Five more hostages released
Five hostages from the hijacked Afghan airliner which landed at London's Stansted airport early on Monday were released after negotiations with the British authorities, leaving another 160 passengers and crew still on board.

'No action against officials for RSS activities in U.P.'
Amid the raging controversy over the Gujarat decision, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Ram Prakash Gupta, said today that his Government would not take any action against State Government officials taking part in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as there was no ban on it in the State.

Masood Azhar 'arrested'
Has Masood Azhar, a one-time Harkat-ul- Mujahideen leader who has now formed a new militant outfit, been arrested? Or was he merely picked up for interrogation by the Pakistani authorities?

'Water' shooting banned for two weeks
The shooting of the film ``Water'' by the celebrity film maker, Ms. Deepa Mehta, was today banned for two weeks by the District Magistrate, Varanasi, under Section 144 Cr.P.C. on apprehension of breach of peace. This was disclosed here by the Principal Home Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. V. K. Mittal.

No move to reduce EPF interest rate: Jatia
The Union Labour Minister, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatia, today said there was no move to reduce the interest rate on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

A 'total relook' of VIP security
In a bid to streamline the norms for VIP security, the Union Home Ministry has decided to limit the security cover only to those who genuinely face threats from militants or terrorist organisations.

Was PoK issue raised during Lahore meet, asks Cong.
The Congress(I) has questioned the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's statement on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) and said that he was ``being guided more by the RSS rather than his own convictions.''

Musharraf offers to meet Vajpayee
Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has made a direct offer to meet the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, but maintained that the two sides could break the ``logjam'' and reduce tension only by addressing the Kashmir issue.