India welcomes ICJ decision
India today welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to reject Pakistan's petition over the shooting of its naval aircraft and urged Islamabad to create the right atmosphere for direct talks based on the Shimla and Lahore principles.

I love my country... I love money too: Cronje
``I have great passion for my country, for the game, for my team, but also for money,'' was what disgraced South African cricketer, Hansie Cronje, said today during cross- examination by the King Commission inquiring into allegations of bribery and match-fixing in South African cricket, when the Commission resumed its hearings after a five-day break.

Farooq seeks national debate
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today said the National Conference wanted a national debate on the issue of restoring autonomy to the State.

Centre shoots down CMs' demand
The Government today declined to concede any of the demands raised by a conclave of Chief Ministers who sought ``urgent intervention'' by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in the release of funds for the States.

Bihar evolves plan to check caste killings
The coordination committee of the ruling coalition in Bihar today chalked out a three- pronged strategy to check the recurrence of caste killings by devising a self- protection mechanism, organising peace marches and speeding up development programmes.

Ceremony to mark hostages' release: Speight
Fiji's 31 political hostages will be released within a day, sources told AFP today. The release of ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Choudhry, his Cabinet and Government was likely as a result of a decision to name a new Prime Minister.

Archbishop killed
The Archbishop Alan De Lastic, the head of India's Catholic church, has died in a car accident in Poland, the Polish Bishops' conference said today. De Lastic (71), was killed instantly when his car crashed after swerving to avoid a cyclist on way from Krakow to Warsaw at 1.30 a.m. today.

HC order on phone scheme
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Communication, not to give or issue free telephones to the serving employees of Department of Telecom and Department of Telecom Services till a writ in this regard was disposed of.

AIR officials get jail term
The Madras High Court has sentenced two top AIR officials to one week of imprisonment each for disobeying court orders, pertaining to opening of tenders for allotment of time slots on AIR's FM channel, in February last.

Govt. softens stand on LTTE role in interim council
In a toning down of posture, Sri Lanka's ruling People's Alliance (PA) coalition today agreed, during talks with the opposition United National Party (UNP), not to pre-emptively exclude the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the interim council to administer the north-east.