NEWS
Vedrine backs Clinton's offer on J&K
'If US mediation can shift the situation, then we understand the US desire (to mediate),' the French minister said.

NEWS
9 security personnel killed in Tral mine blast
Five of the men in khaki were from the Central Reserve Police Force while the others were from the Special Operations Group of the Jammu & Kashmir police.

BUSINESS
Naidu's projections could land one in jail or mental asylum, says Swiss minister
Naidu's target of a seven-fold increase in the gross state product in the next two decades is a bit too ambitious, Pascal Couchepin, minister for economy, said. 'In the best of electoral speeches in Switzerland, we cannot make such promises.'

MONEY
Indexing benefits
Dhirendra Kumar explains how index funds work and what to expect from UTI's recently launched Nifty Index Fund.

MONEY
'Can I sell my stock options in a company listed in India and repatriate the money to the US?'
Answers to this and more personal banking questions.

MILLENNIUM SPECIAL
'Mehdi Hasan is God's miracle'
'Mukesh was an original... Hemantda's voice was like a deep ocean... Didi sings brilliantly...' Asha Bhosle on her favourite singers.

SPORTS INTERVIEW
'My ambition was to play a Test in Australia against Australia'
Debashish Mohanty in candid conversation with Faisal Shariff.

MOVIES
'Liked Hey! Ram'
Notes to Kamal Haasan.

MOVIES
Godmother to open Panasia film festival
Shabana Azmi retro to be the star attraction.

MOVIES
'I'm ready for bouquets and brickbats'
Akshay Kumar, in a new avatar.

MOVIES
Classics revisited!
Cinemillennium enthralls Bangalore.

BOOKS
'I am not resigned'
Nothing can begin your day as well as poetry, says Ashok Banker.

MUSIC
'I live for music... will die for it too'
The inimitable Sivamani. Along with an impromptu recital for rediff.com

COLUMNS
Clinton's visit cannot lead to any miracles
'There is not a single substantive measure that will come about as a result of President Clinton's visit. Let us not pretend that this will do anything to deepen any understanding between India and the United States,' says T V R Shenoy.

Proud to be simple-minded
'It is not to say that being "proudly Indian and proudly Hindu" is a curse, or that this view should be "diluted". Hardly. But is it enough? Is pride enough? Is it enough to build a country on?' asks Dilip D'Souza.