It's About Politics
The limits on Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha's budget this year are political. He has the prescription to put the economy on a high growth track, but hampered by vested interests, vote-bank politics and stubborn opposition parties, he is unlikely to deliver.

The Rot in Farming
Falling prices, stagnating production and diminishing returns are brewing an unparalleled crisis in farmlands across India. Ironically, the alarming situation has arisen despite an unprecedented 12 consecutive normal monsoons.

Creeping Paralysis
Doubts over Keshubhai Patel's fitness to rule are growing after his government failed to provide basic relief like tents to those affected by the earthquake. Despite having speedily restored electricity and water, which earned praise from some international agencies, criticism over Patel's poor marshalling of resources continues.

Artless Artistry
The festival tried to exhibit the widest selection rather than the best, making it a disappointing show.

Stillness of Change
The legendary bamboo curtain is lifting to reveal that Myanmar isn't quite the "fascist Disneyland" it is made out to be. The winds of change have brought back English as the medium of instruction and Aung San Suu Kyi is talking to the military. After prolonged isolation, Yangon wants to face the world, but on its own terms.

Making It Happen
John Buchanan gives an exclusive insight into what it takes to coach the world's most successful team. He also enumerates what
he feels will be the Indian strengths that the Aussies
will have to watch out for.

Strategic Partners
As emphasis shifts from relief to rehabilitation, Care Today is selecting regions to focus on and NGOs to help it channelise aid. The involvement of victims is integral to the plan so that their dignity remains intact.

METROSCAPE

Charitable Mood

In the backdrop of murky allegations about underworld connections, philanthropy by the Bollywood badshahs came a little more easily. A fund-raising concert for the Gujarat quake victims at Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai, organised by Shatrughan Sinha, Pahlaj Nihalani and state Cultural Secretary Govind Swarup, saw the industry extending their full support. And it didn't really matter if the concert began an hour behind schedule (as is customary) and audiences were subjected to a tirade of sugary speeches for the better part of four hours.

GIFT OF THE STARS: Sunil Shetty goes throught the motions

Also forgiven where the dances by stars like Shilpa Shetty, Raveena Tandon Salman Khan, Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya Rai who seemed content to just shake a leg, the last two to the same choreographed numbers they had prepared for the Filmfare Awards a day earlier. Significantly, a sum of Rs 2 crore was collected by evening and a confident Sinha promised even more. "We have pledged a minimum of Rs 10 crore to the Chief Minister's relief fund," he said.

Bollywood rallies around Gujarat

Near midnight the audience's patience was finally compensated when Shah Rukh Khan, flush from his triumph at the Filmfare Awards, took centrestage with the evergreen Chaiyya chaiyya. Later, Amitabh Bachchan read a wistful poem he had penned specially for the evening.

-Himashi Dhawan

MetroScape
Charitable Mood
In the backdrop of murky allegations about underworld connections, philanthropy by the Bollywood badshahs comes a little more easily.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi: Lifestyle Store

Delhi: Film Festival

Mumbai: Restaurant

The Indian Navy's International Fleet Review was a fine effort at naval diplomacy which the Government would do well to build on, writes INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Sandeep Unnithan
in Despatches.

"The only obvious competition is in bhangra," say the Pakistani duo of the music group, Strings, in an exclusive interview with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro.
Interviews.