Curtains come down on the 'best ever' Games
Like wind settling into the arms of the dawn after howling through the night came the finale, smooth, sombre and serene. The 16-day fiesta, which the Sydney 2000 was, passed beyond the blue rim of the horizon and into history amidst mixed emotions.

PM stresses party-Govt. relations
The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, today emphasised the need to strengthen the relationship between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Government even as he sought to dispel the growing notion that he alone had recently been taking all important decisions related to purely party matters. At the same time, he asked party-persons not to raise issues which become points of public debate, but feel free to discuss problems at appropriate party forums.

Afghan shadow over Putin visit
As the Taliban militias extend their grip over northern Afghanistan, the developments in that war- torn nation are expected to figure prominently in the talks between the visiting Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, and his Indian interlocutors this week.

India 'fitting contender' for U.N. seat: Putin
The Russia President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, has strongly backed India's candidature for permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council saying it was a ``fitting contender'' for the seat and called for joint efforts to combat international terrorism.