Troops repulse LTTE attacks
Govt denies civilians’ exodus
COLOMBO, May 13 — The Sri Lankan Government today denied report of mass exodus of civilians from northern Jaffna town and said its troops repulsed “desperate” attacks by the LTTE rebels at Columbuthurai and other areas in Jaffna peninsula and northern Vanni in which three soldiers and 11 Tamil Tigers were killed.

Lara Dutta is Miss Universe
NICOSIA (Cyprus), May 13 — A 21-year-old Indian model Lara Dutta, who said beauty pageants give women a platform to “voice our choices and opinions”, was named Miss Universe 2000 today.
‘Glamour, sophistication she has in plenty’
Lara Dutta wants to be a scribe

Miss India Lara Dutta is crowned Miss Universe 2000 by outgoing title-holder Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in Nicosia on Saturday. 
— AFP photo
Special photographic coverage of the event

Haryana in dark over IOC project
NEW DELHI, May 13 — The Haryana Government is in the dark about the fate of the 350-400 mw Panipat power project being set up by the joint venture Indian Oil Corporation and Marubeni Corporation of Japan.

Cabinet okays new states’ Bills
NEW DELHI, May 13 — The Union Cabinet today approved three separate Bills for the creation of new states of Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh.

Violence marks society poll
Tohra, Bada factions clash
CHANDIGARH May 13 — The ongoing tussle between the Badal and Tohra Akali factions today took a violent turn when at a meeting held at Guru Gobind Singh College here blows were exchanged, and firearms brandished. The police had a tough time disengaging both the groups.

Hurriyat’s no to US suggestion
JAMMU, May 13 — The Hurriyat Conference has rejected a suggestion made by a team of American Embassy officials for accepting the offer for talks from the Government of India.

Riots erupt in Jakarta’s Chinatown
JAKARTA, May 13 — Rioting broke out in Jakarta’s predominantly ethnic-Chinese business district today, two years after the savage riots that erupted in the city before the downfall of former President Suharto.

S. Leone forces repel attacks
FREETOWN, May 13 — Pro-government forces in Sierra Leone repelled two rebel attacks on Port Loko, 40 km northeast of Freetown, late yesterday and are advancing east, today’s official briefing broadcast on the national radio said.

Major hawala gang busted
LUDHIANA, May 13 — The district police today busted a hawala gang operating all over the state with the arrest of a hawala operator, Surjit Singh, allegedly working for the Dubai-based Dawood Ibrahim gang.