HC judge raps Tamil Nadu Govt.
It was the Madras High Court Judge, Mr. Justice Narayana Kurup's turn today to slam the Jayalalithaa Government for taking ``major policy decisions which smack of political vendetta by ordering arrest and detention of her political rivals and bureaucrats''.

India to speed up prisoners' release
In a significant pre-summit goodwill gesture, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today unilaterally announced the Government's intent to release all civilian Pakistani prisoners, throw open academic institutions to Pakistanis and initiate steps to prevent detention of fishermen who stray into Indian waters.

Pak. to free cyclist
Pakistan today decided to release an Indian round-the-world cyclist, Mr. Vikas Singh, who was jailed for three years for entering the country from Afghanistan without a visa.

Centre details 'warning' to Tamil Nadu Government
Charging that the Jayalalithaa Government in Tamil Nadu has ``designedly flouted the principles and conventions of responsible government,'' on June 30/July 1,2001, the Government of India tonight called upon the State Government to ensure that the State was being run ``strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India.''

Govt. clears AI shareholders pact
The Government today cleared the decks for disinvestment of Air India by approving a shareholders' and share purchase agreement for the airline laying down stringent security guidelines for the proposed strategic partner.

Musharraf keen on meeting Hurriyat leaders
The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said that he would like to meet the leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) during his visit to India between July 14 and 16.

Sonia happy with 'success' of U.S. visit
The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, who returned here tonight, has reasons to be satisfied over the success of her first official visit abroad as the Leader of the Opposition.

Musharraf for no-war pact with India
The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today said he is ready for a ``no-war pact'' with India. In an interview to Zee TV, he said, ``India has offered no-first-use of nuclear weapons. I am ready to go one step ahead ... for a no-war pact.''