Tiger Conservation Gaps
An international panel said that lack of proper amenities, delays in payment of compensation for human and cattle losses, illegal fishing, and illegal minor forest activity are seriously affecting tiger conservation efforts.<More>

Russian Air Defense for Iran
Ignoring international sanctions on Tehran for its suspected nuclear weapons program, Moscow supplied “at least half” of the contracted Tor-M1 short-range air defense systems valued at USD 1.4 billion to be deployed around strategically sensitive centers.<More>

Bangla Polls Dubious
After indicating their participation in the January 22 polls, the 14-party opposition led by former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina have now decided to boycott the elections alleging that it was “stage-managed.”<More>

UN Calls for Ceasefire in Lanka
A top UN official appealed to the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop their fighting as the citizens “continue to suffer deeply” and the recent civilian death from SLG air attack is causing “deepest concern.”<More>

No SLMM in Combat Areas
As the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) withdrew from combat areas in the North and East, the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) raid killed 15 civilians (including 4 children), wounded dozens, and destroyed all but 5 houses in Northern coast near Mannar.<More>

Diplomatic Curb in Pak
Pakistan has instituted travel curbs on Indian diplomats where they need to seek advanced permission from authorities for travel to Murree (a hill station) and Rawalpindi (a twin city to Islamabad) but no official announcement has been made.<More>

Indo-Japan Ties Need Boost
Given regional and global developments arising out of globalization and nuclear weapons program of North Korea, industry leaders are asking for a more active political engagement of Japan which they say will be more active this century.<More>

Islamists Driven Out of Mogadishu
Islamists controlling Somali capital Mogadishu the last 6 months and enforcing medieval laws were driven out by Western-supported Somali government troops and backed by Ethiopian tanks and MIG fighter jets.<More>

Saddam Hanged, West Asia Crisis Intensifies
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein convicted by a court of questionable credentials following controversial judicial process was hanged heightening the growing divide in the Islamic world that threatens to envelop the region and indirectly the world.<More>