Tibetans to Run Parallel Torch Relay 
As the Beijing Olympics torch relay takes place in the capital Thursday, protesting Tibetans will run a parallel torch relay for a "free Tibet" on the other side of the city at the same time. To be run from Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial, to the Jantar Mantar observatory, a major tourist landmark in the heart of Delhi, the Tibetan torch relay will have an estimated participation of nearly 5,000 people, Read On

• Fourth Largest US bank Posts Losses,
  Seeks $7-bn Infusion 
• US knew Saddam was going to Attack Kuwait: Book

India is Biggest Counter to China,
US Adventurism: US Scholar 
India has the "biggest" moral counter force to the "militant adventurism" advocated by China and US on the global stage, says Robert Thurman, the first American to be ordained as a monk in Tibetan Buddhism during the 1960s. Read On

• Trade best Bet for Peace between India, Pakistan
• Dalai Lama says his Aides are Talking to China
• Two NATO Soldiers,
  11 Afghan Policemen Killed in Attacks

Maoists to Lead Coalition Government in Nepal 
by Sudeshna Sarkar
With Nepal's Maoist party continuing to consolidate its conquests on the fourth day of vote-counting following a historic poll, the former guerrillas were headed to become leaders in a new coalition government, marking a sea change in the turbulent Himalayan nation's political landscape. Read On

Lebanon's Chances for Diminishing Hatreds
Seem Remote by Weedah Hamzah
Eighteen years after the Lebanese civil war ended in 1990, Lebanon's chances of burying hatred seem dim, with the country hit by its worst political crisis since then. The volatility of the political situation engulfing Lebanon has ignited hidden hatred and divided the country between the ruling majority - mainly Sunni Muslims, some Christians and Druzes - and the opposition led by the Shia Muslim Shia movement Hezbollah and hardline Christians. Read On

• German Police Trained Libyans for Two Decades
• Neighbors Urge Zimbabwe to Release Poll Results

Clinton Hammers on Obama's Gun,
Religion Remarks by Pat Reber
Pennsylvania, site of the next clash over the Democratic presidential nomination, is a state of somewhat-rusting industry and farming spread among small towns where people go to church Sundays and love to hunt and fish. Read On

Prachanda Meets Koirala
as Maoists Gain Majority by Sudeshna Sarkar
As reports of fresh Maoist conquests started pouring in and the former guerrillas were headed for majority in Nepal's crucial constituent assembly election, rebel supremo Prachanda met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in the capital Sunday to discuss the future of the coalition government. Read On

• Zimbabwe Court Halts Recounting of Votes: MDC  
• End to Crisis as Kenya Names 40-member Cabinet

India Urged to Take the Lead to End
Sri Lanka Conflict by M.R. Narayan Swamy
Two Sri Lankan leaders - one a cabinet minister and one from the opposition - and Indian politician Vaiko have urged India to play an active role to help end the island nation's protracted ethnic conflict. Read On

Landslide Victory Beckons Maoists,
End of Road for Koirala by Sudeshna Sarkar
As Nepal Sunday celebrated the dawn of its new year, a change in the leadership of the former Himalayan kingdom was in the offing with its former Maoist guerrillas, once hiding in jungles and hunted down by the army, poised for a landslide victory after a crucial election last week. Read On
► Nepal King Accepts his Poll Lot
► King's Men Bite Dust in Nepal's Battle Royale
► Communists Mull Quitting Government
    after Nepal Poll Rout 

• Iran to Inform IAEA
  about Future Nuclear Programmes 
• Haitian Senate Fires Prime Minister over Food Riots
• Ugly Row Over Finding Berlin Station
  for Holocaust Train 

Pitch for Rahul Gandhi as PM Candidate
Becomes Louder
The pitch for Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as the party's next prime ministerial candidate seemed to be rising Monday with two senior party leaders and an ally saying he could be considered for the top job. Read On

India to Sign Extradition Treaty with Brazil
by Liz Mathew 
India is all set to sign an extradition treaty with Brazil as well as memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for exchanging expertise on rural development programmes for poverty alleviation and for cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas. Read On

• Mayawati Uses Ambedkar to Attack Congress
• Sayeed Wants both Indian, Pakistani Currency
  in Kashmir

Sonia Gandhi as PM is Closed Chapter, says Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar is happy "as a party" having laid to rest the issue of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, over which the Maharashtra strongman broke away from his parent party. Read On

With 100 Hours to go, IPL Debut a Trial by Fire?
Millions have already been spent. More will be spent in the next few days. But who gets to show the matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's most lucrative cricket event, or who gets to see them is still not clear. Read On

Villagers Disrupt Inaugural Run of
India-Bangladesh Train Service
The India-Bangladesh Moitree (Friendship) Express was flagged off from here Monday, restoring rail links between the countries after 43 long years. However, it was disrupted for about five minutes after villagers, who believe the service will increase infiltration blocked the track in West Bengal's Nadia district. Read On

• Regional Unity Only Way to Oust Congress: Mahanta
• India's Business Majors Plan
  Mega Investments in Egypt 

India, Brazil Share Many Things, Including Cows: President Patil by Liz Mathew
India and Brazil have many things in common, including folk traditions, intellectual traditions and most importantly cows, President Pratibha Patil said on her arrival here as part of a three-nation Latin America swing. Read On
► Large Crowd Greets President Patil
    on Arrival in Brazil  

• Marathon Kid's Former Coach Shot Dead
• Haryana Lays Foundation for Dam
  Mooted 60 Years Ago
• Nitish Drops 10 Ministers, Inducts 19 New Faces

India Beat South Africa in Third Test, Level Series
by Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag spun India to a series-levelling eight-wicket win over South Africa on an eventful third day of the third and final Test here Sunday. With this win, achieved with two days to spare on an unpredictable pitch at the Green Park Stadium, India drew the series 1-1 after surprisingly losing the second match. Read On

India Ready to Work with Maoists in Nepal
By Pranay Sharma
India is ready to work with the Maoists in Nepal, New Delhi's envoy said Sunday, as results of the elections in the Himalayan kingdom putting the rebels ahead of others stunned key international players. Read On

• Punjab Celebrates Harvest Festival Baisakhi
• Icon of Quota Politics Forgotten in Moment of Triumph
• Resignations of Eight Bihar Ministers Accepted
• No Foodgrain Use for Bio-fuel Production: PM
• Maharashtrian Pride Blossoms in President Patil

India's Public Healthcare in Serious Decline: Planning Commission
India's public healthcare is in "serious decline" due to non-availability of medical and paramedical staff, diagnostic services and medicines, says a Planning Commission report. Read On

Congress plays Dalit-Brahmin card in Uttar Pradesh
by Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi
In an attempt to reclaim its support base in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress party is wooing upper castes along with Dalits. The party expects that the recent induction of 34-year-old Jitin Prasad into the central council of ministers will send a positive signal to the upper castes in the state. Read On