Steps to protect truckers
Following the killing of five truck drivers on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Tuesday, a high-level team of the Union Home Ministry arrived in Jammu today to discuss the security situation with the State Government.

Karnataka seeks NSG help to nab Veerappan
The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, today said the State would request the Centre to deploy NSG commandos to help the Special Task Force capture the brigand Veerappan.

Advani assurance to T.N.
The Centre would provide the Tamil Nadu Government all assistance, in terms of manpower and equipment, to nab the brigand Veerappan, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, assured a delegation from the State here today.

BJP confident of new stand on Kashmir
The new face of the Bharatiya Janata Party as a peace messiah in Kashmir is difficult for its cadre to swallow, but party leaders are confident they will be able to explain the ``reality on the ground.''

Liberhan panel summons Advani, Rao
The Liberhan Commission of Inquiry probing the conspiracy angle into the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya today ordered issue of summons to the former Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao and Union Ministers, Mr. L.K. Advani and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi to adduce evidence as witness.

Battle goes to the U.S. Supreme Court
The Bush campaign has appealed to the United States Supreme Court to bar the use of manually counted votes in the U.S. presidential election in Florida. The lawyers for the Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush, filed appeals seeking an urgent review.

Azhar denies fixing matches
The former captain of the Indian cricket team, Mohammad Azharuddin, has denied that he ever indulged in match-fixing or had underworld links, according to the website, rediff.com.

Sanctions unwarranted, says Pakistan
Pakistan has dubbed the latest U.S. sanctions over alleged missile technology transfer from China ``unjustified and unwarranted'' even as political parties have said that the sanctions are a reflection of the failure of the military government on the diplomatic front.

Russia hails ceasefire
Russia has strongly backed India's unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the Russian Foreign Ministry welcomed the ceasefire as a move facilitating the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir.