Nepal's Maoists Begin 'Street Revolt'
by Sudeshna Sarkar
Nepal's Maoists quit the government, announced boycott of the Nov 22 elections and decided on a "street revolt" to get rid of monarchy, as hundreds of their cadres began a march into capital Kathmandu burning effigies of King Gyanendra. Read On

• Pro-Taliban Militants Execute 18 Pakistani Soldiers
• 23 Killed Across Iraq, Kirkuk-Bayji Pipeline Attacked
• German Minister Apologizes for Racist Attack
• China Warns Germany Against Dalai Lama's Visit
• Ahmadinejad Brushes off French Threat

Poverty in Pakistan:
Many Reasons, Few Solutions
Pakistan, a nation of 160 million, has in real terms 34 percent of its population - much higher than the government's figure of 24 percent - living below the poverty line, but precious little seems to be done to address the imbalance. Read On

• IAEA Chief Opposes Impulsive War Against Iran
• Iraq Revokes Licence of US Private Security Firm
• Musharraf to Shed Uniform if Re-elected President
• Another Indo-Nepal Power Project Comes to a Halt

Maoists Quit Government,
Plunge Nepal into Uncertainty
After 170 days in government, Nepal's Maoists Tuesday walked out of the ruling coalition, accusing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Nepali Congress of trying to save unpopular King Gyanendra. They also pledged to start a new "people's revolt" for the abolition of monarchy. Read On

UN Campaigns to Recover Stolen Assets
Worth Trillions  
The United Nations has launched a worldwide campaign to recover cross-border flow of global assets estimated at up to $1.6 trillion a year as a result of criminal activities, corruption and tax evasion. The UN said bribes received by public officials in developing countries and those in transition have been put at $20 billion to $40 billion a year. Read On

• Maoists Ready to Quit Nepal Government

Indian-origin Men Guilty in Britain's Biggest
Fake Drugs Racket by Prasun Sonwalkar
Four people, including two of Indian origin, have been found guilty of masterminding a multi-million pound global racket of selling counterfeit Viagra and other drugs over the Internet after procuring them from India, Pakistan and China. Read On

• 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  

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

▪ Sri Lanka Easily Beat Bangladesh
▪ Pakistan Surprise Australia in Twenty20
▪ New Zealand Beat England by Five Runs 
• Twenty20 Matches Included in 2010 Asian Games
• Dhoni Replaces Dravid as ODI Captain;
  Pathan, Harbhajan Back

US Urges India to Take 'Last Steps' on N-deal 
With the India-US civil nuclear deal embroiled in a standoff between the government and its Left allies, US ambassador David Mulford Tuesday asked India to take the "last steps" so that the deal can be endorsed by Congress well in time before Washington moves into election mode next year. Read On
► Sibal Attacks Left on Nuclear Deal
► Do Not Operationalize N-deal for Six Months: Karat

Another 4,000 Cops Sacked in Uttar Pradesh
Close on the heels of sacking 6,500 policemen, the Uttar Pradesh government Tuesday ordered the dismissal of another 3,964 policemen recruited during the earlier Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, alleging "major irregularities" in the selection process. Read On

Rousing Welcome await Sunita Williams
in Gujarat
There is an air of expectancy and mood of elation in the family of Vithal Pandya, whose niece, Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams arrives in Ahmedabad Thursday to a big welcome. Read On

• Harvard Eyes India,
  Offers Weeklong Course for Rs. 180,000
• Left Front Okays New Site for Chemical Hub

Siachen Trek on,
Climbers Head for Leh Wednesday
Protests by Pakistan notwithstanding, a group of civilian and military mountaineers leaves here Wednesday for Leh in Jammu and Kashmir for an acclimatization camp prior to trekking up the Siachen glacier. Read On

India-China Border Talks Sep 24, N-deal Discussed
India and China Tuesday decided to hold border talks here Sep 24-26 even as New Delhi sought Beijing's support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for the Indo-US nuclear deal. Read On

US Calls India a Major Drug Hub;
Indians say Controls in Place
The US has named India as one of 20 major hubs for trafficking in illegal drugs, but Indian enforcement officials maintain the problem is not epidemic and that mandatory controls are in place. Read On

• Awards Galore for British NRIs   
• Sunita Williams to Visit India This Week
• Limca Book's 60 Indians Who Made a Difference 
• Biometrics is No Guarantee for Secure Data
• Just Seven Wild Buffaloes Left in Chhattisgarh
• Better Roads Bring Better Marriage Proposals
• Orissa Artists on a Mission to Save Tribal Art

Tax-free Fun Ahead of
Karnataka's Power Transfer Deadline
By V.S. Karnic
Two weeks remain for Janata Dal-Secular to hand over power to coalition partner BJP in Karnataka but there is complete uncertainty as to whether the transfer will actually take place Oct 3. Read On 

• Dhoni Named ODI Captain; Pathan, Harbhajan Back 
• Power Majors to Discuss India's Energy Security
• As Service Chiefs Spar,
  CDS Issue Could Go on Backburner  
• One More Lynched in Bihar

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