Clinton, Obama in Dead Heat; McCain Ahead
by Arun Kumar
Super Tuesday's battle for presidential nominations ended in a virtual dead heat for Democrats with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama carving up the country, while John McCain took a big lead among Republicans. Read On
► Clinton is the Frontrunner: Obama

Nuclear India, Pakistan Not Running Arms Race
by Arun Kumar
Although both India and Pakistan are fielding a more mature strategic nuclear capability, they do not appear to be engaged in a Cold War-style arms race, a top US intelligence official assesses. Read On

• US Slowdown Could Be
  An Opportunity for China: Economists
• Asian Stocks Hit on US Recession Fears 
• 14 Killed as Tornadoes Strike US 
• Indian American Doctor Gives $1 mn to US College

Sri Lanka may be Heading for Military Stalemate
by P.K. Balachandran
Sri Lankan leaders are gung-ho about capturing by the year-end the country's northern regions the Tamil Tigers now control. But ground realities do not match the optimism, say military observers who are predicting a military stalemate rather than an outright victory for either party. Read On
► Did LTTE Attack Sri Lankan Navy
    from Indian Trawler? 

Clinton, McCain Lead State Tallies
on 'Super Tuesday'
Former first lady Hillary Clinton took an early lead over Democratic rival Barack Obama in the "Super Tuesday" presidential primaries, while John McCain picked up support that could help him seal the Republican Party nomination. Read On
► Democrats Running Tight Super Tuesday
    Presidential Race 
► Indian Americans Make an Impact
    on 'Super Tuesday'  

Royalists Begin to Regroup in Nepal
by Sudeshna Sarkar
Dismissing the move by Nepal's parliament to proclaim the former Hindu kingdom a secular republic, diehard followers of King Gyanendra have renewed their efforts to forge an alliance that would fight the April election to save the beleaguered royal family. Read On

IMF Pegs India's Economic Growth at 8.34% 
by Arun Kumar
The key challenge facing India is to sustain rapid and inclusive growth, foster job creation and maintain macroeconomic and financial stability in the context of large capital inflows, says the IMF. It expects India's economy to expand by 8.34% this fiscal. Read On
► Rising Rupee Reflects Strong Economy: IMF

• Tigers Fire at Sri Lanka Navy
  from Among Indian Boats
• Australia Won't Join Strategic Dialogues
  with US, Japan, India 
• France Ready to Interavene in Chad if necessary 
• Bangladesh Poll Panel wants
  Emergency Curbs Lifted 
• Super Tuesday Battle in US Presidential Poll

Chad Could Invade Sudan Amid Fighting,
UN Condemnation
Rebels in Chad are gearing up for a decisive battle to unseat the country's government, which threatened an incursion into neighboring Sudan, while the UN Security Council gave the go-ahead for other countries to intervene in the conflict. Read On

• Will Samy Vellu Contest Malaysia's
  General Election? 
• Canadian Majority Sees US
  as World's Most Negative Force 
• Russia Condemns Taiwan's Referendum
  on UN Membership
• Change in Nepal was Inevitable: Indian Envoy 

Congress Leaders Press Chidambaram
for Pro-poor Budget
With an eye to the assembly elections in 10 states and the Lok Sabha this year, the Congress party office-bearers have urged Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to present a pro-poor budget. Read On

• Choppers Can Play Decisive Role in Battle  
• Rotary Donates $5.65 mn to Fight Polio in India   
• Mullaperiyar Dam has Outlived Itself,
  Kerala Lawyer Tells Court

Forward Bloc Shutdown Cripples West Bengal   
West Bengal was crippled Wednesday as a 24-hour shutdown was enforced by ruling Left Front constituent Forward Bloc to protest police firing on its supporters that left six people dead. Read On
► Is Left Front Going to Split?

• Meditation Guru Mahesh Yogi Breathes his Last
• Cabinet to Take Call on Fuel Price Hike: Deora
• Shivraj Patil asks Maharashtra
  to Protect the Vulnerable 
• Murder Case Lodged Before Actual Murder!  
• Illegal Properties Now Allowed to Reopen in Delhi

India Signs Agreement for Hercules Aircraft  
by Gulshan Luthra and Air Marshal Goel (Retd)
India has signed its biggest military deal yet with the US to buy six Super Hercules C130J special role aircraft in a $1 billion-plus package deal. Read On

• Ethnic Aspirations Keep Assam Under Siege 
• Kidney kingpin has Network of Overseas Touts
• Indian Markets Crash on Global Cues 
• Closed Highway Spells New Hardships
  to Stranded Kashmiris 
• Door Not Permanently Shut on Uranium Sales:
  Australian Expert 

Replicate Greyhound commandos in Other States: YSR by Murali Krishnan
To counter the spread of Maoist violence in the country, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy believes the "Greyhound commando experience" in his state must be replicated in other affected states. Read On

China Scores Over India as Australia Quits Strategic Dialogue: Experts by Vishnu Makhijani
China has flexed its muscles in persuading Australia to withdraw from a nascent strategic dialogue with India, the US and Japan, security experts say. Read On

LTTE Rocks Congress-DMK Boat Again
by Faraz Ahmed and T.S.V. Hari 
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas are once again at the heart of a row between Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK party and the Congress. Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi has expressed his disgust over the stand of the Congress, some of whose leaders have accused him of going soft on those in Tamil Nadu allegedly sympathetic to the LTTE . Read On

Five Forward Bloc Men Killed
in Bengal Police Firing
Five activists of the All India Forward Bloc, the second largest constituent of the Left Front government in West Bengal, were killed and at least 25 others injured Tuesday when the police opened fire on "violent" party protestors in a northern town. Read On

• De-sealing of Illegal Properties in Delhi
  from Wednesday 
• Mumbai Still Tense,
  Bhojpuri Singer's House Ransacked  

India Concerned Over Clandestine Nuke Proliferation in Region
Expressing concern over nuclear technology being "clandestinely and flagrantly" proliferated "in our region", India Tuesday called for proper implementation of laws to prevent leakage of material and technology from established nuclear programmes. Read On

India and US Strategic Partners,
Not Allies: Ronen Sen by Arun Kumar
India and the US will never be allies in the military sense, but they can rightly be called strategic partners given their cooperation in nuclear energy, defence and space, says ambassador Ronen Sen. Read On

• Gujarat City observes Shutdown to Protest Gang Rape
• Sanjay Nirupam Arrested
  as Clashes in Mumbai Continue 
• Life Term for Three in IC-814 Hijack Case
• Seven Cases and Counting: Mayawati Banks on CBI
• More than 200 Industries Shut Down in Rahul's Amethi
• Anthrax Enters West Bengal Before Bird Flu Exits