India Bullish on Growth (January 23, 2007)
A recent survey of 200 business houses found that business confidence index for October 2006-March 2007 was higher by 2.5 points at 71.8 from the previous 6 months and 85% of the respondents revealed plans for increased investments.<More>

Stalemate on SEZ (January 23, 2007)
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) ended its review meeting “inconclusively” but said that it is considering ways of infusing “export obligations” in order to differentiate between proposals.<More>

Personality-Neutral Relations with Iran (January 23, 2007)
In an act of militant defiance in response to the second US aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis into the Persian Gulf, Iran tested short range Zalzal and Fajr-5 missiles ostensibly to evaluate “defensive and fighting capabilities of the missiles.” <More>

Chavez Armed With Decree Powers (January 23, 2007)
Empowering President Hugo Chavez with sweeping powers to enforce economic, social, and political change via, Venezuelan lawmakers called such measures a “historic necessity” to initiate an “unstoppable” process.<More>

China Satellite Killer Missile (January 23, 2007)
After many wishy-washy statements, China for the first time confirmed the successful testing of a satellite killer missile but insisted that it was “peaceful development of outer space” and “opposes the arming of space and military competition in space.” <More>

Islamic Leader Surrenders in Kenya (January 23, 2007)
An Islamic leader of Somalia’s ousted Islamic movement surrendered to Kenyan authorities raising hopes that the moderate Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed can facilitate moderation of widespread Jihadist insurgency in Africa..<More>

SC Stays Sidhu Conviction (January 23, 2007)
In a surprising verdict, the Supreme Court (SC) stayed a High Court verdict convicting Navjot Singh Sidhu of third-degree murder of an old man in a fit of road rage and allowing him to contest in the by-election for the Amritsar constituency.<More>