Will Olympics Become a Watershed in China's Economy? by Lin Jianyang and Xu Xingtang
Amid falling exports and plummeting share prices, many in China are asking whether the country's economy would slip into recession after the Olympic Games next month. On the stock market, many investors suffered substantial losses as the market had witnessed a nosedive since late last year. Read On

Few Chinese Presidents Ever Visited Tibet
in Five Decades by Pranay Sharma
Tibet may well be an "inalienable" part of the People's Republic of China, but few Chinese presidents or its paramount leaders have ever visited the region in the past five decades. Tibet forms a large part of the total landmass of China and has remained in the international focus for the Dalai Lama and his supporters' demand for "greater autonomy." But Chinese officials cannot say for sure when was the last time a Chinese president visited Tibet. Read On

• Brown Demands Release of British Hostages in Iraq
• Iraqi Premier Praises Obama's Pullout Plan
• Geneva Talks Find No Path to Full Iran Negotiations
• US Urges Iran to Respond to Incentives Offer  

US Watching Trust Vote
with Fingers Crossed, Lips Sealed
By Arun Kumar
With the fate of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government hanging in balance over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the Washington establishment is keeping its fingers crossed and lips sealed before Tuesday's trust vote. The White House and the State Department have refrained from offering a comment lest it be taken as interference in another country's domestic affairs, but officials sure are hoping the Manmohan Singh government would survive. Read On

Geneva Talks Find No Path
to Full Iran Negotiations  
Iran and world powers, including the US for the first time, failed to find a way towards full negotiations in Geneva Saturday, as Tehran's representatives did not agree to the precondition of suspending uranium enrichment. Speaking at a news conference after talks with Iranian negotiator Saeid Jalili, EU chief diplomat Solana said that "the most important question" in the dispute with Iran remained unanswered. Read On

Iraqi Premier Praises Obama's Pullout Plan 
Speaking to a German magazine, Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki has praised a plan by US presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office. In an interview to appear in its Monday issue, the news magazine Der Spiegel asked him when US troops should leave. Read On

Iran Refuses to Suspend Nuclear Program 
Iran has refused to commit itself to stopping uranium enrichment as demanded by the European Union, the US and other world powers, EU's chief diplomat Javier Solana indicated here Saturday. Read On

Nepal's First Presidential Poll Ends in Fiasco, Repoll Awaited by Sudeshna Sarkar
The political uncertainty in Nepal deepened Saturday after the Himalayan republic's first presidential election, held to elect the successor to dethroned king Gyanendra as head of state, ended in a fiasco with none of the contenders able to garner the simple majority needed for victory. The election gave a stunning blow to the Maoists. Read On

Obama's Plan for Afghanistan Draws Worries Ahead of Visit by Jawad Peikar
Ahead of Senator Barack Obama's expected visit to Afghanistan, the US presidential hopeful's plans to increase US troops in the country was being met with both hope and skepticism from Afghans. Read On

• Two Killed in Gulmarg Blast,
  Amarnath Route Closed after Firing

Amid Uncertainties, UPA Battles for Numbers 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's beleaguered ruling coalition battled Sunday to secure numbers to remain in power, just a day before parliament meets to decide the government's fate over the India-US nuclear deal. Both the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and a disparate opposition were vigorously wooing still undecided independent MPs as well as small parties to reach the crucial figure of 272 in the 545-member Lok Sabha where one seat is vacant and one MP is barred from voting. Read On
► What Exactly is a Trust Vote?
► Karat Warns Government Against Pushing N-deal

Mayawati King-maker Now, Could be Queen
If Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati's smiles are any indication, she seems to have done a 'social engineering' of the numbers game in the national capital and has emerged a king-maker for the front against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Read On
► We Have Numbers to Topple Government: Mayawati

Bribing Rate of MPs Going Up to Rs.100 Crores?
Ahead of Tuesday's crucial trust vote in the Lok Sabha that will decide the fate of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, the reported bribe rate to buy the support of Members of Parliament (MPs) seems to be shooting up with every passing hour - going by the various claims being made. Read On

Child Soldiers Assuming Dangerous Proportions
in Manipur
Indian authorities in the restive northeastern Manipur state have warned parents against letting their children venture out alone after some 20 teenagers were recruited as child soldiers by separatist groups. Read On

Biofuel - A Smart Beginning in Gujarat
by V.N. Balakrishna
At a time when there is growing global concern over greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, Gujarat's tryst with biofuel as an alternative to petrol and diesel has proved a promising starter. It was the first state that started growing ratanjyot (jatropha curcus), from which biofuel could be produced. Read On

If UPA Scrapes Through,
Elections Could be in March-April
If the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) scrapes through the trust vote in parliament July 22, there is a thinking within influential sections of the Congress party to schedule elections for March-April next year. The five-year term of the present Lok Sabha, the people's chamber of parliament, ends in May 2009. Read On

Buildup to Trust Vote Reaches Final Lap,
Suspense Mounts
Political activity reached its crescendo Saturday with the Congress-led ruling coalition and opposition parties desperately tying up support and using every ploy to crack the numbers game in an outcome that was still too close to call. Read On
► From PM House to Mayawati,
    Siddiqui says 'Government Should Go'  
► Political Hullabaloo Fails to Capture
    Gen X's Interest  

Blast Destroys Army vehicle in Kashmir,
10 soldiers Killed
At least 10 soldiers were killed and many wounded when an Indian Army vehicle was ripped apart in a powerful explosion triggered by suspected guerrillas in the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Saturday.  Read On

Bookies Bet on Manmohan Singh Govt to Win
With less than 72 hours to go before the Indian parliament votes on a trust motion, bookies in the country - who have seen Rs.10 billion ($250 million) worth of bets flow in so far - see the UPA government sailing through. As hectic parleys continued by the opposition and ruling coalition partners to defeat or win support for the trust motion, the Indian bookies, notorious for fixing cricket matches, are offering odds of 38 paise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government to win - and Rs.2.90 if it loses. Read On