Child Trafficking Lacks Focus
Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), an umbrella organization of various groups working on the issue of child rights protested against the Karnataka government’s lack of focus to stem trafficking in women and children.<More>

Indian Art in Beijing
For the first time and marking an end to India-China friendship year, India is showcasing 100 ancient antiquities of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain art dated from the 3rd Century BC to 18th Century AD in China and one of the largest show showcasing of heritage outside India.<More>

NCW Rejects Adultery Proposal
The National Commission on Women (NCW) citing social disempowered position of women, has reportedly recommended that a woman, even if she is involved in an illicit relationship, cannot be punished for adultery and be treated as the victim under law. It has asked the government not to amend Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).<More>

Massive Aid for J&K
The Prime Minister's Special task force on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has proposed a Rs 8,302-crore (USD 1.8 billion) aid package to develop that state and proposed another Rs. 200 crore (USD 43.47 million) to develop a satellite business city satellite business city..<More>

SC Criticizes Domestic Violence Bill
The Supreme Court severely criticized the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act for “clumsy” drafting of definition of terminology that could easily be exploited by some to appropriate property of a husband and his family.<More>

Is US Global AIDS Program Effective?
Investigators say that US President George Bush's ambitious USD 15 billion AIDS-fighting program in poor countries was pushed too hard that has ended up in unintentional misrepresentation of patient data to a point where it is unusable.<More>

Educational Priorities Need Reevaluation
According to a senior University Grants Commission (UGC) official, research work in basic sciences is declining which may cause a decline in required talent pool that could indirectly affect India’s dominance in Information Technology (IT).<More>

Diabetes a Major Worry 
According to the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) India continues to don the dubious distinction of being the Diabetic capital of the world with the largest number of diabetics—China comes second but leads on pre-diabetic phase population.<More>

Indian Land Ships
On January 4, the Navy will induct its third landing ship INS Shardul, capable of carrying 11 main battle tanks, 10 army vehicles and 500 troops for amphibious operations and traveling at 15.8 knots to land forces directly on beaches.<More>

Pak Says N-sites Can Withstand Strike
Marking the 130th birth anniversary of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, President Pervez Musharraf asserted that his nation will continue to invest in defense capabilities and that its “nuclear and missile power” are protected even from a “nuclear attack.”<More>

Bush Allays Indian Concerns
US President George Bush called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to wish him for the season and to also allay fears in India over the civilian cooperation bill and both leaders concluded that these concerns can be addressed in the “1-2-3 Agreement.”<More>

Security Ties with Myanmar
Visiting Myanmar Home Minister Major General Maung Oo assured Home Minister Shivraj Patil that his nation will co-operate with India to share information at field and national level on insurgent movements, border management, and drug trafficking.<More>

Tehran Defiant on Sanctions
For the first time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acknowledged its nuclear weapons program when dismissing the UNSC resolution imposing limited sanctions against Tehran as a “piece of torn paper” meant to “scare Iranians.”<More>

Indo-Pak MoU on Power Devolution
India and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share and learn from experiences of both nations on devolution of power to grass-root levels hoping that these low-hanging fruits will pave way for lasting peace.<More>

Bangla Polls On
After objecting bitterly about election planning irregularities and breach of Constitution, Awami League led 14-party opposition is reportedly decided to contest in parliamentary election scheduled January 22 next year.<More>

Iran Sanctions, Shaky Azeri Relations
After inviting UNSC sanctions and losing civic level elections, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to upgrade his souring domestic popularity by escalating tirades against the West and called President Bush "the most hated person" in the world.<More>

Maoists Block Envoy Designate to India
Nepali Maoists and political groups supporting them said that they will block Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s envoy designate for India, an obscure retired diminutive woman who is also a niece of the PM claiming that the decision was taken without consulting them.<More>

Ethiopia Declares War against Islamists
Ethiopia formally declared war on Islamists in neighboring Somalia claiming that such dramatic step was necessary to protect its sovereignty and its warplanes bombed two Islamist-held airfields in Somalia including the one in capital Mogadishu.<More>

Israel Proposes Prisoner Exchange
In an act of good faith, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert suggested that his government would be willing to release Palestinian prisoners even though the captured Israeli soldiers remain in Gaza but also proposed a formal agreement with the Palestinian Authority.<More>

Japan Considering Nuke Deterrent
In a move that has consequences way beyond the region, a Japanese daily Sankei report says that the Japanese government is apparently considering a nuclear warhead as deterrent to North Korean (NK) nuclear weapons program which is being denied by government spokesperson.<More>

Somalia in “State of War” with Ethiopia
Somali Islamic leader Sheik Hassan ahir Aweys claimed that the nation is in a “state of war…against Ethiopia” contradicting his earlier pledge to return to peace talks with the government and is now asking “All Somalis” to “take part in struggle.”<More>