Terrorism Drill
• Bajaj Auto workers Insist on Reopening Plant

Mumbai Salutes God of Prosperity, Good Fortune
by Probir Pramanik
Mumbai is all aglitter and celebrating. From towering jewel-laden Lord Ganeshas to little clay statues placed in neighborhood parks and homes, the elephant-headed god - the harbinger of good fortune - is the cynosure of India's financial and entertainment capital, and will remain so for the next week. Read On