PMK issue not addressed: Azad
The Congress today remained lukewarm to the AIADMK chief, Ms. Jayalalitha's offer. She raised the seats on offer to the Congress and the Tamil Maanila Congress to 45 in the coming elections in Tamil Nadu.

'N-option only for protection'
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today asserted that India wanted peace and development but would not hesitate to use ``atomic weapons'' for the country's protection and safeguarding its territorial integrity.

Stalemate persists on Kashmir
When the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, announced on February 22 the decision to extend the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir by three months, it was expected that the Government had a definite plan in mind on how to consolidate its strategy of a peace offensive.

'Demolition will continue after Id'
The demolition of two giant stone monoliths of Buddha, hewn from a cliff face in central Bamiyan, was stopped during Id-al-Adha, but the order to destroy Afghanistan's pre- Islamic relics stands and their destruction is a certainty, a Taliban official said today.

Jogi supports BALCO stir
Continuing his campaign on the issue of privatising BALCO, the Chattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, has expressed solidarity with the striking workers of the aluminium plant, saying the stir would continue as long as the sale agreement between the Centre and the Sterlite group was not cancelled.

Haj: 2 Indians among victims
Two women from Jalgaon in Maharashtra, both relatives, were killed and five other Indians injured in Monday's stampede in the Mina valley near Mecca during the annual Haj.

Sharon forms unity Govt.
Israel's Prime Minister-elect, Mr. Ariel Sharon, formed a unity Government today, exactly a month after sweeping to victory at the polls on a pledge to restore security in the face of a Palestinian revolt.