Violence Flares in Iraq,
Female Al-Qaeda Suspect Held
A fresh outbreak of violence in Iraq Thursday left 22 people dead and 14 others injured, including an attack on a family in the native village of former president Saddam Hussein and a shootout involving US forces, while a suspected female member of Al Qaeda was captured. Read On

• Pakistan Launches Operation to Trace Envoy  
• Zimbabwe Inflation Rate Surpasses 66,000 %
• Pakistan to Deploy 81,000 Troops for Elections

Monday Polls 'Mother of All Elections': Musharraf
By Muhammad Najeeb
President Pervez Musharraf Thursday termed the Feb 18 polls in Pakistan as "mother of all elections" and promised that the vote would be free, fair and transparent. "There would be no further delays to Monday's elections," Musharraf said addressing a meeting of government officials telecast live on the state-run television. Read On
► Opposition Parties Fear Rigging in Pakistan Polls

Bush Signs Plan to Boost US Economy 
President George W. Bush signed a $152 billion plan to fortify the flagging US economy against a recession with tax incentives for businesses and average Americans. Passed by Congress with unusual speed after Bush proposed an economic stimulus package last month, the temporary measures are mainly designed to put more spending money in US consumers' pockets. Read On

India, China may Overwhelm US Economy:
US Senator by Arun Kumar
The US economy and foreign policy are at risk of being overwhelmed by cosmic economic shifts driven by immense rapidly industrializing societies like India and China, an American senator has warned. Read On

Spanish Muslims at Crossroads:
Integration or Exclusion?
Will Spain have a liberal or conservative type of Islam? Could fundamentalism soar? Will Muslims blend in, or will there be youth riots like in Paris in 2005? Can Spain find a 3rd way between French-style assimilation of immigrants and British multiculturalism? As the first modern generation of Spanish-born Muslims is coming of age, the country's Islamic communities stand at a crossroads. Read On 

• A 'Fortress Europe' in the Offing? 
• Military Torture of Bangladesh Journalist Alleged

Bhutto Assassins Say Attack Was
Revenge for Pakistani Mosque Siege
Two Pakistani militants arrested in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto have confessed that were seeking revenge for the death of a comrade killed in a commando assault on Islamabad's Red Mosque in July 2007, a police official said Wednesday. Read On

Obama Surges Ahead of Clinton
in Battle of the Potomac  by Arun Kumar
With a clean sweep of the 'Potomac primaries' - in Maryland, Virginia and the national capital - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama surged ahead of party frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Obama, vying to be America's first black president, stacked his wins on top of a string of victories over the weekend, pushing his record to 8-0 since he and the former first lady ended last week's Super Tuesday coast to coast battle in 22 states in a virtual dead heat. Read On

• Pakistan's Clerics Blame War on Terror
  for Suicide Attacks 
• Rebels Enforce Indefinite Closure in Nepal's Terai
• 22 Held in Canada's Crackdown on Child Porn 
• US Lobbying Firm Expands its India Practice
• Chef Shortage Crippling British Curry Industry  

India Celebrates V-Day with Roses
and Goodwill for Pakistan
Millions of youngsters across India celebrated Valentine's Day Thursday, even sending floating message of love for the people of Pakistan. The celebrations were by and large peaceful, in sharp contrast to previous years when radical groups disrupted the celebration. Read On

India Extends Taslima's Visa with Strings Attached
India Thursday extended controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's visa, but advised her not to "hurt the sentiments of the many communities". Read On

• Fuel Price Hike Will Not Be Rolled Back: PM 
• BJP Plans Countrywide Protest
  Against Fuel Price Hike 
• Raj Thackeray Apologizes for Man's Death in Violence
• CPI-M Party Congress Will Decide on Third Front
• India, China will be World's Growth Engines: PM
• Over 100 mn Indians Suffer from Kidney Problem

Protests in Arunachal
as Naga Rebels Demand Recruits
People in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh held protests Thursday after a frontline Naga separatist group, accused of abducting between 39 to 51 boys last month, demanded more recruits from villages along the border with Myanmar, officials said. Read On

India Dismisses China's 'Concerns'
over PM's Arunachal Visit
India Thursday reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country even as China made public its concerns about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to that state last month. Read On

Migrant Workers Flee Pune in Hundreds 
by V. Vijayalakshmi
For Vishnu Singh, a construction worker from Bihar, and hundreds like him, Pune is no more the safe haven it used to be to stay and work in. Migrants like him are leaving the city in droves in the wake of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) campaign "Maharashtra for Maharashtrians". Read On
► Train from Mumbai:
    'Our Only Crime is We Speak Hindi'  
► Anti-national Activities Will Not be Tolerated: Lalu  

Come Closer,
PM Urges Indian Ocean Littoral States
The navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states began a landmark conclave Thursday with PM Manmohan Singh urging them to forge greater ties to combat terror and crime and to conserve the ecosystem. Read On

• Markets Head North Despite Oil Price Hike  
• India's Cabinet Approves Hike in Transport Fuel Prices
• Cabinet Decides to Notify Redrawing of Constituencies
• Supreme Court Bench Doubts Larger Bench's Verdict

Mumbai Gets Back to Business
after Thackeray Arrest Drama
India's financial capital was quiet Thursday with people going about their business as usual, a day after tension spiralled following the arrest of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Read On

Uttar Pradesh Residents Make a Dash from Mumbai
Attacks on north Indians in Mumbai by activists of the Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have not only forced many to rush back to their homes here but those planning to go to India's financial capital are also cancelling their visit. Read On

MP Constituency Funds to be Scrutinized
in 100 Districts By Rajeev Ranjan Roy
Funds allotted to MPs for development work in their constituencies will be scrutinized by the Government for their use and effectiveness, Read On