NEWS
TMC's chief whip quits post in disgust
R Chokkar, senior Tamil Maanila Congress politician and the party's chief whip in the assembly, resigned his membership of the House in protest against the decision to support the AIADMK in the February 17 by-elections to three assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.

NEWS
Let hostages sue, say intelligence officials
The officials are sore with the erstwhile hostages: "We want them to go ahead with the case because the legal battle will expose them. They will lose money because there is no provision for compensation for hijacking," one said.

NEWS
Thiruvalluvar comes to life in Kanyakumari
Karunanidhi had been been planning for the last 25 years to honour one of the greatest poets of Tamil literature by erecting a huge statue on the southern tip of India near the Vivekananda Rock.

NEWS
Talks fail, Rajasthan staff to intensify stir
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government would not budge as it could not sacrifice the people's interests to fulfil the demands of its employees.

BUSINESS
Sinha to present Budget at noon on Feb 29
The Railway Budget will be presented on February 25 and the Economic Survey on February 28.

THE REPUBLIC, 50 YEARS ON
Celebrating 50 Years of the Indian Republic
Kargil is now the most richly decorated real estate in the world
'Never before have so many gallantry awards been conferred in such a confined space, restricted to three mountain ridges in Dras and Batalik: Tololing, Tiger Hill and Juber-Khalubar,' says Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta.

SPORTS
'My dream is to become an international referee'
India's first woman football referee, in conversation.

MOVIES
'Hardwork, sincerity, humility, patience!'
Hrithik Roshan's mantras for success, as revealed on the Rediff Chat.

MOVIES
Just for kids!
Tapan Sinha readies his very last film.

REDIFF SPECIAL
When I'm sixty-four
'There you are now, sitting in your chair like a rag doll, drooling. Or lying in bed, praying for an early deliverance. And all you have now is your spouse, your children and a handful of your oldest friends. And if you're not particularly lucky you might not even have that.' Anvar Alikhan has seen the future.

DIARY
Parade to perfection
'One never really realises the kind of sweat and tears that go into the smart turnout of cadets.' Cleona Lira recalls her Republic Day parade.

COLUMNS
CBI makes music
'Abhishek Verma, sleuths say, is singing like a canary. In the process, he has unravelled for them the racket he ran with former deputy director of Enforcement Directorate Ashok Aggarwal.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.

Lessons for the learning
The Indian Hockey Federation has lined up a series of international tournaments to prepare the team for the Sydney Olympics. But, says Cedric D'Souza, it is not the number of international tournaments played that count but the lessons learnt from them.

Looking to keep on rolling
Though Australia have made it to the finals of the triangular series, Steve Waugh says he and his boys are in no mood to loosen their stranglehold on India in Sunday's match.