Pak. arrests 83 Harkat militants
Islamabad, Nov. 17. The Pakistan border police today arrested 83 members of the Pakistan-based militant outfit, Harkat-ul- Mujahideen, while they were trying to return in the wake of the collapse of the Taliban militia. The militants, who had gone to join the Taliban, reportedly fought along with the militia in Kabul.

'No asylum for Osama, Omar'
Islamabad, Nov. 17. Pakistan today said it would not grant political asylum to either Osama bin Laden or the Taliban chief, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

POTO: Sonia's polite 'no' to PM
New Delhi, Nov. 17. A last-minute bid by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, failed to dissuade the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, from opposing the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO).

Bid for consensus on POTO suffers setback
New Delhi, Nov. 17. The Centre was rebuffed today in its efforts to secure an unambiguous consensus on the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) as the Congress Chief Ministers made it clear that it was unacceptable to them in its proposed form.

Nigerian crowned Miss World
Sun City (South Africa), Nov. 17. Miss Nigeria has become the first African to win the Miss World title when she took the crown and her seat on a zebra skin lined throne.

Veerappan sends cassette
Chennai, Nov. 17. Forest brigand, Veerappan, has sent an audio cassette to a Tamil journalist here, offering to negotiate his `surrender'.

India monitoring developments
New Delhi, Nov. 17. While monitoring the current developments in Afghanistan, India is veering round to the view that a successful anti-Taliban rebellion in the south may be crucial for bringing durable stability to the strife-torn nation.