Washington  -  President-elect Barack Obama on Monday began work with congressional leaders to hammer out a stimulus package designed to jump start the ailing US economy.

Speaking with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Monday morning ahead of the closed door meeting, Obama stressed that it was important to get to work on the plan before he takes office January 20.

"Obviously, the inauguration stand is being built in the background, but the reason we're here today is because the people's business can't wait," said Obama, who Sunday moved to Washington to allow his daughters to begin school on Monday. "We've got an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us."

Srinagar, Jan. 4 : People''''s Democratic Party (PDP) has severed its ties with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre following Congress party's decision to get into an alliance with the National Conference (NC) to form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti is the sole representation from PDP in Lok Sabha.

In a letter written to the UPA chairperson, PDP's President Mehbooba Mufti has conveyed her party's decision. She said "PDP has formally dissociated itself from the UPA alliance at the Centre."

London, Jan 4 : North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il has declared discussion of his succession off limits for three years, despite reports that the women in his life are plotting on behalf of their favourites, the Telegraph reported.

Despite his recent stroke and with his country stricken by food shortages and locked into a political battle with the West over its nuclear arsenal, analysts say Kim is reluctant to allow any of his three sons access to the levers of power.

He is said to be unimpressed with their political abilities. Kim has more confidence in his previously little-known daughter, who has recently emerged from the shadows and has his ear, but is ruled out by her sex in North Korea's chauvinistic society, the paper said.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's Awami Party, which is poised to form a new government, named Zillur Rahman as the country's next president, media reports said Sunday quoting party chief Sheikh Hasina Wazed.

"The party will nominate its presidium member Zillur Rahman as head of the state," Hasina said after her party's newly elected legislators took the oath of office, Ittefaq newspaper reported.

The 79-year old Zillur was elected deputy leader of the House by the party, to replace Iajuddin Ahmed as president after the new parliament goes into session.

"We want to recognize his contributions in all democratic movement in Bangladesh," said Hasina, who is expected become prime minister this week.

Beijing  - China's ruling Communist Party plans its first major military parade in 10 years to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, state media said on Sunday.

The party name a group headed by General Chen Bingde, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army, to prepare for the parade on October 1, China's National Day, the party's official newspaper People's Daily reported on its website.

"Troop reviews have always been considered the best way to display national strength and show military might," the newspaper said.

"The National Day military parade can show the great achievements and new style of China's military modernization and standardization," it said.