I need not be apologetic: Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, today said he need not be apologetic about his ideology. ``Can anyone say they will be able to build a mosque at that (disputed) site (in Ayodhya)?''

'Something amiss with CBI'
The Union Ministers, Mr. L. K. Advani and Ms. Uma Bharti, today indicated that something was amiss with the CBI. They were commenting on the charges filed against them by the agency in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

India rules out early SAARC summit
India today ruled out an early summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation and put on hold its decision on a meeting of foreign secretaries of the member- countries.

Govt. in a bind over postal strike
The Government finds itself in a bind in invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to force the postal workers into ending their agitation as the legislation is applicable only in six States.

Strengthen peace moves: Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, today expressed the hope that some decisions would be taken soon to strengthen the peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir.

Women's bill to be taken up on Dec. 21
The Women's Reservation Bill, seeking to give 33 per cent of all Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats to women, is expected to be taken up for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, December 21.

Chennai lawyer sentenced
The Supreme Court today sentenced Mr. S.K. Sundaram, a Chennai- based lawyer, to undergo six months imprisonment, holding him `guilty of criminal contempt' for sending a telegram to the Chief Justice of India, Dr. A.S. Anand, asking him to step down alleging that he had already attained the age of superannuation.

Bid to smuggle Indians foiled
The German border police have foiled attempts to smuggle 26 Indians to Britain and Germany in two separate incidents and have arrested four persons, including two British truckers, in this connection.

Ayodhya cases hearing on Jan.18
A special court, hearing cases relating to demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, today fixed January 18, for further hearing.

Azharuddin reports sick
Former Indian skipper Mohd. Azharuddin today informed his employers, the State Bank of India, that he was sick and would not be able to report for duty, nearly two weeks after he was asked by the bank to resume duty.

Russia warns of economic hardships
As the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine was shut down on Friday to loud cheers from the West, Russian officials denounced the decision as unwarranted and politically motivated and predicted it would bring more economic hardships to their Slav neighbour.

Sharad Yadav, Yerran Naidu meet
The Civil Aviation Minister and president of the Janata Dal (United), Mr. Sharad Yadav, met the TDP leader, Mr. K. Yerran Naidu, here today. They are understood to have discussed the situation in the wake of the statement of the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha on the Ayodhya issue.

PM convenes meeting of Delhi MPs
The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, has convened a meeting of MPs from Delhi tomorrow morning to discuss the situation arising out of the closure of polluting units here, the BJP MP, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, told `Aaj Tak' today.

DMK warns NDA
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, asserted that his party would not hesitate to quit the NDA if it ``went against the National Agenda for Governance''.