We had no other option: PM
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today declared that seeking legal remedy was the only solution to the crisis created by the strike at the Korba unit of the Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO).

All-party meet on Women's Bill soon
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today gave the assurance that an all-party meeting would be held soon to discuss the introduction of the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament.

Seats on offer insufficient, says Cong.
Intense three-way negotiations between the Congress, the TMC and the AIADMK are on to break the logjam in the Tamil Nadu. The informal group on Tamil Nadu affairs set up by the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, met this afternoon to take stock of the situation.

45, no more: Jayalalitha
The AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, today clarified that there was no change in the offer of seats to the TMC-Congress combine.

Bajrang Dal backs off after court orders security for cinemas
The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government and the Commissioner of Police to ensure security to all city cinemas which will release the controversial film, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, tomorrow. Following the order, the Bajrang Dal reversed its decision to disrupt the screening.

Breather for Quattrocchi
An Italian businessman named in an Indian probe into the Bofors kickback scandal won a legal breather today as a Malaysian High Court judge granted a judicial review of his extradition case.

Maharashtra reshuffle
The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, today ensured the stability of his Democratic Front Government just three days ahead of the budget session of the State legislature by dropping five Ministers belonging to the Upper House and inducting six new from the Lower House where the Government has maintained its majority.

Rathi quits
The Bombay Stock Exchange president, Mr. Anand Rathi, today resigned in the wake of allegations of his involvement in a bear cartel.

Empowerment is the key
Cutting across political affiliations, women of all hues gathered at the Vigyan Bhavan here today to observe International Women's Day, and to focus on gender equality, political and legal empowerment of women.

Pak. bans Indian sugar
Succumbing to the pressure exerted by the domestic sugar lobby, Pakistan today banned the import of sugar from India claiming it has adequate availability of stocks. Announcing the ban, the Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production, Mr. Abdul Razzak Dawood, told reporters, ``The import of sugar by sea or train from India would not be allowed.''

Pak. appeals to Taliban
In what is seen in diplomatic circles as a damage control exercise, the Pakistan Government today summoned the Taliban Ambassador here and appealed for a stop to the destruction of pre-Islamic artifacts, including the Bamiyan Buddhas.