Violence continues in Nepal
Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel, appealed for calm today following violent street protests over alleged anti-Nepalese slurs by the Bollywood star, Hrithik Roshan.

India suspects ISI involvement
Security officials monitoring the anti-India protests in Nepal suspect the hand of the Pakistani agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in the tendentious stir, sparked by the alleged anti-Nepal remarks made by Hrithik.

'I have great love for Nepal'
Perturbed over the continuing violence in Kathmandu over his alleged anti-Nepal remarks, Hrithik Roshan today reiterated that he had not given an interview of any TV channel against the Nepalese people and said there was no question of any apology.

RAW chief to handle Kashmir in PMO
Mr. A.S. Dullat, who retires on December 31 as the chief of India's external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Minister's Office ``with effect from January 1, 2001 till further orders''.

Peace process could be in danger: BJP
Any attack on the Prime Minister's Office, as threatened by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, would be disastrous to the peace initiatives taken in Kashmir for it could compel the Government ``to review (the extended ceasefire),'' the BJP warned today.

Reports of mid-term polls baseless: PM
The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, has dismissed as ``baseless and misleading'' speculation about the possibility of mid-term polls to the Lok Sabha.

India for genuine friendship with Pak.: Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today reminded Pakistan that India wanted genuine friendship with it but the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, could be, as a Sanskrit simile goes, sterner than a Vajra if need be, while being softer than a flower. Friendship was in the interest of both countries.