AGARTALA: Tribal separatist guerrillas ambushed a paramilitary patrol and killed seven people in Tripura. The attack took place at Sindhu Kumar Para, 170 km north-east of Agartala, the State Capital, the police said on Sunday. Agartala is over 300 km north-east of Kolkata. The rebels, suspected to be members of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), also looted arms and ammunition in the attack on a Railway Protection Force (RPF) patrol party on Saturday. Police said five soldiers and two civilians, the driver and his assistant, were killed in the attack. The sixth soldier sustained serious injuries.

          NLFT is fighting for a separate homeland for the minority tribal population in Tripura, which is east of Bangladesh. India's remote north-east is home to dozens of guerrilla groups demanding either independence or greater political autonomy. The groups accuse the federal authorities of plundering the region's mineral resources and flooding the area with outsiders. Over 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Tripura during the past two decades.

Baghdad Under Round-the-clock Attack

          BAGHDAD: Iraqi Capital Baghdad has come under one of the most intensive aerial strikes by coalition forces since the start of the war against Saddam Hussein, on March 20. It was reported that air raids were going on day and night now, with apparently heavier and heavier munitions. Massive explosions were heard from around the southern outskirts of Baghdad, where the United States is trying to displace units of the Republican Guard.

           In the south, from where the American assault on Baghdad is most likely to come, US troops have been digging in, ringing their positions with foxholes and artillery pieces to defend them while they wait for the order to move forward. Iraqi information minister Mohammed Saeed Al Sahaf said Iraq downed two US helicopters while the Pentagon denied the claim. British forces claimed to have captured five Iraqi officers and an Iraqi general, and killed a Republican Guard colonel, in clashes south of Basra. Al-Jazeera television reported fresh air strikes on Basra and Mosul. US Central Command in Qatar said two more marines were killed in accidents in southern Iraq.

Turkey Blocks All Roads Leading to Iraq (Go To Top)

          ANKARA:  Turkey has blocked 330 km-long border and all the roads leading to Iraq to prevent possible infiltration of Iraqi refugees in view of American forces' imminent attack on Kirkuk, foreign media reported on Sunday.

24 Killed in Philippine Gunbattle (Go To Top)

         MANILA: At least 20 Communist activists, three policemen and a soldier have been killed in a gunbattle in Bulacan province north of the Philippine Capital, the military said Sunday. A police-military contingent foiled a planned attack by New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas on a cement plant and the police station in the town of Angat on Saturday, triggering clashes, said Army 7th Infantry Division chief Major General Alberto Braganza.

Naxals Blast Andhra Railway Station (Go To Top)

          VIZIANAGARAM: Naxalites belonging to the banned People's War Group (PWG) blasted the Gomada railway station in Kumaruda mandal of Vizianagaram district. Six Naxalites planted mines after vacating the staff and blew up the railway station late on Saturday night, police said on Sunday. Before fleeing, the Naxalites snatched Rs 164 from the station master and handed over a chit stating that the action was taken to protest against the arrest of PWG activists in the district, police added

Kidman Sets Her Eyes on London Stage Again (Go To Top)

          WASHINGTON: Mar 30 In order to conquer her stage fright, Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who recently won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as British writer Virginia Woolf in 'the Hours,' wants to go back to the London stage. "I'm going to get too scared to do theatre if I don't return soon. It doesn't matter if the play doesn't do well, or if I'm not very good in it," she was quoted as saying by Teenhollywood.com.

           "My agents will go mad because there's no money in it. Look at me, I haven't even been asked to do anything yet! If Sam Mendes (who directed her in the Blue Room) or Stephen Daldry or Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre offered anything, I'd do it," added the 35-year-old former wife of US actor Tom Cruise.

India's First Sex Museum in Mumbai (Go To Top)

          MUMBAI: It tells you all you ever wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask. India's first sex museum in Mumbai takes curious visitors on a journey into a world that is still considered taboo in the tradition-bound country. Tucked away in a century-old building near a red-light district, the museum named 'Antaranga', or 'Inner Self,' leads one into abstract drawings of entwined couples and verses from the 'Kamasutra', India's ancient treatise on the art of love.Rather than titillate, the museum tends to tutor on sex related issues. The museum seeks to build awareness about AIDS through real-life stories. Visitors lauded the museum saying that they can learn more about the human anatomy.

Uma Thurman Joins Ben Affleck in 'Paycheck' (Go To Top)

          WASHINGTON: Mar 30 Golden Globe-winning US actress Uma Thurman has signed compatriot and Oscar-winner Ben Affleck's new movie, 'Paycheck.' To be directed by John Woo and based on a short story by sci-fi author Philip K Dick, the film is about an electrician who wakes up to discover his employer has erased his memory of the past two years as a security measure. Filming is set to begin in Canada shortly ahead for a late 2004 release date, reports Teenhollywood.com.

Has Salma Hayek Tied the Knot with Ed Norton? (Go To Top)

          LONDON: Oscar-nominated Mexican actress Salma Hayek has reportedly tied the knot with long-time beau, Oscar-nominated US actor Edward Norton. "They got married in New York two months ago, and have been desperate to keep it their little secret. Which means wearing no wedding rings and not telling friends. But they think it is definitely worth it," a movie source was quoted as saying by People News.

           Hayek, 36, who was nominated in the Best Actress category at this year's Oscars for playing Mexican mono-browed artist Frida Kahlo, has been going out with 33-year-old Norton of 'Fight Club' fame for four years now. In fact, Norton helped write the screenplay and partially financed 'Frida.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Hayek has denied the marriage.