NDA dominates 30-member JPC on stock scam
The Government today appointed a Joint Parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the recent stock market scam. Making the announcement about the JPC in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, said it has been asked to submit the report by the end of the next Parliament session. He also spelt out the terms of reference of the JPC.

Injustice done to me, says Jayalalitha
The acceptance of the nomination papers of former Minister and sitting MLA, Mr. Balakrishna Pillai, in Kerala was a clear indication that injustice had been rendered to her, according to the AIADMK leader, Ms. Jayalalitha.

Court orders seizure of magazine in Delhi
Observing that prima facie it appeared that Ms. Madhu Trehan, Editor-in-Chief of Wah India fortnightly magazine published from the Capital, and four others had committed contempt of court, a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court today issued notices to them for carrying on allegedly contemptuous report against the High Court Judges.

Parliament adjusts itself to election timetable
The budget session is to be cut short by two weeks and Parliament will be adjourned sine die tomorrow. Two separate announcements were made today - in the Rajya Sabha by the chairman, Mr. Krishan Kant, and in the Lok Sabha by the Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi.

Keep your promise on Tehelka, Cong. tells PM
The Congress today sought to negate the criticism that it had given up on the Tehelka issue by announcing a nationwide signature campaign demanding the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee's resignation on moral grounds. The party would press its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the issue in Parliament tomorrow.

Iran favours dialogue on Kashmir
Iran today refused to equate the situation in Kashmir with Palestine saying it would be unfair to compare the suffering of the Palestinians at the hands of Israel with the sufferings of Muslims in any other part of the world.

DMK-led front's chances bright: BJP chief
The BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi, today said nobody could object to the reported statement of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, that if circumstances warranted and the DMK-led front won the Assembly election in the State, his son, Mr. M. K. Stalin, would become the Chief Minister.

Needed: quick demarcation
India today said that it wanted to quickly demarcate the 6.5 km unsettled border stretch with Bangladesh.

Pak., terrorist outfits hail APHC decision
Pakistan and Pakistan-based militant organisations have welcomed the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) decision to reject the offer of talks made by the Indian Government.

'India must maintain growth of 1990s'
The gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 7.1 per cent in Asia in 2000, but the pace of activity fell markedly and the regional growth for 2001 was expected to decline to 5.7 per cent, according to the IMF's World Economic Outlook in the section on the global slowdown and its implications for Asia.