Caretaker Pak govt on Friday
Pakistan ambassador to the UAE Ehsanullah Khan and senate chairman Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro and Ahsanullah Khan lead the pack shortlisted by President Pervez Musharraf to head the caretaker government as Prime Minister, media reports citing PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Wednesday.

World page: Pak resents C’wealth ultimatum

I’m ready to work with Bhutto: Sharif
Islamabad, November 14
“We are ready to set aside our differences with the People’s Party,” former prime minister Nawaz Sharif told Reuters on telephone from Saudi Arabia today, referring to the party of former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto as Pakistani opposition parties tried to forge a united front on Wednesday against President Pervez Musharraf.

Imran Khan arrested Lahore, November 14 The Pakistan government today intensified its crackdown on the Opposition protesting against the emergency by slapping the draconian anti-terrorism act on cricket legend and politician Imran Khan while former Premier Benazir Bhutto spent the second day under house arrest here.

Imran Khan

Mush rejects US demand
Emergency to stay
Islamabad, November 14
The break between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto appears to be complete with the military ruler indicating that she may not be allowed to become Prime Minister for a third time.

This combo picture, observed by Japanese lunar explorer “Kaguya”, shows the earth setting in the horizon near the moon's south pole (left to right). The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation released the world's first high-definition image of the earth rising and setting. — AFP

HP VOTES
65 pc polling in tribal areas
Shimla, November 14
Moderate to heavy turnout was recorded in the three tribal constituencies of Himachal Pradesh that went to the polls in the first phase of Assembly elections today. Around 65 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise.

Himachal page: Peaceful polling for three tribal seats

Women await their turn for voting at a polling station in the Bharmour constituency on Wednesday. — Photo by Balkrishan Prashar

Sensex surges 893 points to sniff 20k
Mumbai, November 14
The Sensex gained a whopping 4.69 per cent or 893 points to close at 19,929 amidst recovery in Asian markets despite lingering worries of the sub-prime crisis in the USA. The Sensex moved in a range of 19,336-19,987 levels before settling down at close of trade.

N-deal
PM meets Vajpayee
New Delhi, November 14
On the eve of the winter session of the Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight and discussed the Indo-US nuclear deal. Singh drove to the former Prime Minister's 6A, Krishna Menon Marg residence this evening.

Red rules Nandigram Nandigram, November 14 She is Rashomoyee Das, a 60-year-old widow, of Gokulnagar. She along with her three sons Swadesh, Bidesh and Satyen is a member of the Bhoomi Raksha Committee. Her sons fled the village two days ago in the face of CPM activists’ attacks and the poor mother does not know anything about their whereabouts. Nation page: Assam not to acquire farmers’ land NHRC team to visit Nandigram Editorial: Buddha’s blunder