PM rejects third party mediation
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has rejected third party mediation between India and Pakistan for resolving outstanding issues, and asked the five permanent members of the U N security council to demonstrate in "a real manner" their commitment to the goal of general and complete disarmament. This was conveyed by Vajpayee to U N secretary general Kofi Annan during a 15-minute telephonic conversation with him yesterday.
Sanctions, slowdown cloud Sinha's budget
Caught amidst an economic recession, declining exports and the nuclear fallout in the form of US and Western sanctions on India, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has the unenviable task of presenting the BJP-led government's maiden budget today. This annual exercise will have to take vital measures to reverse the recessionary trend and bold initiatives to push up a sagging Gross Domestic Product growth.
Tremors rattle Mumbai
At exactly 6.59 pm yesterday, an earthquake of slight intensity measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale rocked Mumbai and its outlying suburbs. According to the Colaba Weather Bureau, the epicentre of the quake was approximately 35 km away from Mumbai in the Thane-Kharghar belt (plotted at 19.04 latitude and 73.11 longitude).

LEISURE
  Mandakini croons back into Mumbai
  Naushad deplores the influence of Western music

SPORTS
  Hick youngest to hit ton of tons
  Australian women retain title

EXPRESSIONS
  No national fission
  Capital punishment

BUSINESS
  Sanctions hit 4 core projects
  US sanctions not to include public sector

GENERAL
  Pak fuelling up for next Ghauri test
  UAE backs Pak right to conduct nuke-tests

POLITICS
  Trinamool Cong not to budge from `suspending' support stand
  Moopanar may take Congress into DMK camp