U.S. Supreme Court begins hearing
A historic event got under way this morning as lawyers for the Texas Governor, Mr. George Bush, and the Vice- President, Mr. Al Gore, asked the United States Supreme Court to give finality to a presidential election process now in its fourth week.

Guard shot at in Navy chief's house
A naval commando was shot at by an armed intruder at the official residence of the Navy Chief, Admiral Sushil Kumar, in the high-security Rajaji Marg area here early today.

Priyanka Chopra is Miss World
In the end, it turned out the way bookies had willed it and India's Ms. Priyanka Chopra walked away with the Miss World crown on her head and a cheque for œ70,000 at a pleasantly low-profile function at the Millenium Dome here late on Thursday night.

PM meets RSS leaders
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today hosted a dinner for the top leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, including its chief, Mr. K. Sudarshan, Mr. Mohan Bhagwat (general secretary), Mr. H. V. Seshadri (joint general secretary), and Mr. Madandas Devi (joint general secretary). Mr. Vajpayee's guests, besides the RSS leaders, included the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, the BJP president, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, and the former president, Mr. Kushabhau Thakre.

'BSF men may arrive anytime'
The Border Security Force has been kept ready by the Centre for despatch and the personnel may arrive at any moment to start operations to nab the brigand Veerappan, according to the Director-General of Police, Mr. C.Dinakar.

Life came from space? Balloon may have answers
The nation's scientific community has congregated here to witness the flight of a special balloon, filled with neon imported from the United States, which will be collecting 15 aseptic air samples at different altitudes ranging between 10 km and 35 km. Bacterium from these samples will be isolated in a fresh attempt to unravel the mysteries of life.