Buddhadeb talks peace, development
Measuring his words carefully, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee talked peace, people's rule and offered a package of development for Nandigram, the violence-scarred area he stepped into after nearly 11 months.
Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattyacharya and CPM state secretary Biman Basu at the public rally in Nandigram on Wednesday. F Bloc threatens to sever ties with CPM
All India Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas warned of his party's severing ties with the Left Front's major stakeholder CPM in West Bengal, if the latter maintained its "capitalist policy", adopted in the name of industrial development in the state. Nandigram won't divide Left Front: Basu
Fresh communal trouble in Orissa
Despite indefinite curfew, fresh communal violence was reported on Wednesday morning from Orissa's riot hit Kandhamal district with clashes in various places and a church and a former MP's house being attacked. Jharkhand Youth Congress workers burn effigy of the Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to protest yesterday's attack on churches in Orissa, in Ranchi on Wednesday.
IAEA pact delayed, more talks in January
India was hoping to conclude a safeguards pact with the IAEA this month, but its uniqueness and complexity has delayed the plan. The two sides will now hold the third round of talks next month.
Landslides kill 77 on Indonesia's Java Island Landslides triggered by heavy downpour killed at least 77 people on Wednesday in Indonesia's densely populated Central Java province, officials and local media reports said.
Badawi asks Malaysians to adopt moderate path
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has criticised the narrow-mindedness and intolerance propounded by a small group of people and has urged his countrymen to adopt a moderate path.
Akshardham temple enters Guinness Book A senior official of the Guinness World Records Ltd travelled to India last week to present two world record certificates to the head of Swaminarayan Sansthan, Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Anil Kumble celebrates taking his fifth Australian wicket after dismissing Brett Lee for a duck the first day of the first Test match at the MCG in Melbourne, on Wednesday. AFP
Aishwarya is epitome of grace: Vidya Balan
"I don't think glamour is about taking off clothes. If it were so, Madhubala, Rekha or Sridevi wouldn't have been glamorous. Rekha in all her finery and jewellery is so glamorous. And Aishwarya Rai... she's the epitome of grace."
BOXING DAY TEST
Kumble restricts Australia to 337/9
India captain Anil Kumble picked up five wickets for 84 runs to reduce Australia for 337 for nine at close of play on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test match here Wednesday.
Anil Kumble celebrates taking his fifth Australian wicket after dismissing Brett Lee for a duck. Kumble (2nd R) is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist during the first day of the first Test match at the MCG in Melbourne, 26 December 2007. 'Aussie fans will love Dhoni'
Indian cricket team Manager Lalchand Rajput believes it is just a matter of time before the Australian people fall in love with the stylish wicketkeeper. Rajput said Dhoni was India's answer to the charismatic Australian stumper Adam Gilchrist.
Cricket board honours Sourav Ganguly on his 100th Test
Sourav Ganguly became the seventh Indian to play 100 Tests at the Boxing Day Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. At 35 years and 170 days, he is the oldest Indian to get to the 100-Test mark, though he is the third fastest to do it.
A fan of cricketer Sourav Ganguly offers
'Pethey' (a Bengali sweet) to his effigy to wish him for his 100th Test near his residence in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Will Anil Kumble-led Indian cricket team be able to break the jinx and achieve India’s first series win Down Under? Or will the Australians prove to be a difficult nut to crack? We invite our readers to give their opinion in about 100 words.
Responses may be sent to Deccan Herald, No 75, M G Road, Bangalore - 560001 or e-mail: editordh@deccanherald.co.in latest by 2 pm on Saturday.
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