Inflation leaps to 7 pc
Export sops on basmati rice withdrawn
New Delhi, April 4
Bad news on the inflation front continues as the inflation rate for the week ended March 22 surged to a three-year high at 7 per cent, compared to its previous week’s level of 6.68 per cent, on account of higher food and metal prices.

Business page: Blame game over inflation

Sensex falls by 489 points
Mumbai, April 4
News of inflation surging to 7 per cent spooked the markets with Sensex getting battered down 3.1 per cent to close 489 points lower at 15, 343 levels. In broader markets, the Nifty plunged 2.6 per cent or 124 points to close at 4,647 levels.

Medicos can ask for re-checking
Chandigarh, April 4
The Punjab Medical Education and Research Department has taken some vital decisions to streamline medical education and to address problems faced by students aspiring to be admitted in the medical courses.

India, Myanmar look to consolidate ties
Sign major pact for upliftment of India’s NE
New Delhi, April 4
Initial signals emanating from the first three days of the visit of Myanmar’s second most powerful ruler vice senior General Maung Aye to India indicate that two neighbours are ready to consolidate bilateral ties.

Nuclear Deal
Still time to move forward, says US
President George W. Bush’s administration continues to remain optimistic about the future of the civilian nuclear agreement with India but on Thursday noted that “time is running out.” State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey told reporters “time is running out to be able to give this current Congress the opportunity to consider this arrangement.”

Rentals for land hired by forces in J&K hiked
New Delhi, April 4
Just months before the elections to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, the union government today effected a big hike in rentals for the land hired or requisitioned by the armed forces in the state. The rentals are revised every five years and were last revised in February, 2003.