Clinton Offers Shared Run to Obama
by Arun Kumar
After three dramatic comeback victories in the US presidential race, Hillary Clinton Wednesday hinted at the possibility of a joint run for the White House with Democratic front-runner rival Barack Obama. Read On

Indian Migrants Challenge Britain on Visa Rules
by Dipankar De Sarkar
A challenge to changes made to Britain's visa rules, mounted by 49,000 mostly Indian migrants, reached the British courts Wednesday with the government accused of breaching race relations and human rights acts. Read On

• Opium Cultivation Will End Soon: Afghan Minister

Nepal Royals Trade Blows as Snake Throne Burns
by Sudeshna Sarkar
While the sword hanging over Nepal's two-century snake throne lowers with a decisive election in April, the royal family has failed to show its best face to the nation and woo voters, says a report. Read On

Clinton Gets Ohio and Texas;
McCain Clinches Republican Nomination
by Arun Kumar
Hillary Clinton shot back into the presidential race with crucial victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island, snapping Democratic rival Barack Obama's streak of 11 wins as Republican John McCain clinched his party's nomination. Read On

India, US to Double Trade to $60 bn by 2008 End
by Arun Kumar
India and the US have set the goal of doubling their trade to about $60 billion by the end of 2008 while agreeing to begin exploratory talks on a possible bilateral investment treaty. The goal is set out in the Bush administration's 2008 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2007 Annual Trade Report to the US Congress released Tuesday. Read On

Tug of War Begins over EU Climate Change Plans
By Ben Nimmo
With the ink barely dry on the European Commission's plans for fighting climate change, the European Union's member states have already begun a tug of war to pull the legal proposals in their favor. Read On

• McCain Wins Republican Nomination
• Obama, McCain win Vermont 
• No Clues about Indian Student's Suicide in US

Rebel's Death Raises Doubts
on Colombian Hostage Exchange
The Colombian conflict has developed into a loud regional diplomatic crisis following the weekend killing of rebel leader Raul Reyes by Colombian forces on Ecuadorian territory. However, for all the talking, this atmosphere of tension is bound to have the greatest impact on a group of people whose voices cannot be heard: more than 700 hostages ... Read On

Mindless Violence in Palestine Must Stop: India
In an indirect criticism of Israel, India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee strongly condemned the "disproportionate use of retaliatory force" in "occupied Palestine" and appealed to all parties to bring "mindless violence" to an end. Read On

Democratic Changes Vital for Russia's Future: Gorbachev 
Changes in Russia's electoral system and democratic reforms are vital for the country's development, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has said. Read On

US Tries to Allay Hyde Act Anxieties in India
A day after India said it was evolving political consensus on the nuclear deal, the US sought to allay anxieties about the Hyde Act, saying it was a US domestic legislation in contrast to the 123 bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement. Read On

UN Resolution will have No Impact: Iran 
The latest UN Security Council resolution would have no impact on Iran's nuclear plans, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said. Read On

• Unaccounted Bodies Among UN Chopper Crash
  Victims in Nepal 

Manmohan Seeks Good Ties with Pakistan,
Lauds Vajpayee 
India and Pakistan should think about "collective destiny, collective security and prosperity", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said and termed as "most courageous" the steps his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee took to improve ties with Pakistan. Read On
► Vajpayee is Bhishm Pitamah of Indian Politics

India, US Bound by 123, Not Hyde Act: Boucher
The US reminded India of a "very tight deadline" for putting together "missing pieces" to conclude the nuclear deal and clarified that the 123 agreement, and not the Hyde Act, will determine civil nuclear commerce between the two countries. Read On

• 70 % Voting Recorded in Nagaland Polls 
• Seeking Broadest Possible Consensus on N-deal: PM
• Mayawati Lifts Ban on Students Union Elections
• BrahMos Cruise Missile Test Fired for 15th Time
• Ansari's Decision on SP Blows Up - and Blows Over
• Indian Markets Manage to Bounce Back
• Tata-Virgin Tie-up Can Go Ahead, says DoT 
• Reliance Energy Readies $500 Mn for Share Buyback
• Chidambaram Upbeat on Growth
  but Farm Output a Worry 
• India Rip Mexico 18-1 to Maintain Clean Record

Combative Manmohan Takes on Advani, NDA
In a speech with electoral overtones, an unusually aggressive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday took on the opposition for wrecking the lives of India's farming community and of failing to curb terrorism and price hikes. Read On

Early Elections? We Think So, say MPs 
More and more political leaders across the spectrum feel that the country is inching towards an early parliamentary election, possibly later this year. The national budget Finance Minister P. Chidambaram unveiled Feb 29 giving huge sops to millions of farmers weighed down by debts as well as the tax benefits to the middle class is the latest sign that the ruling Congress may be eyeing an early election, Read On

Coal Watchdog Welcome,
but Look at Energy Holistically: Experts
by Noor Mohd
Power producers have welcomed the move for a watchdog for the coal industry as announced in India's national budget for 2008-09, but feel the nation's interests would be served better if an independent regulator oversaw the entire energy sector. Read On

• Voting Begins for Nagaland Assembly Polls
• Tata Purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover Delayed 
• Bihar: 74 Abducted Children Killed, 304 Missing  

Apex Court Doubts Intention Behind
"Office of Profit" Law 
The Supreme Court Tuesday doubted the government's intention behind enacting the law on office of profit, that saved 40-odd parliamentarians from being disqualified for holding offices in various government bodies. Read On

Kashmir Singh Reaches Home
in India-Pakistan Love Story by Jaideep Sarin
In an unprecedented sub-continental love story, teary-eyed former Indian soldier Kashmir Singh returned to India and was reunited with his family after spending nearly 35 tortuous years in Pakistani prisons on charges of spying. Read On

• Chidambaram would Like to see Lower Interest Rates
• Poll Panel Decision on Karnataka by Mid-April
• Rally against Female Feticide in Delhi 

All 19 TRS Legislators Quit in Andhra Pradesh 
A day after four of its MPs quit the Lok Sabha, all 19 legislators of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Tuesday resigned from both houses of the Andhra Pradesh legislature to protest the delay in granting statehood to Telangana region. Read On

Call us Home, Indian 'Spy' in Pakistan Jail
tells Government by Rana Ajit
As Kashmir Singh prepares to return home after 35 years in a Pakistani jail, another Indian national has written to the chief justice with an impassioned appeal that India must own up to "spies" like him who have been languishing in prisons across the border for decades. Read On