1. The Government has rejected the criticism that its reaction to U.S. President’s announcement of a new nuclear and global security policy was taken in haste. An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said, India’s response was in keeping with the larger global impact. Stating that there has been no change in its stand on the issue, he said, what the Government welcomed was the elements which had been advocated by India for long. But the clarification did not go well with the Congress, which has demanded an explanation from the government on how it endorsed President Bush’s new policy in a hurry without arriving at a consensus within the country. 

Meanwhile Mr. George Bush is sending a special emissary to New Delhi to discuss the new framework. The special emissary, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitade, will reach Delhi next Thursday. The new security policy is likely to come up during discussions with the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a three-day visit. Moscow is perhaps the strongest opponent of the American programme. Mr. Igonov’s visit comes within seven months of the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit last October, when the two countries signed a Declaration on Strategic partnership to improve the quality of bilateral ties.

2. Bangladesh has accepted India’s invitation for talks in New Delhi on the boundary issues. The country’s Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad said in Dhaka that a Bangladesh delegation would visit New Delhi later this month.

3. Indo-US military cooperation is likely to begin this month after a break of three-years following imposition of economic sanctions after Pokhran-II. Talking to the Washington Times, the Indian Ambassador to the U.S.A. Mr. Lalit Mansingh, said that the decision follows the visit of the External Affairs and Defence Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh to the US last month. General Henry Shelton, Chairman of the Joint chief of Staff of USA is to visit India to work on a closer relationship between the two nations’ military forces. India is interested in developing service to service relationship, cooperation on military doctrine and training and also in co-production and sale of weapons.

4. Russian Foreign Minister Mr. Igor Ivanov arrived in New Delhi last evening on a two day official visit. The main focus of his talks with Indian Leaders is likely to be on the international issues including Afghanistan and the US National Defence Missile System. Speaking to reporters at the airport Mr. Ivanov said that his discussions will also prepare ground for the coming up visit of the Prime Minister to Moscow later this year. Mr. Ivanov will call on Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee today, and later have extensive discussions with the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh.

5. The Central government mediator on Kashmir Mr. K.C.Pant has described the communication from the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party  leader Shabir Shah as a step forward to resolve the Kashmir issue. The letter was delivered by Mr. Shah’s emissaries Saleem Geelani and Mohammed Abdul Tari in New Delhi yesterday. Mr. Shah has sought certain clarifications from the Government. Mr. Pant later, told reporters that he would reply to the letter after studying it.

6. Even as the Bihar government took an offensive posture on the striking chemists by invoking the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), the All India Chemists and Druggists Association have called for a nation-wide closure of drug shops tomorrow in support of their counterparts  in Bihar. The State government has given a fresh directive to all the District Magistrates to ensure opening of closed medicine shops and lodge an FIR against the striking chemists and druggists. Over 20,000 retail and wholesale drugs shops had kept their shutters closed in support of their demand of immediate withdrawal of Turn-over tax.

7. The Centre has banned the militant organisation, Deendar-e-Anjuman which was behind the bomb blasts in and outside church premises and other places in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa. A  Home Ministry spokesman said in New Delhi that the militant organisation has been declared as an unlawful organisation as its activities were detrimental to the peace, communal harmony and internal security of the country.

8. In Assam, the security cover for the candidates has been stepped up in the wake of escalating poll violence. 18 people  including the BJP candidate from Dibrugarh have been killed and 35 injured by suspected ULFA militants during electioneering in the last one week. The Centre is rushing five more companies of para-military forces to the state.

9. In West Bengal, five CPI(M) supporters were killed and many injured in a clash over land dispute at South 24 Parganas district yesterday. Police sources said firearms, bombs and lethal weapons were used in the clash at Dariagram village under canning police station. Eight persons have been arrested.

10. The government has clarified that under the revised guidelines, foreigners cannot directly adopt an Indian child. The clarification follows speculation in the media that Indian children given in Inter-country adoption may be exploited for immoral purposes or sold illegally for huge sums to foreigners. The Central Adoption Resource Agency, an autonomous body under the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, in a statement yesterday said that all foreign parents, including NRIs desirous of adopting an Indian child, have to be sponsored by a licensed adoption agency in their own country which is permitted to work in India.

11. The Sensitive Index of Bombay Stock Exchange yesterday suffered a loss of 44 points to close at 3494.

12. India take on Yemen in the return match of the Asian Zone Group ‘8’ World Cup Football qualifying match at Sa’ana in Yemen today. It is a do and die situation for India. In the home match in Bagalore last month, India held Yemen to a 1-1 draw in the first leg.