A distorted picture: Pak.
In a sharp reaction to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Agra summit, Pakistan today accused India of presenting a ``distorted picture of the negotiations'' at Agra and urged it not to ``vitiate the atmosphere'' for bilateral engagement.

Militants kill 5 at Jammu station
Five persons were killed and more than 20 injured when suspected militants tonight fired indiscriminately on passengers at the Jammu railway station , official sources said. They said police and security forces had cordoned off the entire area to nab the attackers.

BJP-Sena rift widens despite 'apology'
A letter of ``apology'' written by the Shiv Sena MP, Mr. Sanjay Nirupam, to the Prime Minister has failed to narrow the widening rift between the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally in Maharashtra.

Snap ties if you want: Thackeray
The Shiv Sena supremo, Mr. Bal Thackeray, today categorically told his party's belligerent ally, the BJP, ``you can snap the alliance, if you so desire''.The Sena chief, however, defended his Rajya Sabha member, Mr. Nirupam Sanjay. In his view, the MP had not erred for his barbs were against the Prime Minister's Office and not the Prime Minister. He asked the BJP not to be over-agitated, reminding it that the over 15-year alliance was an ideological one.

SC notice on asylum deaths
A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today in the tragic matter of ``death of over 25 chained inmates in asylum fire in Tamil Nadu'' issued notice to the State of Tamil Nadu and other authorities concerned (respondents) to submit a ``factual report'' with regard to the incident.

Preparations on for India, Pak. talks
Preparations are under way here for the bilateral meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the SAARC standing committee meeting here on August 9 and 10.