Pak invites Hurriyat

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has invited leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference from Jammu and Kashmir for a visit early next month, a government spokesman said on Monday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said Pakistan expected the leaders to arrive on June 2. —AP

Chinese official’s visit

NEW DELHI: China’s defence chief arrived in India on Monday for a six-day visit aimed at boosting military ties between the two powers. Gen Liang Guanglie was to hold meetings with India’s defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and the heads of the Indian army, navy and air force.— AP

17 killed in mishap

BEIJING: A truck carrying 24 farmers overturned and plunged into a valley in Tibet, killing 17 on the spot and leaving seven others injured, the government said on Monday. The accident occurred on May 16 when the farmers were traveling in Nyima county from Huangzhong county in neighbouring Qinghai province. — AP

Blast rocks Guwahati

GUWAHATI: At least three paramilitary troopers were critically wounded in a powerful bomb explosion on Monday in this Assam capital. A police spokesperson said militants suspected to be from the United Liberation Front of Asom triggered an explosive device close to a crude oil refinery in Guwahati. — HNS

Cows slaughtered

BEIJING: Chinese authorities have slaughtered thousands of cattle in an effort to stop an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, a newspaper reported on Monday. Officials wouldn’t confirm the report by the South China Morning Post of Hong Kong, which said the slaughter took place in Yanqing, northwest of Beijing. — AP