US Alarmed by Al Qaeda's Growth in Pakistan
The US government is "extremely concerned" about the emergence of Al Qaeda in Pakistan, but will not act without a nod from the Pakistani government. "There are concerns now about how much Al Qaeda turned inward, literally, inside Pakistan, as well as the kind of planning, training, financing and support that the worldwide effort is," ... Read On

Rare Protest in China
Over Maglev Train Route Extension
by Bivash Mukherjee 
In a rare sight in China's financial capital Shanghai, a few hundred people opposed to plans to extend the maglev (magnetic levitation) train route demonstrated outside the city government in the heart of this city on a foggy afternoon. Read On

• Musharraf will Resign if a Majority doesn't Want Him
• Arab League Fails to Resolve Lebanon Stalemate
• Venezuelan Oil Reserves
  Will be World's Largest by 2009 

Ahmadinejad Urges IAEA Not to be Swayed
by World Powers
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the United Nations nuclear watchdog to fulfill its responsibility and not be influenced by world powers in the nuclear dispute, IRNA news reported. Read On

Musharraf Open to Coalition Government
Even as pre-poll surveys in Pakistan suggest that no single party will get a majority in the parliamentary elections Feb 18, President Pervez Musharraf has indicated his party's willingness to work with others to form a government. Read On

'Ruthless' LTTE Inspired Al Qaeda in Iraq: FBI
By P.K. Balachandran
The "ruthless tactics" of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers have inspired terrorist networks worldwide, including the Al Qaeda in Iraq, says the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Read On

Cherie Blair Inks Pact to Set Up Model School
in Punjab Village
Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Punjab government on behalf of the London-based Loomba Trust for setting up a Rs 10 mn 'Adarsh' (model) school in Dhilwan village of Punjab's Kapurthala district. Read On

Indian Origin Lawmaker Shot Dead in Malaysia 
Sithan Krishnasamy, an Indian origin lawmaker of Malaysia's Tenggaroh state, was shot dead Friday by an unidentified assailant. Krishnasamy, 61, who was vice-president of the Johor unit of Malaysian Indian Congress, the country's largest party of ethnic Indians, was shot point blank and a man was seen fleeing on a motorcycle, media reports said. Read On

• Blank Bullets Sent to Berlusconi
  with 'Islamist Death Threat'  
• Tenzing-Hillary, a Partnership
  that Endured a Colonial Row 

Musharraf Warns US against Military Action
in Pakistan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has warned that any intervention in his country by the US-led coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan would be treated as an invasion while US termed as "completely outrageous and unfounded" suggestions it was involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Benazir Bhutto. Read On

Bush Ends Israel, West Bank Visit
with Hope for Peace 
US President George W. Bush wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian areas with a tour of Christian holy sites near the northern Sea of Galilee. Accompanied by Christian religious leaders, Bush - a devout, born-again Christian - visited ... Read On

Edmund Hillary, First to Climb Everest, Dies at 88
Sir Edmund Hillary was honored throughout the world as the first man, with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,848 metres, in 1953. He died Friday at the age of 88. In his native land, he was the best-loved New Zealander of his generation and could have ruled the country for years had he chosen to enter politics. Read On

UK-India a Match Made in Heaven, says British Trade Minister by Dipankar De Sarkar
A quarter of a century after Japanese car companies boosted Britain's economy under Margaret Thatcher, India is being seen as the country that could do an "encore", with Britain's minister for trade and investment saying that the next generation of investment wouldn't be powered by a Nissan, "it's going to be a Tata". Read On

India's Ties with China
Poised to Enter Vibrant Phase: Manmohan
India's ties with China are now poised to enter "a vibrant and dynamic phase," which will in turn Contribute to global peace and stability, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here hours before leaving for Beijing on a three-day visit. Read On
► Top Industrialists Accompanying PM to Beijing

Tamil Nadu to Seek Review of Ban on Bullfight 
The Tamil Nadu government Saturday decided to seek the review of a Supreme Court order banning the traditional bullfight - jallikattu. Read On

• I am Not in Race for Bharat Ratna: Jyoti Basu 
• Yoga to be Started in all Madhya Pradesh Schools
• Senior Congress Leader Threatens to Quit
  over Telangana
• 'Taare Zameen Par' Makes Advani Cry 
• Four Political Heavyweights in Bharat Ratna Race
• Cherie Blair Pays Obeisance at Golden Temple
• Sea Area to be Demarcated for Olive Ridleys
• Thousands Homeless as Fire Guts Kolkata Markets

Back-in-form Sehwag says Perth Pitch
should be to his Liking
Virender Sehwag's 12-month wait to resume his Test career could be over after smashing 113 from 78 balls for India on the last day of the three-day game against an Australian Capital Territory XI  Saturday. Read On
► It's not 'Monkey', More Likely a Punjabi Abuse
► Indian Team Should have Returned
    from Australia: Lalu

Manmohan Singh on China Journey
as World Watches by Tarun Basu
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives Sunday morning on his first visit to China - a country whose remarkable growth story he personally wanted to witness - which is rolling out the red carpet for what Beijing says would be a "big and significant event" in its diplomatic calendar. Read On
► Chinese Incursions are there,
    But No Need to Panic: Pranab 

• I have Faith in Resilience of Pakistani People: Pranab
• Fire Guts Kolkata Markets, Spreads to Multi-storeys

CPI-M Proposes Proportionate Representation
There should be a system of proportionate representation in the Indian parliament and legislatures to prevent the current phase of coalition politics from degenerating into "anarchy", CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury has suggested. Read On

India hopeful of Wrapping up IAEA Pact this month
India hopes to wrap up a safeguards pact with the International Atomic Energy Agency this month before approaching the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group for a change in its guidelines to permit global civil nuclear commerce with the country. Read On

• Too Early to Decide on Bharat Ratna: PM 
• Congress Divided Over States Reorganization Panel
• Political Spat Over Bharat Ratna Deepens

CBI Resumes Noida Land Scam Probe,
Searches Officers 
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday raided several offices and residences across Uttar Pradesh as part of its effort to unearth irregularities in the allotment of 600 high-value plots in Noida town, a suburb of the national capital. CBI teams searched the offices and residences of at least 17 senior and junior officials associated with the land plot allotments made in 2005 under the then Samajwadi Party government headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav. Read On

India to Discuss Nuclear Energy,
Border Row with China  
India will seek China's support in its quest for global civil nuclear cooperation and stress on an early resolution of the border dispute during Pm Manmohan Singh's three-day visit to Beijing that begins Sunday. Read On

BJP to Kick Off Poll Campaign Feb 10
with Public Rally 
Getting into election mode in a major way, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday announced it would kick off its poll campaign with a public rally in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh Feb 10, to be jointly addressed by party president Rajnath Singh and the party's prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani. Read On

'84 Riots: Jasbir Singh Moves High Court
against CBI
Jasbir Singh, a key witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots who lives in California, Friday moved a petition in the Delhi High Court through his counsel stating that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had not followed the right procedure of summoning him. Read On