Hizb retracts, a bit
In a significant shift in stand, the Hizb-ul- Mujahideen today insisted that it had not rejected outright the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee's ceasefire announcement.

Delhi masterplan to be amended
A decision to amend the masterplan of Delhi was taken today at the level of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Jagmohan, even as the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha raised the issue and demanded immediate Central action to overcome the problems faced by lakhs of workers in Delhi as a result of threatened closure of industrial units.

Sheila Dixit leads march
Normal life was disrupted for the third consecutive day in the Capital today even as the Congress Legislature Party led by the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dixit, marched to the Prime Minister's residence and then to Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening to register their protest against Centre's failure to amend Delhi's masterplan which, they said, led to the closure of thousands of industries.

Cong., SP wrangle over adjourn move
An adjournment motion on the plight of farmers, which was to be moved today in the Lok Sabha by the Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, got caught in procedural wrangles and a dispute between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

SAD dumps Jagir Kaur
Amid expression of resentment from its members, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today decided in principle to replace Bibi Jagir Kaur as president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Florida Judges grill Bush, Gore lawyers
The Seven Judges of the Florida Supreme Court, while hearing arguments from the Bush and Gore camps on how to end the stalemate in the United States presidential campaign, grilled the attorneys of both the sides for the entire duration, many times with pointed questions and at times with a touch of sarcasm as well.

NDA has failed on all fronts: Sonia
The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, today accused the NDA Government of failing the nation on all fronts. Addressing the customary general body meeting of her party in the central hall of Parliament this morning, she said the Government had failed on all fronts - economic, agriculture, foreign policy and maintaining the secular order. ``Our worst apprehensions have proved true,'' she said.

India, Russia urge Taliban to shut terrorist camps
Without naming Pakistan, India and Russia today called for the termination of external support to the Taliban and condemned the latter for supporting narco-terrorism.

Swamy calls on Sattar
The Janata Party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, called on the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, here this evening and exchanged views on various subjects.