• Blast at Political Rally Kills 14 in Pakistan  
• China Loses One-tenth Forest Resources in Snowfall
• Benazir's Party Rejects Scotland Yard Findings
• G7 Vows to Stabilize Global Financial Markets
• Turkish Parliament Votes to Lift Headscarf Ban

Pakistan Poll Campaign may Now Take Off 
by Muhammad Najeeb
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announcement that it would begin full-fledged campaigning for the Feb 18 polls could add color to the lackluster political activity since the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Read On

India-US Forum to Focus on Trade,
Investment Expansion by Arun Kumar
Investment and tariff and non-tariff barriers will be discussed at an India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting and the first ever summit of their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Chicago Feb 20. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab will co-chair the TPF. Read On

• Obama Backs Move for Democracy in Pakistan
• US Senate set to Produce a President
  after 50 Years
• 1,500 Colombians leave homes for Fear of Minefields

US Won't Sign Global Treaty Unless India Commits to Emission Reduction
by Joydeep Gupta
The US will not sign the successor to the Kyoto Protocol unless India commits to a mandatory reduction of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a senior official of the US government said. Read On

Nepal Hunts for Nabbed Kidney Racket Kingpin's Brother by Sudeshna Sarkar
After nabbing Indian kidney racket kingpin Amit Kumar Raut from a resort in tourist destination Chitwan in south Nepal, triumphant Nepal police are now hunting for his brother Jeevan Kumar and other accomplices who could be hiding in the Himalayan state. Read On

• Two Shootouts in US, Nine Killed  
• President Putin Looks Back
  on His Eight Years at Helm 

Obama's Poll Worth as President Higher than Clinton: US Poll by Parveen Chopra
If America were to elect a president today instead of Nov 4, Barack Obama has a slightly better chance of beating Republican nominee John McCain than Hillary Clinton, a Time magazine poll revealed Thursday. In a theoretical match-up, Obama bagged 48 percent votes to beat McCain at 41 percent. On the other hand, a Clinton-McCain contest would end in a tie, each polling 46 percent votes. Read On

Pakistan Finally Understands Terror Danger: US
A top Pentagon official flew to Pakistan to discuss security issues as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Islamabad has only recently realized that terrorists on its border with Afghanistan pose a significant threat. Read On

US Senate Approves Economic Stimulus Bill
The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved a $152 billion economic stimulus package, bringing Congress closer to completing legislation called for by President George Bush to boost the flagging economy Read On

• Bhutto Died of Head Injury While Ducking:
  Scotland Yard

Raj Thackeray Blasts North Indians Again,
Targets Hindi Media
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Saturday justified his supporters' action against north Indians leading to violent clashes this week and also blasted the Hindi media for 'bias' in reporting the violence. Read On
► Central Minister Hints at Action 

Kidney Kingpin Brought to Delhi
Amit Kumar, the alleged mastermind of the kidney trade racket that has shocked India, was Saturday evening brought to New Delhi from Kathmandu amid tight security and huge media attention. Read On

• 1,700 Stranded Passengers Airlifted,
  Highway Re-opened in Kashmir  
• BSP Eyeing Madhya Pradesh with Mayawati Rally  

Cracks Wide Open in Bengal's Left Coalition  
by Sujoy Dhar
For three days after police firing in West Bengal killed five Forward Bloc supporters, it was all quiet on the Mini Front, the group of three smaller Left Front allies forged in the aftermath of the Nandigram atrocities to take on their "wayward" big brother Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Read On

Beijing's Attitude 'Uncalled For',
say Arunachal Lawmakers by Syed Zarir Hussain
A Chinese protest over PM Manmohan Singh's recent visit to the border state of Arunachal Pradesh has triggered angry reactions with regional lawmakers terming Beijing's attitude "uncalled for". Read On

• It's Now or Never for N-deal: US Envoy  
• 'Dr Horror' Earned 200% Profit per Transplant 

Investors Shying Away from High-price IPOs
by Abhijit Deb 
Investor sentiment for initial public offerings (IPOs) in India is turning tepid following the mega issue of Reliance Power. Adding to this are uncertainties plaguing the secondary markets, which compel some companies to withdraw their IPOs due to poor investor response. Read On

• Snow Scripts Communal Harmony
  in Jammu and Kashmir 
• CBI Yet to Charge Suspended Delhi Top Cop  
• Row over Cut-off Limits
  for Scheduled Castes Scholarships

Arunachal 'Part of India', Asserts Pranab 
India Friday asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral part" of the country and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "can visit any part of India he likes". The Indian stand was spelt out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Mumbai, in reaction to an "informal protest" of China against the prime minister's Arunachal Pradesh visit last week. Read On

Angry Nalanda farmers Pelt Stones at Nitish Kumar
Hundreds of angry farmers in Bihar's Nalanda district Friday demanded more compensation for their lands acquired to set up the Nalanda International University, and pelted stones at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar when he tried to pacify them. Read On

• It's Cold Everywhere; More Chill to Come 
• New solar, N-power Forms Answer to Global Warming
• Afzal was Detained, Not Arrested in 2001: BJP 
• Rail Line Project Launched by PM is Old, Claims BJP
• China Protests Over PM's Arunachal Remarks 
• Eighteen Killed from Avalanches in Kashmir 
• Mixed Bag for Markets on Weekend
• Forest Dwellers Will Not be Evicted: PM
• Rights Commission Takes Note of Nasreen's Isolation
• Lalu Prasad Hints at No Fare Hike in Next Rail Budget

Rebel Politics Keeps Nagaland Trade Hub on Boil
by Syed Zarir Hussain
This commercial hub in India's northeast is on the boil with armed men killing, kidnapping and terrorizing people, casting a shadow on the Naga peace process ahead of the March 5 state assembly polls. Read On