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        The Bush administration has applauded former US vice- president Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in creating awareness about global warming, but said it would not change the government's policy on climate issue. 'Of course, he's (President George Bush) happy for (former) vice- president Gore, happy for the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientists, who also shared the Peace Prize. Obviously it's an important recognition and we're sure the vice- president is thrilled,' White House Spokesman Tony Fratto said, adding he was not aware of any plans by Bush to place a congratulatory call to his former presidential rival. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to Bush, has since transformed himself into an avid environment campaigner, even winning an Oscar for his documentary 'An inconvenient truth', a film about global warming. But the US government is not going to change its policy on climate issue.

        The Dalai Lama's envoy has said that the exiled leader of Tibet's Buddhists will use next week's congressional award ceremony to reach out to China's leaders to resolve the dispute over Tibet. Lodi Gyari on Friday told reporters at the National Press Club that China, which has strongly protested the award for the man they see as a separatist, should not be worried. 'I do hope the Chinese will see this as a good opportunity,' Gyari said. He added that the Dalai Lama hoped Beijing will have an 'undiluted opportunity' to hear his message. US President George W Bush will speak at the ceremony in Congress on Wednesday to present the Dalai Lama with the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal. Wang Baodong, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the award ceremony and the planned meeting with Bush are examples of ' 'gross interference in China's internal affairs.' Hoping against hope.

        Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attacked what he called the United States' 'unilateral' approach to the Iranian nuclear crisis, during talks in Moscow with US counterpart Condoleezza Rice. 'We believe this work can be much more effective if there are no parallel steps in terms of sanctions against Iran, leaving alone periodic calls to use military force against Iran,' Lavrov said Friday during joint talks also with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. 'These unilateral steps stick out from the agreed agenda, they undermine and they impede our collective effort,' Lavrov added. 'It is extremely important that Iran realises the international community is unified.' Will sanctions bring to term Iran?

        Rejecting speculation of early polls, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday exuded confidence that his government will last full term and said if the Indo-US deal does not go through, it will not be the end of life. He also hoped that 'reason and common sense' will ultimately prevail on the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal. 'Elections are still far away. The government has still one-and-a-half years to complete its term. I hope and expect we will stay the course,' Singh said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. He was answering a question on the speculation of mid-term polls in the wake of the stand-off with the Left allies on the nuclear deal. Even if the deal does not come through, the government will last its full term.

        UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday indicated the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle soon, saying more opportunities will be given to young MPs in the government. The Congress president's remarks came at a question-answer session at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi when asked whether more opportunities will be given to younger Parliamentarians. 'You must have noticed in the last party exercise that opportunities were given to quite a number of younger MPs and non MPs' and more opportunities will be given to them in Parliament and in government, she said. Gandhi said she was absolutely determined that after the exercise in the party, more opportunities will be given to younger people in the exercise in the government.

        An alert was sounded across Rajasthan Thursday night in the wake of the terror strike on the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer that left two persons dead and 17 others injured. The inspector-generals of all eight police zones the district police chiefs have been given instructions to deploy armed personnel in strength around religious places, railway stations, airports and bus stops, the Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Kanihaya Lal said in Jaipur. He said additional forces were also being posted at the Civil Secretariat in the state capital and district collectors had been asked to assist the police. The police have also appealed to the people to maintain peace and communal harmony. It is calm after a storm.

        Protesting against the 'apathy' of Highways authorities to maintain and repair the Mettupalayam-Kakkanala Road, the Nilgiris district has decided to hoist black flags atop houses, vehicles and other places from 14 October and observe that day onwards as 'Black Day'. A decision to this effect was taken by the newly formed Road Safety Committee Friday, as authorities failed to repair the 146-KM long stretch, which has major tourist spots. The black day would be observed till the highway is repaired, according to sources in the committee. The authorities were neglecting the genuine demands of the people and also in carrying out repairs of the main highway, despite several forms of agitations being held like road- roko, fast and the recent 'reverse walk,' the sources said. Forcing Highway Department to act.

        Over 400 AIADMK workers on Friday staged a demonstration in Coimbatore in protest against the City Corporation for increasing water tariff and its 'failure' to provide basic amenities, despite paying development charges. The workers, led by former Minister N 'Thalavai' Sundaram, raised slogans against the Corporation's decision to hike water tariff and also charge levy to collect garbage from door to door. They also criticised the Corporation for not maintaining streetlights and cleaning drainage and passing various Bills wihout discussing in the Corporation council, particularly when opposition Councillors were not present. The party also condemned the Corporation's 'failure' to provide basic amenities to the regularised houses, even if they paid development charges. Corporation is pressurised to provide civic amenities.

        Puthiya Tamizhakam, a Dalit-based political party, on Friday appealed to Tamilnadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, to send a delegation comprising DMK MPs and MLAs to Sri Lanka to study the real situation there, in the wake of reports about increased attack on Tamils. A detailed report, then can be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking measures to find a permanent solution to the decades-old ethnic issue in the island nation party founder-president K Krishnasami told reporters in Coimbatore. Accusing Sri Lankan Government and the Army of abducting and attacking innocent Tamils, Krishnasami said that in the name of eliminating LTTE, they should not take revenge on Tamils who 'were not at all involved in violence'. Our politicians have soft corner towards LTTE.

        Proceedings in the Madras High Court came to a near standstill for the seventh day Friday, as advocates abstained from work, in protest against the alleged attack on two of their colleagues by police at the government Stanley Hospital on 1 October. The agitating advocates, led by Madras High Court Advocates Association President R C Paul Kanagaraj, took out a procession inside the High Court premises, shouting slogans against the police. The judges, who conducted the proceedings till afternoon, with government counsels and a few other advocates, retired to their respective chambers. According to Paul Kanagaraj, a General Body Meeting of MHAA would be convened after Dusherra holidays to decide the next course of action. It is better for lawyers to go by the law.

        The BJP on Friday filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking to transfer the probe into the alleged attack on its State headquarters by DMK cadres on 23 September, from the local police to an independent agency. The petition, filed by BJP state office secretary C S C Vadivelu, is likely to come up for hearing after the Dasara holidays. Vadivelu submitted that the BJP and the VHP 'distances and disowns' the condemnable statement by Ram Vilas Vedanti against Chief Minister M Karunanidhi following the latter's remarks on Lord Ram. This being so, he sought action against over 100 DMK cadres who ransacked the BJP State headquarters office in T Nagar at the 'instigation' of DMK treasurer and senior Cabinet Minister Arcot N Veerasamy. Independent probe, the BJP wishes.

        The Chennai police has asked for a report from the Mumbai police on the arrest of a city-based doctor, Palani Ravichandran, in connection with a kidney transplant racket, a top police official said on Thursday. Chennai Police Commissioner G Nanchil Kumaran told reporters that they were in touch with their Mumbai counterparts and had sought details about the case. He also said that a Mumbai police team had arrived in the city to further probe the incident. However, 'there are no arrests in Chennai so far in this connection,' he said. On the issue of law college students attacking policemen in Chennai on Wednesday, that left four cops including an assistant commissioner injured, Kumaran said legal action would be initiated against them. Chennai police have little to do in kidney racket case.

        Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Retail had questioned the discrimination against it in some States and said it would not engage in areas where there was a risk to life and property. 'I find it very surprising that there are other organised retailers who continue to operate in these areas,' Reliance Retail CEO Gunender Kapur said in an obvious reference to Uttar Pradesh, where the administration has forced them to close shops while competitors like Spencer's and Big Bazaar of the Future Group are operating. Asked if the company would pull out from States where it faced violent protests, including vandalism, Kapur told in a BBC interview that 'the only situation where we would do that is where our property and safety of our people is not guaranteed.' Facing the heat in Uttar Pradesh, the company is believed to have shelved its estimated Rs 10,000 crore roll out plan, a move that could impair about 5,000 to 7,000 job opportunities.

        Not many of Pakistan's former greats have been given the opportunity or got the chance to retire gracefully in front of their own people. Inzamam-ul-Haq was fortunate to get this honour at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where he made he debut 17 years ago and played his final Test innings last week. He failed with the bat scoring just three runs and facing only two balls in the second innings, but the honour given to him by his teammates, rival South Africans, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the spectators was memorable. 'I am disappointed not to have got some runs but there was a lot of pressure on me because it was my final match for Pakistan and the last five days have been sad and emotional for me,' Inzamam said. 'But overall I have really enjoyed my career and there have been more happy moments for me than disappointments,' he said.

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