Desperate cries touched her heart
A sea of humanity has flooded Kadalundi near here which otherwise was a most silent, typical countryside surrounded by marshy land with preserved mangrove vegetation all around.

Musharraf may continue as President for 5 years
The appointment of Gen. Pervez Musharraf as Pakistan President has been challenged in the Lahore High Court even as several legal and constitutional questions related to the takeover remain unanswered.

APHC seeks audience with PM, Musharraf
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference has sought a meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and has made a similar request to the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The APHC wants to meet the two leaders when Gen. Musharraf will be in India for his summit meeting.

Agenda in consultation with Pak.: Jaswant
The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, said here today that he will ``fix the agenda'' for the upcoming summit meeting between India and Pakistan after he returns to New Delhi in consultation with the ``visitors''.

Return to democracy in Pak. must: U.S.
The Bush administration has said that while it is important for the United States to develop a cooperative relationship with Pakistan, democracy is an aspect of this. Referring to the latest developments in Islamabad, the Republican administration said it was ``absolutely essential'' to restore democracy to revive and rebuild relations with the U.S.

PM reviews ceasefire fallout
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today reviewed the developments since the extension of the Naga ceasefire. At a high-level meeting, the Prime Minister heard the nature of apprehensions that have gripped the northeastern States since the announcement that the Centre-NSCN (I-M) ceasefire would be extended to all Naga-inhabited areas. However, the overall view was that the Centre could not go back on the central thrust of the ceasefire extension.

Medha Patkar protests outside MSEB office
Anti- globalisation activist, Ms. Medha Patkar, staged a protest outside the office of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Mumbai on Friday.

China names new envoy
China has named a career diplomat, Mr. Hua Qunduo, as the new Ambassador to India replacing Mr. Zhou Gang, who was appointed in 1998. Mr. Hua may leave next month.

3 Shiv Sainiks arrested
The special task force (STF) of the Mumbai police yesterday arrested three alleged Shiv Sainiks on charges of rioting during the December 1992-January 1993 communal disturbances in the city after the demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. The three are Anant Shankar Panchal (34), Ramakant Sakharam Nachnekar (31) and Ravindra Sakaram Nachnekar (33).

'Extension for Cabinet Secy.
The Vajpayee Government has reportedly made up its mind to give an extension to the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. T.R. Prasad, till October 31, 2002, in pursuant of a policy decision that those holding ``apex posts'' should have a tenure of two years. A formal announcement is likely in the next few days. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet is to meet soon to identify the posts.