Meet likely in July
The proposed summit meeting between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is likely to take place in early July, highly-placed sources said today.

'Third option not workable'
The Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, has said that the third option of granting independence to Kashmir, other than the proposals for its accession to India or Pakistan, is not `workable' as it is not part of the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir.

Pak. happy with invitation
The military establishment is pleased with the text of the invitation extended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to the military ruler and the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to visit New Delhi for peace talks.

Manipur BJP MLAs step up pressure
Legislators from Manipur, who voted out the Radhabinod Koijam Government last week, today continued to pressure the National Democratic Alliance against placing the State under President's rule.

Cyclone loses intensity
The severe cyclonic storm in the Arabian sea, which was threatening the earthquake-battered Gujarat, has dissipated. The State Revenue Minister, Mr. Vajubhai Vala, however, said here today that the red alert would remain in force at least till tomorrow. The man-power and machinery already mobilised would be kept on stand-by till the threat was completely over.

Govt. flayed for ignoring dams panel report
The Centre today came in for sharp criticism for its decision to stay away from a discussion here on the Report of the World Commission of Dams (WCD). Such a meeting had been postponed twice in the past, not to forget the denial of permission by the Government for the Commission to hold its first public hearing on dams in India.

Sworn in Lt. Governor
Mr. Nagendra Nath Jha was today sworn in as the seventh Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Pondy CM meets Sonia
The Pondicherry Chief Minister, Mr. P. Shanmugham, today called on the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, to discuss the Cabinet expansion and inclusion of the AIADMK in the Ministry. Mr. Shanmugham also met the AICC general secretary, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of party affairs in Pondicherry.

2 die in ship fire
Two persons were reportedly killed today following a fire in a Navy ship docked at the Cochin Shipyard. The two, who were admitted to the naval hospital, INS Sanjeevani, reportedly died of suffocation. The fire is said to have occurred in the laundry section.