Some Punjab militants may be released: Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today
indicated that the Government was actively considering the
release of Punjab militants, who were not facing any serious
charges but were imprisoned under the National Security Act (NSA)
for their pro- Khalistan views during militancy in the State.
Waiting for Delhi's word: Kadirgamar
As Sri Lankan soldiers continue to battle rebels
in the northern Jaffna peninsula, creating the setting for a
possible Indian role in resolving the conflict, the Foreign
Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, has said they would wait for
an ``official intimation'' from the Government of India while
continuing to keep the recently-commenced Norwegian initiative on
board.
Air force strikes rebel targets
With ``sporadic mortar and artillery fire'' by
the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) marking
the fighting in Sri Lanka's northern region, the island's air
force ``engaged identified'' rebel targets at positions east and
south of Jaffna town.
Fernandes warns Pak. against any more Kargils
A year after Pakistan's misadventure, the
Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today warned Islamabad
against attempting any more Kargils.
Heavy agenda for Parliament
A crowded agenda awaits the last three days of
the current Parliament session, with important legislation such
as the Information Technology Bill, Right to Information Bill and
the three Statehood Bills for Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and
Jharkhand scheduled for introduction.
Trishul test-fired
The Trishul missile was testfired here on Sunday
in the presence of the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes.
This was the sixth of a series of testfires of the surface-to-
air quick-reaction missile.
Obuchi's death may lead to early poll
The ailing former Japanese Prime Minister, Mr.
Keizo Obuchi, died late this afternoon at a hospital in Tokyo, of
a stroke suffered on April 1, when he effectively ceased to be
Prime Minister.
40 killed in bus accident
Forty persons, including women and children, were
feared drowned after a crowded State-run bus plunged into a canal
today, police said.
Inflation falls to 5.94 p.c.
Breaking a nine-week upward rise, the
inflation rate eased a bit for the week ended April 29, moving
down to 5.94 per cent from 6.10 a week ago. The annual rate of
inflation, calculated on the basis of the Wholesale Price Index
(WPI), fell by 0.16 percentage points to 5.94 (provisional)
during the week compared to 6.10 per cent (P) a week ago and 3.55
per cent a year ago.
