'Immunity not available to JMM MPs'
A special court here today made it clear that no immunity from prosecution was available to the JMM MPs for having received a bribe to vote against the no-confidence motion against the Narasimha Rao Government in July 1993.

PM orders food relief for Bengal
Dr. Chittaranjan Ranawat, New York-based surgeon who operated on the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, last Tuesday at the Breach Candy Hospital here, today said his patient underwent physiotherapy and had a restful night. He described Mr. Vajapayee's condition as stable.

Krishna sees light at end of the tunnel
The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, today ruled out the Rajkumar kidnap crisis triggering off any political fallout, saying, ``Nothing like that is anticipated.''

Nedumaran is T.N.'s choice
Mr. Krishna has denied having said that the Centre was also involved in the selection of the Tamil nationalist leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran, as one of the emissaries to negotiate with Veerappan.

Chandrika invites PA to form govt.
The Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, went on national television tonight to declare that she had invited her People's Alliance (PA) to form the next government and that the coalition had the support of other parties to make the numbers in Parliament.

Shuttle on 100th mission
After four aborted attempts, space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre early today on a mission to the International Space Station(ISS).

Literature Nobel for French Chinese-writer
The dissident novelist and playwright, Mr. Gao Xingjian, who fled his native China after his play was banned, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for his writings about the struggle for individuality in mass culture.

MUL faces strike
Maruti Udyog Limited(MUL) faces a strike even as it is in the throes of trying to retain its position as the market leader in the automobile industry.

Sharad Yadav taken ill
The Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Sharad Yadav, took ill today and all his engagements were cancelled. He returned to New Delhi for further treatment at the AIIMS.

BJP lists 'achievements' of one year in office
The Bharatiya Janata Party is all ready to start a week-long celebration of its party completing one year in office. Public rallies have been planned across the country, with the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, scheduled to address one here tomorrow.