Foreign trade policy sets export target of $92 billion
New Delhi, April 8
The government today unveiled the annual supplement of the foreign trade policy raising the export target to $ 92 billion in the current fiscal and announced an array of trade promotion and procedural simplification measures while keeping the rural economy at the epicentre.

Poor and powerful bid final goodbye to Pope
Vatican City, April 8
Pope John Paul II was laid to rest in Saint Peter’s Basilica today after an elaborate and emotional funeral rite attended by one million people and watched by countless others around the world. Vatican officials said the Pope’s body, encased in three caskets, was buried in the crypt close to the spot believed to contain the remains of Peter, the apostle chosen by Jesus Christ to found his church almost 2,000 years ago.

An empty chair is seen behind the altar and Pope John Paul II’s casket (at bottom) during the funeral in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City on Friday. — AP/PTI photo

Anil Ambani meets Finance Minister
Mumbai, April 8
Reliance Industries Vice-Chairman Anil Ambani today met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram at a hotel in Mumbai just a day after he accused a senior RIL Director of conspiring to tap his home and office telephones.

China to help Bangladesh N-programme
Dhaka/Colombo, April 8
China has offered Bangladesh assistance in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. An agreement to this effect was signed during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Dhaka yesterday.
In video (28k, 56k)

Chinese PM arrives today
New Delhi, April 8
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is arriving in India tomorrow on a four-day official visit to signal Beijing’s perceptional leap about India and with a positive mindset of resolving the decades-old border dispute while going full throttle for intensifying bilateral cooperation in all spheres.

SC upholds HC ruling, orders Brigadier’s promotion 
Upholding a Delhi High Court order quashing court martial proceedings against a Brigadier, the Supreme Court (SC) has paved the way for his promotion to the rank of Major- General. 

2nd Administrative Reforms Commission to be set up
New Delhi, April 8
The Union Cabinet decided today to set up the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) and constituted a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to fill the backlog of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes vacancies. (Details on Nation page)