Jaffna precariously poised
The Sri Lankan forces may soon find the pressure on Jaffna town unbearable, highly-placed sources in the Government said today. According to these sources, some LTTE cadres have already entered Jaffna in the last few days and a major assault on the town may not be far away.

Meet on Cauvery put off
The meeting of the Cauvery Water Authority convened by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, tomorrow has been postponed following the decision of the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, to stay away.

India, Germany to work for U.N. reforms
India and Germany today affirmed their claim to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and agreed to work together for an early revamping of the UN system.

CPI(M) stand on joining non-Left govt. unchanged
Thirty six years after its inception, while the CPI(M) no longer rules out the possibility of being invited at some point to join a non-Left government at the Centre - a possibility it did not entertain earlier - it continues to fight shy of answering unambiguously the big question: how would it act in such a situation.

Bandh hits normal life in Assam
Normal life was hit in Bodo and Karbi-dominated areas of Assam today following a dawn-to-dusk state-wide Bandh called separately by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) along with their allied organisations.

Mamata 'offers to resign'
The Trinamool Congress supremo, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, tonight asked the BJP national leadership to prevent the West Bengal BJP from marring the Trinamool's prospect in the upcoming civic polls in Calcutta and elsewhere in the State by fielding separate candidates.

Pak. Cabinet vows to implement S.C. order
The Pakistani Cabinet has resolved to implement the military Government's agenda by October 12, 2002, as laid down in the Supreme Court verdict of May 12.

We are willing to talk: Kadirgamar
Sri Lanka today said it was willing to open talks with the LTTE if the latter was willing to do so. ``....We are prepared to start talks even tomorrow morning if the LTTE is willing to do so.

Tamil refugee-free week declared
The Indian Navy has declared `Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee-Free Week' following the non-arrival of refugees since May 10. The last to arrive, on May 9, were 12 stranded Tamil refugees who were rescued by local fishermen from the sixth island of Sri Lanka.

Petro products price may be reviewed
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. E. Ponnuswamy, hinted here today that the prices of petroleum products might be reviewed depending on the outcome of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in June.