BEGINNING THE BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP:

Indian cabinet okays U.S. civilian nuclear pact (Y.P. Rajesh, 7/25/07, Reuters)

India's cabinet approved a bilateral agreement for civilian nuclear trade with the United States on Wednesday but the landmark deal still faces hurdles before it can be finalized, officials and analysts said.

The deal aims to give India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years to help meet its soaring energy needs, even though it has stayed out of non-proliferation pacts and tested nuclear weapons.