An element of confusion
An element of confusion crept into the Pakistani response on Mr. Vajpayee's invitation to Gen. Musharraf.

Hurriyat leader meets Pak. envoy
A senior Hurriyat leader and its former chairman, Maulvi Umar Farooq, had a meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, and is believed to have discussed the implications of the Centre's latest move in Jammu and Kashmir. Later, the Mirwaiz told The Hindu that the Vajpayee Government's latest initiative was a ``welcome move''.

Advani sees no role for APHC in talks
A day after the Vajpayee government invited Pakistan's chief executive, General Pervez Musharraf, for talks and called off the ceasefire, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, today asserted that the peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir would continue.

Manipur MLAs reach Delhi
Even as the relations between the Samata Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party over Manipur appeared to be on the mend, the matter took a different turn when 32 MLAs including 23 from the BJP arrived here to counter any move to impose President's rule in the State.

Major fire in Rajasthan Army depot
A devastating fire broke out today in a forward Army ammunition depot at Birdhwal, 20 km from Suratgarh town in Sriganganagar district near the international border in Rajasthan. According to reports reaching here, there was thick smoke and loud explosions were heard as far away as Suratgarh.

Vajpayee in Manali
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, arrived here today on a week-long holiday.

SC to hear petitions against Jayalalitha on June 4
The Supreme Court will hear on June 4 the two public interest writ petitions challenging the appointment of Ms. Jayalalitha as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister by the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, on May 14.

Talks inconclusive
Crucial talks between the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee's emissary and the underground NSCN (I-M) faction here remained inconclusive today, after both sides expressed `substantive' differences on the issue of extending coverage of ceasefire beyond Nagaland.

Sea Harrier crashes
A naval Sea Harrier jet fighter crashed during a routine sortie in south Goa today. The pilot, Lt. Cdr. Vivek Menon, ejected safely, a naval spokesman said here.

U.S. Senate in Democrats' hands
The Democrats in the U.S. have virtually wrested control of the Senate following the decision of Mr. James Jeffords, Republican from Vermont, to quit the Grand Old Party, become an independent and ally with the Democrats on issues.

Review decree, U.N. officials tell Taliban
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms. Mary Robinson and the UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, today expressed outrage over reports of a Taliban edict that non-Muslims in Afghanistan should wear a distinctive sign on their clothes.