Issue may drag on despite Florida certification
With the clock ticking away in Florida towards the 5 p.m. deadline today, after which the Secretary of State, Ms. Katherine Harris, is expected to make a final certification of the results as directed by the State Supreme Court, the two campaigns are digging in for the next phase.

Don't undermine ceasefire, Farooq tells Pak.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today said despite the lukewarm response from militants, the State and the Centre were determined to go ahead with the unilateral ceasefire.

All eyes on Ramzan moon
As militants intensified attacks on the security forces in the past 24 hours, killing four Army personnel, all eyes are on the Ramzan moon, expected to show up on Tuesday, the first day of the holy month when the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Centre will come into force.

Sena against linking ceasefire to Ramzan
The Shiv Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray, deplored his followers' act of burning the effigy of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and warned them that such misbehaviour should not be indulged in, particularly in case of a friendly party.

LTTE chief's speech eagerly awaited
The leader of one of the most-dreaded guerrilla groups in the world turned 46 today amid hopes in the country from which he wants to carve out a Tamil kingdom that age and other circumstances might have forced him into accepting the impossibility of his goal.

Pan-Islamic outfits may disregard ceasefire
With the formal ceasefire, beginning Tuesday, just 48 hours away, the change in the stance of the separatist conglomerate, All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), is significant.

It is Lahore-II, says Advani
Describing India's Ramzan ceasefire offer as ``Lahore-II'', the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, today formally called upon Pakistan to respond positively by stopping cross-border terrorism and putting an end to infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir.

Militants kill 12 in Assam
Twelve persons were killed by militants in Assam - eight in Kokrajhar district and four in Nalbari district. Suspected ULFA militants killed four Bihari Muslims in two separate incidents in Nalbari district on Saturday night.

Janata Dal(U) splits
The fractious Janata Dal politics raised its head again today with the Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, seeking separate allotment of seats in the Lok Sabha.

Israeli spy planes for India
The State-owned Israel Aircraft Industries will sell remote-controlled surveillance planes to India in a deal worth $ 250 million to $ 300 million, an Israeli Defence official said today.