Volume 4 Number 6 Mon. June 02, 2003       Advertise with The Daily Star -- Advertising on the Website    Advertising in the Printed E dition-- Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Political Sports Foreign Relations Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Suppliments Archives International   Positions of US, Russia on Iran are close: Putin The positions of Moscow and Washington on Iran are "closer than they seem," Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday following talks here with his US counterpart George W. Bush.   Israel eases WB, Gaza closure as truce in the making Israel on Sunday eased its closure of the Palestinian territories three days ahead of a US-convened peace summit and amid expectations the two sides could declare a long-sought truce.   Countdown begins for arms surrender in Iraq Coalition commanders opened weapons collection points around Iraq on Sunday as they began a two-week countdown to the imposition of new firearms controls in a bid to stem post-war lawlessness.   Indian politics heating up with hot summer A searing summer wave is sweeping India. And so is the heat of electoral politics.   Blair duped Britons over Iraq war, says Clare Short Prime Minister Tony Blair duped the public over the threat posed by Saddam Hussein in order to ensure Britain invaded Iraq, Clare Short, who resigned from his cabinet, told a British Sunday newspaper.   Wolfowitz visits last Cold War frontier US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz made a moral-boosting visit Sunday to American troops on the world's last Cold War frontier.   'Tobacco is weapon of mass destruction' A top US cancer specialist Saturday called tobacco a "weapon of mass destruction," and colleagues urged slapping an extra two-dollar-a-pack tax on cigarettes and banning smoking in more public places.   Hopes for another Indo-Pak summit rising: Fernandes 'India, China to raise ties to higher level' The recent warming of ties between India and Pakistan has raised hopes for another summit between their leaders, Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said here Sunday.   Asian security meet calls on N Korea to disarm, lauds anti-terror drive North Korea dominated three days of security talks between Western and Asian defence chiefs that finished here Sunday, with a consensus among all 220 delegates that Pyongyang must dismantle its nuclear   Lankan peace hopes dim as Tigers stick to guns Sri Lanka's peace prospects have dimmed as Tamil Tiger rebels resist international pressure and insist on political power ahead of a final settlement, diplomats and officials said Sunday.     Advertisement