Great expectations
Peace is in the air. It really seems so here ever since the summit meet between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was proposed and accepted.

Manipur heading for Central rule
The Manipur Governor, Mr. Ved Marwah, has recommended that the State be brought under President's rule and the State Assembly be kept under suspended animation. Mr. Marwah sent his report on the prolonged political uncertainty on Thursday to the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, with copies to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani.

Pant hopes peace process will continue
The Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir, Mr. K. C. Pant, arrived here today on the last leg of a six-day visit to the State and described it as ``a successful experience''. During his two-day stay here, he will meet the representatives of political parties and other groups as part of his efforts to build on the process of dialogue aimed at restoring peace in the troubled State.

Will take Veeranam issue to court: Jayalalitha
The AIADMK Government will take the ``old Veeranam project scandal'' to court, the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha, told the State Assembly today.

New Vice Chief of Air Staff
In a major change of command, Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, a highly- decorated officer, has been appointed the new Vice Chief of Air Staff.

Sri Lanka assurance
The Sri Lankan Navy has been instructed not to fire at Indian fishermen if they crossed the international waterways, the visiting Sri Lankan Minister, Mr. Mahindera Rajapakse, said here today. He gave this assurance to the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, here today.

AIDS boy activist dead
Xolani Nkosi, the 12-year-old boy more widely known in the media as Nkosi Johnson since his adoption by a white family and his coming under media spotlight during the International AIDS Conference in Durban July last year, died this morning at the house of his foster mother, Ms. Gail Johnson, in Johannesburg. His death, with grim ironic symbolism, occurred on International Children's Day.