Vajpayee unfazed
The Prime Minister and his advisers appear to have taken in their stride the criticism voiced by the RSS chief, Mr. K.S. Sudershan of the Vajpayee Government's economic and domestic policies. It is perhaps a measure of self-assurance felt at the Prime Minister's Office that no body is going to lose sleep over Mr. Sudershan's stridency.

Missile interceptor misses target
The Missile Defence Test over the Pacific in the early hours of Saturday, a key phase in the U.S. National Missile Defence programme, failed, the Pentagon said. The missile interceptor not only missed the target but did not even try to hit it.

Delhi must convince us: Farooq
Reiterating his party's resolve to strive for restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir despite the Centre's rejection, the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today said he would go through regional autonomy.

Defaulters cannot escape: Sinha
The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today said the Government would move ``definitively and mercilessly'' against wilful defaulters of bank loans. The action might result in imprisonment and attachment of property.

29 more peacocks perish
Twentynine more peacocks were found dead at Sitapur village in the district today, taking the number of birds dead during the last few days to 80.

Pak. Police detain ousted PM's wife
Pakistani police today detained the wife of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after preventing a rally she was expected to lead, their daughter said.

India sore over Britain's move to sell arms to Pak.
India today expressed disappointment at Britain's decision to export defence equipment to Pakistan and said the step was not in tune with the country's earlier disposition towards Islamabad.

Pro-rebel protests in Fiji as deadline nears
Fijian villagers today stormed a police station and seized hostages as protests spread across the pacific island nation in support of the rebel leader, Mr. George Speight.

Rwanda: U.S., France blamed for genocide
An international panel set up by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has blamed the United States, France and Belgium for failing to prevent the genocide in the strife-torn African state of Rwanda.

Explosion damages church in Hubli
Exactly a month after an explosion occurred in a church at Wadi in Gulbarga district, a similar incident took place in a church in Hubli early on Saturday.