Volume 4 Number 216 Fri. January 02, 2004       Advertise with The Daily Star -- Advertising on the Website    Advertising in the Printed E dition-- Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Political Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Urban World Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives World   Saarc summit begins Sunday S Asia counts missed opportunities South Asian nations formed a regional grouping in hopes of turning the home of half the world's poor into an economic powerhouse, but the two-decade old alliance has proved ineffectual thanks to bickering   Delhi urges Islamabad to make truce permanent India is interested in making the open-ended ceasefire with Pakistan a "permanent" one, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said here yesterday.   Indo-Pak flights resume The first Pakistani flight to India in two years took off yesterday from the eastern city of Lahore, marking the official resumption of airlinks between the rival nuclear neighbours and bringing thema   Boycott, protest mar Afghan voting on constitution Afghanistan's constitutional convention began voting yesterday, but up to a quarter of the 502 delegates refused to cast ballots for a draft charter backed by the United States after a long, acrimonious   Lanka in talks with Norway over freeze in foreign aid Sri Lanka has opened talks with peace broker Norway to help resume the flow of millions of dollars in foreign aid suspended due to the power struggle within the government in Colombo, a government spokesman   Bhutan hopeful of early end to crackdown on Indian rebels Bhutan voiced hope yesterday of an early end to its military crackdown against Indian rebels, whom it said were disorganised after troops destroyed their illegal camps in the kingdom.   World welcomes 2004 amid grim backdrop Deadly bombings in Iraq and Indonesia, as well as fears of terrorism in the United States, Britain and Israel, cast shadows over exuberant New Year's celebrations around the world.   Bush determined to build on past successes in '04 US President George W. Bush on Wednesday expressed his determination to build in the New Year on successes achieved in 2003 and urged Americans to show compassion to those less fortunate.   US eases sanctions on Iran for quake aid President Bush on Wednesday ordered an easing of some sanctions on Iran to speed the flow of humanitarian relief for victims of the massive Bam earthquake.   Pope calls for new int'l order to keep peace The world needs a "new international order" to solve its conflicts and ensure peace, Pope John Paul said in his New Year's Day address yesterday.   Koizumi visits war shrine Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a surprise New Year visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine commemorating the country's war dead in Tokyo yesterday.   Stargazers predict better days After a tumultuous 2003, the world this year will free itself of major wars and the global economy will accelerate as a new cycle of good fortune is ushered in, astrologers across Asia predict.     Advertisement