India `natural ally': U.S.
Washington, Nov. 8. The United States today characterised India as a ``natural ally''. It was significant, not merely symbolic, that a senior U.S. Government official echoed the sentimental phrase that was first coined by India itself.

India committing state terrorism in J&K: Musharraf
Paris, Nov. 8. Pakistan's President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today accused India of committing state terrorism in Kashmir. ``In Kashmir's case, my view is that there is state terrorism going on by India because it is violating U.N. Security Council decisions.

'Indian Army not helping U.S. in Afghanistan'
New Delhi, Nov. 8. India today denied allegations that its army officers had joined the U.S. army in aiding the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. ``No one belonging to the Indian Army is involved in guiding the Northern Alliance in Northern Afghanistan,'' maintained a senior Defence Ministry official.

Pak. orders closure of Taliban consulate
Islamabad, Nov. 8. The Pakistan Government today ordered the Taliban militia to shut down its consulate in Karachi without specifying any reasons. Though the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, said Islamabad has cited ``security considerations,'' as the reason for the order, it is widely seen as an action by Pakistan to convey the message that it would not allow the militia to use its soil for ``propaganda purposes.''

Maneka wins libel suit
London, Nov. 8. Britain's leading publishers, Harper Collins, have apologised to the Union Minister, Ms. Maneka Gandhi, and agreed to pay her damages for publishing what she alleged in a libel suit were ``derogatory'' references to her and her late husband Sanjay Gandhi in Ms. Katherine Frank's widely-read biography of Indira Gandhi.

Blair asks Bush not to extend 'war' to Iraq
London, Nov. 8. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, has appealed to the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, not to widen the bombing campaign to include Iraq in response to demands from U.S. hardliners such as the Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, a report said today. Britain fears such action would jeopardise the international coalition formed after September 11.

Patil succeeds Scindia
New Delhi, Nov. 8. The former Speaker, Mr. Shivraj Patil, will be the new deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, succeeding Madhavrao Scindia, who died in a plane crash in September.

Aid to Malegaon
Mumbai, Nov. 8. The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, today declared a grant of Rs. 2 lakhs from the CM's Relief Fund to the next kin of those killed in Malegoan riots.

Remanded
New Delhi, Nov. 8. A designated court today remanded the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise (Delhi), Mr. Someshvar Mishra, to four days of CBI custody for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 10 lakhs from an industrialist.