5 Oscars for 'American Beauty'
`American Beauty,' a dark comedy about suburban alienation and family dysfunction, won five Academy awards, including for Best Picture, Best Director, Sam Mendes, and Best Actor, Kevin Spacey.

Jagmohan to look into evictions
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has directed the Urban Development Minister, Mr. Jagmohan, to look into the issue of eviction of slum dwellers from colonies attached to railway properties and elsewhere.

Cabinet expansion soon
If sources in the BJP are to be believed, then the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is ``pretty soon'' planning a mini-expansion of his Cabinet. However, sources in the Prime Minister's Office are not inclined to endorse the ``imminence'' of the proposed expansion.

All help to fight insurgency, says Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today assured all possible help to the northeastern States to crush insurgency and ensure development without political discrimination, saying security and development are the two main ingredients of good governance.

Putin declared winner
Russia's acting President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, swept to victory in Sunday's Presidential elections, capturing over a half of all votes cast, enough to avoid going into a second round.

Three killed in Bandipore blast
At least three civilians were killed and 15 others injured in a blast aimed at pro-India Ikhwan militants in Bandipore town of north Kashmir on Monday afternoon. In other incidents across the Kashmir Valley, nine, including four militants were killed, police said.