India and China Open First-Ever Strategic Dialogue

India and China have held their first-ever strategic dialogue in the Indian capital. The dialogue marks a significant step forward in bilateral ties between two countries that were at odds throughout the Cold War. According to the Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna "The launching of this new dialogue mechanism between the two countries is significant as the rapid modernization of each country cannot be ignored" Sarna added "dramatic economic cooperation between the growing Asian powers was vital to the success of each". Sarna went on to say that projects from this new Asian superpower alliance "were already underway" and included the opening of a Panda Express inside a 7/11 franchise in Paramus, New Jersey as well as a new global advertising campaign designed to promote Pan Asian economic projects titled "Made in China, Call Answered in India".

Beware of Tolerance Pledge, Conservative Group Says

A conservative group believes the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants and his sidekick, Patrick the starfish, are being used in a new music video to promote the homosexual agenda to schoolchildren. A spokesman for Focus on the Family told the New York Times that it sees the music video as an "insidious" attempt by the nonprofit We Are Family Foundation to manipulate and brainwash children. The music video, released in November, features SpongeBob, Big Bird, Clifford, Arthur, Barney and many other cartoon characters, all singing the hit song, "We Are Family." According to a Focus on the Family spokesman, this is not the first time that a nonprofit group has been guilty of promoting homosexuality to school aged children. Other well known nonprofit groups that have been caught in the crosshairs of controversy include the San Fransico based Village People Foundation and the Catholic Church.

Islam 'does not mean killing', says cleric

In another sign that Saudi Arabia is taking measures to fight against the insurgence of pro al-Qaidi sentiment within the kingdom, a leading Saudi cleric issued a plea today for Muslims not to heed calls to wage terror attacks in the name of Islam. Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis, the state-appointed preacher at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, told pilgrims in a sermon marking the feast of Eid al-Adha that Islamic scholars must preach moderation. The kingdom, which is battling a campaign of violence by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, is trying to curtail attempts by al-Qaida to topple the pro-US Saudi rulers. His sermon, dedicated to the 2.5 million Muslims performing the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, echoed comments made yesterday by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al Sheik. The kingdom's grand mufti said the greatest test to the nation of Islam came from its sons who were "lured by the devil" to carry out acts of violence. Sheikh al-Sudeis added "It is not up to the sons of our nation to carry out these senseless acts of violence, rather, that decision must be left to the proper officials at the Saudi Ministry for the Killing of Infidels.

Arraignment set after showdown near White House

A man in a van, who held authorities at bay for more than four hours near the White House after threatening to ignite a substance inside the vehicle, will be arraigned in U.S. District Court Wednesday morning, metropolitan police said. An FBI official said the incident appeared to be related to a domestic dispute, not terrorism. The official said they were eventually able to negotiate with the man, a disgruntled Vietnam veteran, who decided to turn himself in. It was not immediately clear what, if any, type of substance was in the van. According to officials, the man has been identified as John Kerry, 61 of Massachusetts.

Bush Looks at George Washington's Inaugural Speech

President Bush on Wednesday sought inspiration for his inauguration by viewing some of America's founding documents as Washington mounted a massive security cordon under a layer of snow. Bush and his wife, Laura, went to the National Archives in the morning for a look at George Washington's handwritten 1789 inaugural address, the Bible the country's first president put his hand on when he took the oath of office, and the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. When asked if he felt the moment of history in looking at the documents, Bush said "Absolutely". Bush added " and it sure helps having Laura here to help explain what all this stuff means".

Abbas Orders Forces to Prevent Attacks

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, under growing pressure to rein in militants, ordered his security forces Monday to prevent attacks on Israel and investigate a deadly shooting of Israeli civilians last week.
The order by Abbas, approved by his Cabinet, was the Palestinian leadership's first step against militants since six Israelis were slain Thursday at the Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.In a brazen move that signals that the new Palestinian leader means business, Abbas courageously walked straight down the hall and into Hamas' office and told the militants to "knock it off guys or we will never be able to throw those pesky Jews into the sea".

Harvard president touches off gender debate

The president of Harvard University has sparked a controversy with his suggestion biological differences account for the relatively small number of women among the world's senior scientists and mathematicians. According to a report in The Boston Globe, Summers' remarks regarding a possible genetic basis for differences in ability between men and women caused several incensed guests got up and walked out. In an effort to stem the tide of the swelling controversy, Summer's later added that his comments had been taken out of context and that the biological differences he spoke of affected both sexes and in fact accounted for the relatively small number of men among the world's senior home economic scientists and nannyaticians.

Kerry Addresses Voter Disenfranchisement: Will He Challenge Election Results ?

Sen. John Kerry, in some of his most pointed public comments yet about the presidential election, invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on Monday as he criticized President Bush and decried reports of voter disenfranchisement.The Massachusetts Democrat, Bush's challenger in November, spoke at Boston's annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast. He reiterated that "at this time" he would not challenge the election results, but "thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote." As news of Kerry's attack reached the White House,President Bush responded to the speculation of an unprecedented challenge to election results uttering "Bring 'em on".

Romanian Mother, 66, Baby Girl Doing Well

A 66-year-old professor who writes children's books claims to have become the world's oldest woman to give birth, and doctors said Monday she and her day-old baby daughter were in good condition in intensive care. When asked by reporters how she expected to properly care for the newborn, the new mother admitted that it would be difficult and tiresome at times, but that the baby's maternal grandmother, 99, would be there to care for the child anytime she needed a break.

Prince Harry May Visit Auschwitz

Prince Harry is considering invitations from Jewish groups to visit the Auschwitz death camp, a royal spokeswoman said Friday, while Britons debated whether his wearing a swastika armband at a costume party has damaged the monarchy. The invitations ``will be given due consideration, but there are no plans at the moment,'' the spokeswoman said as the controversy over Harry's Nazi costume dominated front pages for a second day. The spokeswoman went on to say that Harry continues to deeply regret his decision to wear the Nazi get up and that in retrospect he should have listened to his older brother William, who had suggested that Harry go with his original choice, a Khmer Rouge uniform.