PM leaves for U.S. to firm up ties
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, leaves for the United States late tonight on a visit that was originally intended to have firmed up the new upswing in Indo- U.S. ties, but which has now been overshadowed by a concern over the Prime Minister's health. In the build-up to the visit, reports of frequent changes in Mr. Vajpayee's itinerary have taken precedence over the possible substantive achievements.

Gopal returns empty-handed
The joint initiative by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments to secure the release of the Kannada actor, Mr. Rajkumar, and three others held captive by the brigand Veerappan suffered a jolt today, with the emissary, Mr. R. R. Gopal, returning empty-handed from the Sathyamangalam forest.

Fresh talks to end telecom stir
The Union Labour Minister, Mr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, today initiated a fresh round of talks with agitating Telecom employees who began an indefinite strike this morning to press for wage related demands in the wake of the Government's decision to corporatise the Department of Telecom Services/Operations.

RajKumar is safe: Gopal
The journalist-emissary, Mr. R.R. Gopal, today said there was no threat to the life of Kannada matinee idol, Mr. Rajkumar, and three others being held hostage by Veerappan.

Annan pleads against sanctions
On the eve of the Millennial Summit of the United Nations, the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, has urged the Security Council to find ways of punishing so-called rogue nations without resorting to sanctions. ``The costs of sanctions have too often to be borne by ordinary people, not by the authoritarian governments against which they were directed,'' Mr. Annan has remarked in a report.

U.S. may draw flak at summit
World leaders attending the Millennium Summit of the United Nations would be addressing, for most part, the changing role of the U.N. in the 21st century, or how best the world body needs to equip itself in the face of increasing and complex challenges. Internally, there has been question of how the U.N. should reform itself in structure and functioning.

Musharraf for mediation on Kashmir
The Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said that the Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved in a bilateral fashion and that he would appeal to international leaders for the kind of mediation that ended the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

Vajpayee enquires well-being of children
The Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, today called up the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Vijay Nambiar, and enquired about the well-being of the children of a member of the High Commission who were subjected to `molestation' by an intruder on Saturday.