Three-year deadline set for new Fiji Constitution
Fiji's military ruler, Commodore J. V. (Frank) Bainimarama, today set a timeframe of up to three years for formulating a new Constitution, generally expected to be in favour of the majority indigenous population, and holding elections to form a new Parliament.

Mara flees
Fiji's former President, Ratu Kamisese Mara, has fled to his remote Pacific island home in fear of his life, police sources said today. The deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry's wife, Ms. Virmati, has also reportedly been offered sanctuary by the Mara family on Lakeba, in the Lau group of islands, 200 km east of Suva.

Uneasy calm in Jaffna
An uneasy calm has fallen over the Jaffna peninsula, as the big guns on both sides continue to remain silent. On Wednesday the Sri Lankan Government reported only minor skirmishes between its troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Charges baseless: Sinha
The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today hit out at critics who had alleged that his daughter-in-law had secured a huge reward because he had provided a tax haven route to foreign institutional investors through Mauritius and pledged to expose their ``sinister designs''.

Let's not live in the past: Musharraf
The Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, this evening came the closest to owning the Kargil operation during a live question and answer session over CNN. For the first time, he did not refer to the ``mujahideen'' occupying the heights of Kargil.

Internet rates slashed
The VSNL today announced a 50 per cent cut in the Internet rates and free access at night as part of a special ``monsoon package'' applicable from June 1 to July 31. It has offered benefits to the existing customers through advanced renewal facility during the period.

IA flights to Kathmandu
Indian Airlines will resume its service to Kathmandu from tomorrow after a five-month-long suspension of its flights following the hijacking of IC-814 to Kandahar.