Home Ministry 'cool'
Notwithstanding the seriousness of the attack by militants on the Srinagar airport complex, the Centre has reasons to be satisfied with the response of the security forces, which by evening had managed to kill all the six members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba suicide squad.

Mamata, NDA team meet PM
The Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, met the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, this evening, and presented to him ``evidence'' of a ``massacre'' in Midnapore district.

Jitendra Prasada passes away
The senior Congress leader, Mr. Jitendra Prasada, who was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here in a critical condition last week, died early this afternoon following a heart attack. Mr. Prasada is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

India's views on APHC conveyed to Pak.
Even as the suspense continues over the issue of travel documents to some leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference to enable them travel to Pakistan, the Indian Government has categorically conveyed to the military government here that it does not consider the Hurriyat sole representatives of the Kashmiris.

Sikhism a separate religion, admits RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today officially recognised Sikhism as a ``separate religion'' and Sikhs as having a ``separate identity'' from Hindus.

Shankaracharyas' meet to counter VHP moves
Four Shankaracharyas are planning to announce their own `sant sansad' ahead of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's `dharam sansad' scheduled to start on January 19 at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The move will surely take the steam out of the VHP show.

'Road map' on talks with Pak. under study
Pakistan's emphasis on talks without a firm commitment to rein in key insurgent groups is coming in the way of its stalled dialogue with India.

Don't be influenced by false propaganda: Afghan Minister
The Afghanistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, has urged India not to be influenced by the `false propaganda' of the Russians and come to the rescue of the Taliban regime in fighting the imposition of tougher sanctions by the United Nations.

India, Russia to step up cooperation
India and Russia have called for strict enforcement of the U.N. sanctions against the Taliban and agreed to step up their cooperation in promoting a U.N.-brokered political settlement in Afghanistan.