Pak-Taliban deal has India worried
New Delhi, February 17
India has shown concern over the deal worked out by the Pakistan government with the Taliban to allow strict Sharia law in parts of the restive North-West Frontier Province with senior officials viewing the development as another indication of the Zardari regime capitulating to Islamic militants.

Pak should not hide involvement of its citizens: Mush
World page: Sufi on Swat peace mission
Editorial: Appeasing the Taliban

Solan Land Deal
CBI seeks nod to file case against Nirmal Yadav
New Delhi, February 17
Already under the scanner in the cash-at-judge’s-door scam, Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court faced more trouble as the CBI sought sanction to register a case against her in connection with a land deal in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

Go for gold, it has just touched 15k
Mumbai, February 17
Gold prices touched a new high today as investors fleeing other assets tanked up on the yellow metal. While firming global prices took gold prices above $950 an ounce, a weakening rupee made it more expensive for Indian buyers as prices touched Rs 15,220 per 10 gram.

26/11: Advani taunts UPA
‘How would this govt run, but for Pranab?’
New Delhi, February 17
BJP stalwart LK Advani today embarrassed the UPA and took a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by asking the government what it would have done without External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee — its man for all seasons.

India to have a home-made aircraft carrier soon
New Delhi, February 17
In what may be considered as a technological and strategic leap for the country, India would soon boast of an indigenously-built aircraft-carrier warship, capable of carrying fighter aircrafts, armed choppers and an array of weaponry.

Govt to sack boards of Maytas firms
New Delhi, February 17
The government has moved the Company Law Board to sack the boards of two Maytas firms owned by the kin of Satyam's disgraced founder B Ramalinga Raju.

Business page: Buyer for Satyam likely by month-end

Bill for setting up 12 Central varsities introduced
New Delhi, February 17
The government today introduced two bills concerning education in the Lok Sabha - one to grant statutory powers to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and the other to set up 12 central universities in states having none to improve the low gross enrollment ratio of 11 per cent in higher education.
(Details on Nation page)

Martin Luther King III echoes Gandhi’s idea
New Delhi, February 17
A non-violent revolution is not about seizure of power. It is a program of transformation of relationships ending in a peaceful transfer of power. This was stated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.

Whodunnit? Huda doesn’t know Chandigarh, February 17 The cash-rich Haryana Urban Development Authority couldn’t care less for the land it acquires for urban development. Or so it seems from the hundreds of acres of land that is presently under encroachment across the state. In a classic case, over 27 bighas and 11 biswas of land acquired by HUDA in village Kotian, almost 26 years ago, has all been encroached upon.