The Luckies
The Labelled, Urban, Chilled, Kicked-with-life Indians are here. The most fortunate ever if only for the choices before it, this generation is glib, global, cocky and informed-and chases success with an awesome spending power.

Wages Of Peace
The Centre's decision to extend its cease-fire with the NSCN(I-M)
to three other north-east states leads to large-scale violence
in Manipur.

Man Of Letters
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's skill with the quill has the PMO busy acknowledging his missives. And on occasion agreeing to his demands.

Civil Lines
Pervez Musharraf's assuming the office of President is being seen as a bid to legitimise his position. A look at what this means in the context of his India visit.

Peace In Pipeline
India wants to put on Iran the onus of ensuring safe transit of gas.

NEWSNOTES

Voices

"I am taking your leave for the second time within a year. Now that my second knee has been operated upon, I won't trouble you a third time because I cannot bring forth a third one."
A.B. Vajpayee, prime minister, to press people in Mumbai

"After Kargil, one cannot go ahead as if everything is normal. After the tremendous expectations generated in Lahore, Kargil in one sense destroyed the trust."
Vijay Nambiar, Indian high commissioner in Islamabad

"It is not for the Government to provide jobs. The private sector is there to take care of that."
S.M. Krishna, Karnataka chief minister, at the Congress chief ministers' conference convened by party President Sonia Gandhi

"The media and the film industry have a symbiotic relationship. They should not cross certain parameters and character-assassinate. They even make things look communal."
Aishwarya Rai, film actress, about film journalists linking her with actor Salman Khan, on the BBC programme Face to Face

VIS-A-VIS

"We bowled too short. Anyway, the Indian team is not exactly overflowing with bowling resources."
John Wright, Coach, Indian cricket team

"I don't think our bowlers bowled badly. We just didn't have the runs on the board to win us the game."
Saurav Ganguly, Captain, Indian cricket team

MetroScape

Delhi Decorative Art: D'addomio

Kolkata Restaurant: Thai Tonight

A Hare Krishna cult member's spiritual quest meets with a rude end. But he isn't the only one on trial. The credibility of the Orissa police is equally at stake, writes INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Ruben Banerjee in
Sleaze And Salvation