Hindu, Muslim leaders meet on Ayodhya
The much-publicised meeting called by the Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Bajrang Dal leader, Mr. Vinay Katiyar, to solve the Ayodhya dispute today took off without Mr. Mohammed Hashim Ansari, first petitioner in the Babri Masjid case. However, a group of Muslims, including some Imams of local mosques in Faizabad district, turned up at the State Guest House here, venue of the talks.

Geelani visit sparks speculation
The senior Hurriyat leader, Syed Ahmed Shah Geelani, arrived in the capital here today, triggering speculation whether he was the advance party of the APHC delegation which is scheduled to visit Pakistan on January 15.

Two jute mill managers set ablaze
Two top executives of the Baranagar jute mill were burnt to death, a worker was shot dead, and four persons were injured, when labour unrest turned violent over the suspension of an employee today.

'Pak. to keep all channels open '
The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, told a high-level Indian delegation, currently here on track-II diplomacy, that Pakistan was eagerly looking forward to the visit of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and that it would not insist on its involvement in the dialogue process at the initial stage itself for settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

Musharraf has no plans to visit India
After maintaining an enigmatic silence for two days, the Pakistan Government has said that the military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has no plans to travel to New Delhi since no formal invitation has been extended by the Indian Government.

A boost to relations with Indonesia
It had been 14 long years since an Indian Prime Minister visited Indonesia. By choosing to visit Indonesia at its current stage of intense domestic turmoil and democratic transformation, the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, has achieved much.