Goody eyes India trip after TV racism row - paper

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters): Shamed British television star Jade Goody is considering a fence-mending trip to India after her treatment of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on "Celebrity Big Brother" sparked international uproar, a newspaper reported.

Goody visited the Indian High Commission in London yesterday to pick up a visa for the goodwill mission, according to the top-selling Sun tabloid.

"I'm thinking about going over there because I've been invited.

I don't know who by but they are high-up people," Goody was quoted by the Sun as saying on a television chat show.

The former dental nurse and other contestants on "Celebrity Big Brother" have been accused of racism and bullying for their treatment of Shetty, 31.

Goody was evicted from the reality television show by public vote last Friday after her remarks made headlines around the world.

At the height of the furore, the Indian Tourism Office used a full-page advert in the Independent newspaper to outline the ancient and modern delights India had to offer.

"Once your current commitments are over may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India," it said last week.

Chad arrests hijacker of Sudanese plane - minister N'DJAMENA, Jan 24 (Reuters): Chadian authorities today arrested the hijacker of a Sudanese passenger plane after it landed at N'Djamena airport, a Chadian minister said.

"He has been arrested and will answer for his actions ...

Chad is not a sanctuary for terrorists," Chad's Infrastructure Minister Adoum Younousmi told Reuters.

The Air West domestic Sudanese flight had been hijacked by an armed Sudanese man on its way from Khartoum to Sudan's west Darfur region, and diverted to Chad's capital.

An airline official said earlier that the Boeing 737 with 103 on board had landed safely at the Chadian capital N'Djamena and that the hijacker had requested asylum from the French embassy.

The Chadian minister said the hijacker, a young Sudanese man who said he was persecuted in his own country, had requested guarantees from the French embassy before he gave himself up.

But Younousmi said: "Chad alone is handling this crisis".

Aziz carries image of moderate Pakistan at WEF ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (UNI): Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz left here today for Davos to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) with an agenda to project his country's image as a growing economy, with moderate and forward-looking approach to achieve socio-economic targets.

"I will project Pakistan's importance in ensuring peace in the region as well as world and its forward-looking and investment friendly approach as a growing economy," he told reporters in Islamabad before leaving.

Aziz, who will lead Pakistan's delegation at the WEF meeting, said the event would be a get-together of major world leaders, entrepreneurs and heads of financial institutions and provide Pakistan an opportunity to project its views on various issues.

The Pakistani Prime Minister will be among the key speakers at the forum in several sessions including the West-Islamic Dialogue and the plenary sessions on Comprehensive Response to Terrorism and Stopping the Spread of Nuclear Weapons.

He will also participate in panel discussions on Women Empowerment and Education Reform and at the open forum on issues related to religion, peace and violence.

"These discussions will help Pakistan effectively put across its viewpoint on important issues of our times", Aziz added.

After attending the WEF meeting in Davos, he will also visit Belgium.

Giving details of his Belgium visit Aziz said, besides holding talks with his Belgian counterpart, he will also visit the European Union and NATO Council Headquarters in Brussels.

He said his meetings with EU officials will focus on enhanced trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and EU.

Aziz will also brief his interlocutors on the composite dialogue process with India, the Kashmir issue and development at home.