Government opted to hold vote after angry leftist parties took back their support to protest civilian nuclear deal with US
Caretaker leader, Fakhruddin Ahmed, strikes optimistic note as he begins talks with two small political parties in Dhaka
In inaugural speech, Mohamed Nasheed promises to strengthen democracy, combat poverty
US secretary of state also says administrative - not substantive - details must be resolved before she can sign deal, which ends 34-yea
During visit to Pakistan, Lal Krishna Advani described nation's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, as secular man who wanted Hindu, Muslims
Approximately 70,000 girls working at the bars throughout Maharashtra state determined to wage a battle to save their livelihood
UN welcomes release of children but says there are still hundreds of underage recruits in rebel ranks
Attack in Srinagar comes amid surge in violence in insurgency-wracked region
Work especially vital in remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which suffered widespread devastation, and where as many as 5,000 people a
Task especially challenging in smaller countries such as Sri Lanka where gigantic waves claimed most victims
