Talks soon on greater autonomy: Farooq
The ruling National Conference (NC) will soon start negotiations with the Centre on the issue of restoring greater autonomy to the State, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, said here today.

Curfew in Poonch
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has imposed an indefinite curfew in Poonch town following violent protests against the killing of two Hindu priests and five members of a Muslim family. They were among 20 persons killed in a fresh wave of violence across the State.

PM to address U.N. Assembly on Sept. 25
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, will address the U.N. General Assembly on September 25, it has been officially confirmed.

SC notice to Arundathi Roy
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Booker Prize winner, Ms. Arundathi Roy, as to why she ``should not be proceeded against for contempt for statements'' in three specified paragraphs in her affidavit filed in response to an earlier court notice on a petition filed by some advocates seeking action against her and two others.

Nuns attacked in Gujarat
Three Christian nuns from an orphanage in Jobat village of Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, and some drivers, all Muslims, were allegedly beaten up by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists in Dahod town of Gujarat on Saturday and were also later subjected to harassment at the police station there when they went to lodge a complaint.

CBI gets Bofors papers
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Mondayreceived the translated version of documents from Sweden relating to the Bofors pay-off case, well-placed sources said.

RBI submits annual report
The Government guarantees provided by both the Centre and the States, including letter of comfort and structured payment obligations are potential source of financial risk (deficit), the Reserve Bank of India said today.

Bihar flood situation grim
The flood situation in Bihar continued to be grim today with the major rivers in spate and the Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister for financial help in view of the flood and drought situation in different parts of the State.

Kashmir will be core issue: Musharraf
Sharp observations made by the Pakistani military ruler and President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, on the primacy of Kashmir in normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan has caught diplomatic circles here by surprise.

8 weightlifters flee dope test
Close on the heels of Kunjarani Devi testing positive for a banned drug, at least eight weighlifters at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, have run away from the academy for fear of getting caught.

CNG: violence mars strike in Delhi
Sporadic violence marred the day-long strike by operators of buses, autorickshaws and taxis here over the CNG issue, as the Delhi Government and strikers made counter-claims about the outcome of the stir and the Government vowed to take action against the `few' bus operators who took part in the agitation.

Tension in U.P. town
Communal tension today gripped Mahmudabad town of Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district as a group of students went on the rampage torching several shops in protest against the rape of a school student, allegedly by some members of a particular community last evening.