Thursday, 10 February 2005, 1700 hrs

TOP STORIES
Murder case: HC grants bail
to Kanchi junior seer
The judge said the earlier judgment denying Vijayendra Saraswati bail had been delivered without a proper appreciation of the "fact, circumstances and judgment" of a Supreme Court order
 
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Government will rein in
real estate sector
Concerned over the large incidence of tax evasion in the real estate sector, the government is considering rationalising the existing regime by removing “distortions” and replacing them with a “fair and incentivised system” 

Indian Express
Lessons in geography 
Few in South Block will admit it today but the fact is that India turned down King Gyanendra when he expressed his desire to come and talk to Indian ministers. We cannot keep our neighbours in line, yet we talk of becoming a global power, says T V R SHENOY 



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Asia Times
India makes a play for F-16 fighters
India has voiced its intention to buy 125 fighter jets, and has approached US-based Lockheed Martin Corp for its highly coveted F-16s. But given that Pakistan also wants to add to its fleet of F-16s, New Delhi's move is highly contentious, at the least. By SIDDHARTH SRIVASTAVA

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Outlook
'What Aspect Of Islam Is Supposedly Under Threat?' 
'Is it Islam as a religion of social justice or is it simply the patriarchal order that seeks legitimacy under an 'Islamic' label? This slogan is routinely deployed to silence debate and dissent within the community by those who seek to preserve and promote their own powers and privileges,' says Cassandra Balchin in an interview with YOGINDER SIKHAND


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India Together
Food safety bill may hurt hawkers 
The central government has proposed the Food Safety and Standards Act to 'harmonize' existing food laws. DEVINDER SHARMA agrees the old exploitative laws must go, but says the new bill may deliver unfair advantage to the food industry over dhabas and hawkers.

EDITORIAL PICKS

Directive and the nexus (Tribune)
Education triumph: Boy from Ballia (Tribune)
A chance for peace (Hindu)
Shortchanging tsunami victims (Hindu)
Cruelty to animals (Tribune)