Washington, Dec. 3 : The Bush administration has claimed that it had warned the Indian government beforehand that terrorists appeared to be plotting an assault on Mumbai.

The Daily Times quoted a senior State Department official as saying that information was passed on to New Delhi that a waterborne attack on Mumbai appeared in the works.

This official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of intelligence information, said both India and Pakistan have acted "in a wise manner" so far, noting there has been no buildup of troops along the India-Pakistan border or other overt signs that sometimes-sharp rhetorical exchanges will escalate to military confrontation.

New Delhi  - US Secretary of State State Condoleezza Rice arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following last week's Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Rice was scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and opposition leader LK Advani in the afternoon.

Rice said the chief purpose of her visit was to "express solidarity" with the people of India.

New Delhi, Dec. 3 : The global economic meltdown has started to influence the expansion plans of the world''s biggest steel producer, ArcelorMittal in India.

According to Vijay Kumar Bhatnagar, the Chief Executive Officer-India of ArcelorMittal, the company has opted to adapt a cautious approach, keeping in view the new dynamics of the present economic situation being faced around the world.

"The kind of macro-economic environment which has come suddenly, now…is allowing us to pause and be cautious."

Mumbai, Dec. 3: The sole surviving terrorist that attacked Mumbai last week, killing about 195 people and injuring 295 others, has revealed that his father was paid by a Pakistan-based militant group to hand him over.

Azam Amir Kasab, 21, a Pakistani national from Faridkot in Punjab province, said that his father, Amir, introduced him to a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. The commander, known as "chacha" (uncle), paid his father, The Times quotes Kasab, as saying.

Mumbai, Dec 3 : The Malegaon blast suspects will be produced in a special court here today.

On November 25, a special court had extended their judicial custody till today.

Police had arrested at least ten people, including Lt. Colonel Srikant Prasad Purohit, a serving army officer, Dayanand Pandey, a Hindu monk and God-woman Pragya Singh over alleged involvement in the blast in Malegaon.

Last week, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra, which is investigating the case, had invoked the tough anti-gangster Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the suspects.

Police argued for fresh custody of the accused but the court turned down their plea.

New Delhi, Dec. 3: India on Tuesday evening expressed concern over reported moves by Israel to block humanitarian aid to the Palestine-held Gaza Strip.

"We remain concerned at the adverse effects of the closure of access points into the Strip (and) on the prevailing humanitarian situation," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a meeting of the India-Arab Forum hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs.

Mukherjee also said peace and stability in West Asia is of paramount importance to India.

"India has constantly supported the quest of the Palestinian people for a homeland in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions," Mukherjee said.