Top Osama deputy killed
Washington, Nov. 16. In what will be a major blow to the Al-Qaeda network, senior U.S. officials are saying that Mohammed Atef, a senior deputy of Osama bin Laden, has been killed in operations in and around Kabul.

'Poison plan' unearthed
London, Nov. 16. Yet another document confirming the terror plans of the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, and his Al-Qaeda network is reported to have been found, and it contains instructions for preparing the deadly biological chemical `Ricin' which was exploited by British scientists in the Second World War to develop a `W Bomb', and used by the Bulgarian secret service in 1978 to kill a dissident exile in London.

Vajpayee seeks consensus on POTO
New Delhi, Nov. 16. Stressing that the need of the hour was to produce ``a robust, practical consensus'' between the Centre and the States, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, sought to strike a note of reconciliation on the proposed controversial law against terrorism.

Osama in Pak.?
Islamabad, Nov. 16 The Iran Radio has claimed that the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, has probably fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan. However, authorities in Pakistan promptly denied it as a `baseless' report and asserted that the security on the Afghan border had been stepped up to ensure that illegal persons did not cross the border.

Doha declaration positive for India
New Delhi, Nov. 16. The Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, today said the Doha Declaration of the World Trade Organisation's fourth Ministerial conference would not cause the country any harm. ``Perhaps for the first time, we have something positive to show,'' he said.

PM Japan visit from Dec. 7
New Delhi, Nov. 16. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is visiting Japan early next month to push forward a budding strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo.

Two NDFB ultras killed
Guwahati, Nov. 16 Two NDFB ultras were killed and huge quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered by the troops near the railway track at Ghograpar, about 75 km from here today, sources said.

Musharraf warns India
Islamabad, Nov. 16. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has accused India of ``preparing for adventurism against'' Pakistan through various excuses and tactics.

66 NGOs blacklisted
New Delhi, Nov. 16. The Government has blacklisted 66 NGOs for their unsatisfactory performance while action is awaited against 69 others pending re-inspection reports, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. Satyanarayan Jatia, said today.

Congress rejects POTO
New Delhi, Nov. 16. The Congress' top brass, including its Chief Ministers, senior party leaders and AICC general secretaries rejected the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) at a meeting today. ``The legislation is anti-democratic, suffers from serious legal infirmities and is liable for abuse'' the Congress said in a statement.