Four Soldiers among 13 Killed in Pakistan Blast
At least 13 people, including four security personnel, were killed and more than 20 were injured Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up near an army base in north-west Pakistan, officials said. Read On

End This Visa Regime, Pakistanis Say
by Manish Chand
Sitting in Coocoo's Den, a must-go restaurant in Lahore in the heart of the city's red light district, maverick painter and owner Iqbal Hussein simply can't understand the visa games politicians and officials of India and Pakistan play. "Why should Indians need visas to come to Pakistan and why should Pakistanis need visas to go to your country?" says a genuinely bewildered Hussein, recalling his last visit to India three years ago with relish. Read On

• Benazir's Niece Calls Zardari the Killer of her Father
• Pakistani Lawyers to March
  for Return of Deposed Judges 

Largest Ever Cuban Trade Team in India,
Eyes Nano by Pranay Sharma
A large Cuban trade delegation has arrived in India looking for cooperation in cars, pharmaceuticals, tourism and more. Of course, armed with its famous rum and cigars, the hardline communist state that is gradually opening up its economy to outsiders also has a lot on offer. Read On

King will Stay, say Nepal's Soothsayers
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Though Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas who waged a 10-year war on the monarch of the world's only Hindu kingdom say King Gyanendra will have to yield his crown and exit the royal palace in 10 days' time, a small but resolute group of people predict monarchy will not die out. Read On

• My Dream is to Climb Everest,
  says Hillary's Granddaughter

EU Polishes Trade Talks with Latin America
- Except Mercosur
The European Union brushed up its trade talks with Latin American regional blocs Saturday in Lima, making progress with Mexico, the Andean Community and Central America. But progress with the Mercosur bloc that includes the region's economic giants of Brazil and Argentina, with Venezuela in the midst of seeking ratification to join, remained stalled Read On

UN to Exit Nepal Peace Process July 23 
by Sudeshna Sarkar
The UN agency that was invited by Nepal's major political parties last year to assist in the critical peace negotiations will exit the Himalayan nation July 23 after its contract ends, as it has no hope of getting an extension, according to a report tabled before the UN Security Council. Read On

14 Pakistani Fishermen Freed by India
Reach Karachi by Muhammad Najeeb
Fourteen Pakistani fishermen released from Indian jails in a "goodwill gesture" reached Karachi Saturday where they were received by a team of the Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS). Read On

Pakistan's Poor Go Hungry Amid Food Shortages
by Fakhr Ahmad
Sukena, a middle-aged mother of two girls, argued with a shopkeeper as she reached her hands into the pockets of her burqa and counted money. All she had was Rs.25 (35 cents), barely enough to buy bread but no milk in the port city of Karachi. Read On

Chinese Nuclear Missile Base
has North India in Sight
Two weeks after photographs of China's nuclear submarines set alarm bells ringing for the Indian authorities, a commercial satellite has revealed a launching site for over 50 nuclear ballistic missiles, capable of striking all north Indian cities. Read On

Obama Hits Back at Bush
Over Appeasement Comments
Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama lashed out at President George W. Bush Friday for carrying out an "appalling attack" by suggesting the Illinois senator would appease terrorists. "After eight years I did not think I could be surprised about anything George Bush says," Obama said at a campaign rally in Watertown, South Dakota. "That's exactly the kind of appalling attack that divided our country and alienates us from the world," he added. Read On

India for Taking Peace Process
with Pakistan Forward 
Carrying the message of India's desire to push forward the "peace process" with Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will leave for Islamabad Tuesday to begin the first high-level engagement with the new Pakistani government. Read On

Chinese Claim on Sikkim Tip Minor: India
India Sunday described as "minor and local" a Chinese claim on a northern tip of Sikkim adjoining Tibet, saying such issues were not new. "India and China have the world's longest peaceful border even though this is not settled," the source pointed out. Read On

• Weekly had Raised Alarm
  about Terrorist Plans in Jaipur 
• Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks Come Aboard
  Reliance Big Entertainment  
• Spurious Liquor Kills 25 in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
• Campaign in Full Steam
  for Karnataka Final Phase Voting

Kidnapped Indian Released in Afghanistan,
Family Happy
India has thanked the Afghan government for the successful rescue of a kidnapped Indian national late Saturday, and his relatives are happy he was at last free after 27 days in captivity. Read On

• BJP Doubts PM's Bonafides in Combating Terror
• IPL Fever Infects Pakistanis  
• Four Killed During Third Phase of Bengal Polls

Despite 6.2 Percent Growth,
India's Agro Industry Lags Behind
by Rajeev Ranjan Roy
India's agro-industry has miles to go before it catches up with the rest of the world. Its share in the agro-products of developing countries has gone up only marginally from 3.1 percent in 1995 to 3.8 percent in 2005, despite growing at 6.2 percent in the 10-year period. Read On

• Tales of Trauma and Tenderness at a Jaipur Hospital
• NHRC Team in Chhattisgarh to Probe 'Salwa Judum'

Sonia Gandhi's Constituency Lacks Basic Amenities
by Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi
The plight of farmers in Congress president Sonia Gandhi's constituency leaves little doubt that the urge to sanction the Rs 600 billion farm loan waiver in the budget could easily have come from Rae Bareli.  Gandhi, is still grappling with issues like providing sufficient water for drinking and irrigation. Read On

Kashmir Girls Create History
- Set Football Pace for Future by F. Ahmed
Their faces glowing despite the hot summer sun, a group of young Kashmiri Muslim girls clad in sportswear practice football for hours at a ground here - creating a history of sorts in Jammu and Kashmir that has never seen such a women's sports event. Read On

No Magic Formula for Inflation, Be Patient: PM
by Murali Krishnan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday held out the hope that there would be moderation in inflation in the coming few weeks if this year's monsoons are normal and added that the situation would be better after September 15. Read On

First India-Bhutan Rail Link Soon: PM 
The first rail link between India and Bhutan will be built soon, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Saturday as he pledged Rs.100 billion ($2.5 billion) over the next five years as part of a package of economic engagement with that country. Read On

• Kings XI Defeat Daredevils as Rain Plays Spoilsport
• Rajasthan Royals Thrash Bangalore Royal Challengers

PM for Separate Agency to Deal with Terrorism
Making a forceful pitch for a separate authority to deal with crimes threatening the country's security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said several states showed reluctance to surrender power to such an agency. Read On

• TDP Leader Among Nine Killed in Andhra Pradesh
• Advani Hopeful of BJP Majority in Karnataka
• India Sends 50 Medical Personnel to Myanmar
• Pakistan Should Hand Over Dawood: Advani