Colombo denies it is withdrawing troops
Buoyed by having resisted the artillery fire by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the past three days, Sri Lanka today ``strongly refuted'' having contemplated a withdrawal of troops from the embattled northern peninsula, where the Tigers are reportedly pressing ahead towards Jaffna town.

India, U.S. in touch over Sri Lanka
India and the United States are in continuous contact over the unfolding military crisis in Sri Lanka. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, has been in touch with the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Richard Celeste, here, for an exchange of views on the Sri Lankan developments.

Wheat, rice supply for drought hit A.P. also
The Vajpayee Government today formally decided to extend Central assistance, in the form of wheat and rice for drought-affected areas, to Andhra Pradesh. At present it was applicable only to the drought-hit districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Some hope on the Hurriyat front
A section of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference leadership, camping here, has opted to interpret as a positive development what it sees as Pakistan's apparent endorsement of a dialogue between the APHC and the Union Government.

SC accepts Jayalalitha's plea in colour TV case
The Supreme Court today permitted the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha (petitioner), to have herself and three others examined as `defence witnesses' in connection with the trial of the `colour TV scam case' (in which she is one of the accused) by a Chennai Special Judge (trial court).

Computers fall prey to love bug
An e-mail virus ``I love you'', ostensibly created by a truant Filipino schoolboy, caused widespread disruption to computer systems across the world on Thursday.

U.S. will consider request for humanitarian help
The Clinton administration is saying that it has received no request from Sri Lanka for any assistance from the United States, but that a request would certainly be considered for humanitarian assistance.

Musharraf for trilateral talks
The Chief Executive of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today proposed trilateral talks between New Delhi, Islamabad and Kashmiri leaders to resolve the Kashmir issue.