Saturday, 26 February 2005, 1700 hrs

TOP STORIES
President unveils new
deal for rural India
Abdul Kalam said the government would invest in rural healthcare and education and set up commodities futures markets

BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Lalu keeps fares unchanged
Minister Lalu Prasad left unchanged fares for all classes as well as freight rates while giving concessions to unemployed, rural students farmers and milk producers

Seattle Times
The clash over white collar jobs
White-collar jobs have been relocating to India for well over a decade, and today's strong pull from there is both follow-up and consolidation. Whether it takes one, three or five decades to become manifest, India's rise will erode the foundations of Western supremacy. Excerpts from Rising Elephant, The Growing Clash with India Over White Collar Jobs and Its Challenge to America and the World by ASUTHOSH SESHABALAYA
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Indian Express
Unpredictables of Bihar
The state is a bewildering mosaic of caste, fragmentation and unfair practices, which expalins why there is nothing remotely resembling unanimity among the exit pollsters, writes SWAPAN DASGUPTA

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Outlook
The Mother Tongue Day
The one day in the year, Ekushey February (February 21), designated by the UNESCO to celebrate mother tongues is spent more in the anxiety of losing them, rues SUGATA SRINIVASARAJU



Indian Express
Napster of old is just a few tweaks away 
The old Napster, circa 1999, was a vast jukebox with no controls over the illegal copying of music files. The new Napster, which sells legal downloads, is also a vast jukebox, but it was clear last week that the company still has less-than-perfect controls over illegal copying

EDITORIAL PICKS

Sense and sensex (Hindu)
Spain's lack lustre 'yes' (Hindu)
From the barrel of a gun (Pioneer)
Scramble for Indian air show  (Pioneer)
Destination peace (Tribune)
Taj corridor case (Tribune)