Pak altered missiles to target India: US

The US has accused Pakistan of illegally modifying Americanmade missiles to expand its capability to strike land targets, a potential threat to India, according to senior US officials.

The charge, which set off a new outbreak of tensions between the US and Pakistan, was made in an unpublicised diplomatic protest in late June to the Prime Minister, Mr Yousaf Raza Gilani, and top Pakistani officials.

The accusation comes at a particularly delicate time, when the administration is asking Congress to approve $7.5 billion in aid to Pakistan over the next five years, and when Washington is pressing a reluctant Pakistani military to focus its attentions on fighting the Taliban, rather than expanding its nuclear and conventional forces aimed at India.

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Government vows to bring Gandhi's belongings home

The government said it would do everything required, through the "bidding process or otherwise", to bring back the personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi to India.

Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York have placed Gandhi's glasses, a pair of worn leather sandals, a pocket watch, and a bowl and plate for sale for a starting bid of $20,000 to $30,000. The auction is on Thursday.

The government was also holding last-minute talks with the auction house. "We have asked our embassy in Washington and the consulate general of India in New York to do everything that is required through the bidding process or otherwise to acquire the Father of the Nation's personal assets for the country," minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma said.

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United States House begins action on Nuclear deal

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Washington on Thursday (US time) for a meeting with US President George W. Bush later in the day while the Indo-US nuclear deal, which was approved by the Senate foreign relations committee, was tabled before the House of Representatives.

This was seen as the final leap before the Manmohan dream turns into reality. Reports that US House international affairs committee chairman Howard Berman has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives linking passage of the nuclear deal with diplomatic support on US engagement of Iran was denied by committee staffers.

There was speculation all through Wednesday after the Indian American Republican Council said Mr Berman was going to incorporate language on Iran that would lead to the bill being defeated on the House floor. This was denied by the committee’s chief spokeswoman Lynne Weil, who said: “That is not true. Congressman Berman has not introduced any legislation on the US-India nuclear agreement.” The Indian team remained tightlipped.

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Clintons share limelight with Obama

Rarely in the history of American political conventions has the losing side received so much time and attention as this week in Denver.

Barack Obama has been forced, by the clout Hillary Rodham Clinton showed in their primary battle and his need for her voters in his race against Republican John McCain, to allow the gathering of Democrats to look a lot like the Clinton Convention.

The first day, Monday, was dominated by day long deal making between the Clinton and Obama camps over ground rules for the nominating roll call.

The second day’s highlight was Clinton’s address. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, designated the official convention keynote speaker, was just a footnote in television and newspaper reports.

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