Operation to Retake Afghan Town Kills
12 Taliban, 2 Children
At least 12 insurgents and two children were killed in an air strike by international forces on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan as a massive operation to retake the Taliban-controlled town continued Saturday, officials said. Read On

Tourist Outcry Over Maoist Extortion
Grows in Nepal by Sudeshna Sarkar
Even as a red-faced Nepal government arrested two Maoist guerrillas after the tale of their assault of a Swiss tourist hit the headlines worldwide, complains started pouring in from more and more foreigners about their harassment at the hand of the rebels, whose leadership takes pride in saying no foreigner was ever attacked during the 10-year armed uprising. Read On

• Pakistani Judges Who Refused PCO a Gone Case
• Lack of Progress at Bali Worries top UN Official
• Nepal Film Festival Gives China Culture Shock
• Hindraf Faces Ban:
  Has 'Links with India's RSS, Lanka's LTTE' 
• Australia Wants India, China
  to Make Tough Emission Cuts

US Keeps Aid Flowing to Pakistan
Despite Emergency by Arun Kumar
The US has justified keeping aid flowing to key ally Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's government, which has since 2001 received close to $10 billion, bulk of it in military assistance, despite imposition of emergency rule. Read On

'Anti-fascists' Defy Neo-Nazis on Spanish Streets
Neo-Nazis attacking immigrants are nothing new in Spain, but an equally marginal and violent force opposing them is now emerging. Youths calling themselves anti-fascists clash in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities with neo-Nazis or similar gangs whom they resemble with their shaved heads, leather jackets and military boots like in a mirror image. Read On

• Indian American Student Sues New York Police

King's Newest Angst:
To Attend or Not to Attend Weddings
by Sudeshna Sarkar
Stripped of his enormous powers and now living under the shadow of a trust formed to take over the royal property he inherited from his slain brother, Nepal's cornered King Gyanendra now has a new concern - whether or not to attend weddings. Read On

Myanmar Toll 'Much Greater' than Junta Admits: Rights Group
Many more people were killed in a September crackdown on peaceful anti-government protesters than Myanmar's military regime admits, Human Rights Watch said Friday. Read On

• Tanker Spills 10,000 Tonnes of Oil
  Off South Korean Coast 

US Favors Flexible Approach to Climate Change
by Arun Kumar
The US says it's wrong to suggest it has wide differences with India on the issue of climate change as Washington only favors a flexible approach recognizing the diverse needs of nations. Read On

• Benazir Bhutto's Election Bid Challenged 
• Phase 3 of Poll Process Gets Underway in Pakistan
• Canadian Sikh Driver's Death Alleged
  Due to Hospital Neglect

Hillary Clinton Preferred as US President: Poll
Americans and Europeans agree that Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton would make the best US president of the current contenders for the post, according to a poll made public Friday. Read On  

Air India Plot Warning Claim Rubbished 
by Gurmukh Singh
The public inquiry into the 1985 Air India bombing has turned curious with a Canadian spy countering the claim of former Ontario Lt. Governor James Bartleman that he saw a secret intercept about the plot a week before the plane was blown off. Read On

• Death Toll in China Mine Blast Rises to 105
• Corruption has Increased 100% in Pakistan: Report
• US Shuttle Launch Delayed by Fuel Sensors
• Sikh Driver's Death Turns Spotlight
  on Canada's Health Plan
• Chinese Man Fined for Importing Coral
  into New Zealand
• Hindu Body Seeking Terror Groups' Support,
  says Malaysian Police Chief

Nuclear Energy Key to India's Role
in Climate Change: US by Arun Kumar
As the world discusses a new agreement to fight global warming, the US says nuclear energy will be a "key piece of the equation" for the future of India's contribution to adjusting climate change. Read On

Yuvraj, Ganguly Hit Centuries
to put India in Command
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly smashed centuries and their record 300 runs fifth-wicket partnership saw India amass 365 for five wickets on the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan. Read On
► Yuvraj Rues Missing Double Century 

Modi says I was Misquoted,
Demands Action against Sonia
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday replied to the Election Commission's notice, saying he had not justified the extra-judicial killing of a Muslim youth even as he demanded action against Sonia Gandhi for allegedly calling him a merchant of death. Read On

• IAF Unleashes its Arsenal at Firepower Demo
• Ties with US Not At Cost of Russia: Antony
• Mayawati Asks Private Sector to Provide Quotas
• Meenas Plan Mass Meet against Gujjars in Rajasthan
• Iskcon Major Threat to Communists: CPI-M

Priyanka Blames Rizwanur's Brother for Tragedy
Priyanka Todi, wife of graphics designer Rizwanur Rahman who died under mysterious circumstances here Sep 21, Saturday blamed her brother-in-law Rukbanur for the circumstances leading to the tragedy. Read On

NRIs in US Drumming Up Support for Modi
by Parveen Chopra
In the run-up to the crucial state assembly elections in Gujarat, a group calling itself the Support Gujarat Progress Group as well as the Overseas Friends of BJP--USA (OFBJP) have been drumming up support among NRIs in the US and elsewhere to call and email their family and friends in the state to vote and support Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Read On

• OIL Seeks Security in Assam
  after Assault by Protestors 
• Chhattisgarh Land Acquisition Only After Consensus:
  Raman Singh

Buddhadeb Appeasing Muslim Vote Banks: BJP
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's remarks questioning the existence of Lord Ram has re-ignited another controversy in the state with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming he was trying to "appease Muslim vote banks" after the Nandigram fiasco by making "sacrilegious statements". Read On

• Amid Nandigram Unrest, Mamata Meets Sonia 
• CID to Probe Nandigram Skeletal Remains 
• Seven Hospitalised After Gas Leak in Tamil Nadu
• BJP Protests Election Commission's Failure
  to Act against Sonia

Abdullah Stirs Up Debate
with Remarks on Accession  
National Conference (NC) party patron and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah's recent statement questioning the state's accession to India is being widely seen here as an expression of "anguish rather than intent". Read On

People are Killed Without Reason,
PM says in Gujarat by Rajeev Khanna
Hitting back at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, PM Manmohan Singh accused the state government of bias over protecting its citizens and said "people are being killed without any reason". Read On

• Private Money Must Play Key Role
  in Fighting Climate Change 
• IAF to Showcase its Firepower on Saturday
• Large Capital Inflows May Impact India's Growth
• Mamata Meets Sonia, Asks her to Visit Nandigram
• BJP Promises Poverty Free Gujarat 
• PM says Gujarat Must Return to 'Mainstream' 
• CPI Seeks Narendra Modi's Disqualification
• Nearly 50 Child Marriages Solemnized in Rajasthan
• Mining of Titanium Bearing Minerals to be Allowed

Narendra Modi: Messiah or Machiavelli?
by Rajeev Khanna
He was once a tea vendor, and his is a rags-to-riches story. His fans call him a messiah. Others say he is a power hungry Machiavelli. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is perhaps a bit of all this. Read On

• IFFI Leaves French Delegates Fuming   
• Train Passengers in Bihar at God's Mercy  
• Goat Sellers Begin Flocking to Jaipur's Bakra Mandi

Chhattisgarh BJP's 4-year rule Marred by Red Tape
by Sujeet Kumar
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Chhattisgarh completed four years Friday, but it is still battling accusations that many of its welfare schemes have not taken off because of red tape. It was on Dec 7, 2003, that the first BJP government was formed in the state, and Raman Singh - an Ayurvedic doctor with a clean image - was asked to head it. Read On