China told about boy Lama's arrival
India and China today formally held discussions about the defection of Ugyen Trinley Dorje, the 14- year-old Karmapa into India, with New Delhi seeking details from Beijing about the circumstances leading to his arrival in the country.

U.S. Senators meet Musharraf
Four senior U.S. Senators met Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, today in the highest- level American visit since October's coup. ``It was a good visit,'' the delegation leader, Mr. Tom Daschle, told presspersons.

Interest on savings schemes cut
The Government today announced an across-the- board one per cent cut in the deposit rates on all small savings schemes like Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificates, Kisan Vikas Patras, Post Office fixed deposit and Post Office recurring deposit schemes.

Shamim to head Minorities Commission
In a move aimed at sending out signals of moderation towards the minorities, the Vajpayee Government is said to have decided to reconstitute the National Commission for Minorities, putting at rest apprehensions that the Commission could be abolished altogether, as the ruling coalition has had occasions to feel embarrassed by its observations and findings.The re-constituted Commission is likely to be headed by Mr. Justice M. Shamim, a judge of the Delhi High Court who gave the ruling in the hawala case that the ``diaries'' were not admissible evidence.

CBI gives week's time to Hindujas
The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued notices to the Hinduja brothers based in London and Geneva to ``join'' the probe into the Bofors payoffs case that has gone on for over a decade. The agency has given the NRI brothers a week's time to respond to the notice.

CPI(M) for 'grand alliance' against BJP
In view of the coming electoral showdown with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar and three other States, the CPI(M) has decided to work towards forging a greater alliance with the CPI and other Left and secular parties which have kept away from the CPI(M) in Bihar because of its tie-up with Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal.

SP, CPI plan new front in Bihar
With the notification for the first phase of election to Bihar just three days away, various parties have begun to get their act together and as things stand, the State is poised to witness a multi-cornered contest.

Security implications of Karmapa's stay in India
As the Government brainstorms the fallout of the defection into India of the 14-year old Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje, three possible options stand out. According to highly-placed Government sources, decision-makers are studying the implications of either granting asylum to the teenaged monk or accepting his de facto refugee status. His deportation to China so far has not found favour with.

India, Britain to join hands against terrorism
India and Britain have agreed on measures to cooperate against terrorism at a meeting between the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, and his British counterpart Mr. Robin Cook.

Hindujas offer to give any `clarification'
The Hinduja brothers tonight offered to give any `clarification' to the CBI in the Bofors payoffs scandal but maintained they had nothing to do with the gun deal.