Tipnis in Colombo
The Indian Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. Y. Tipnis, arrived here this evening on a `goodwill visit'. The visit, at a time when Sri Lanka is facing a serious challenge from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has generated interest especially given the past Indian experience in attempting to bring about peace in the strife-torn nation.

Maken case accused extradited
About 15 years after the killing of trade union leader Lalit Maken and his wife Geetanjali, daughter of the late President, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, one of the prime accused in the case, Ranjit Singh Gill, was today extradited to Delhi from the United States to stand trial in the case.

Pak.-China plane project in trouble?
A joint Pakistan-China fighter aircraft project, the Super 7, is in deep trouble following the refusal of European nations to ``provide avionics for the aircraft under U.S. pressure'', the Dawn magazine reported today.

Global oil prices rise again
Global oil prices have begun to rise once again, prompted by fears that offshore oil fields in Norway may shut down next week. This Scandinavian country, the world's second largest oil exporter, has been hit by industrial strikes lately which have affected tanker loading and may extend to some offshore fields soon.

Sinha for change in 'mindset'
The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today called for a ``change'' in the ``mindset'' of the developed bloc whose ``sermons'' to the developing countries on their economic affairs were becoming ``shriller''.

Putin sworn in
Mr. Vladimir Putin, who took oath as the Russia's second President today, named Mr. Mikhail Kasyanove, as acting Premier.

Victim of mindless war
Sierra Leonean girl Bintu Mara, one of many children mutilated by the former Revolutionary United Front rebels in the months that led to a compromise peace accord nearly a year ago, walks with the help of a crutch and the handless arm of a friend at a camp in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Saturday.

'Love bug' suspect a woman?
The Philippines today said the United States was helping to track down the source of the ``love bug'' virus that ravaged computers worldwide and a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official said the suspected hacker was a woman.