Demanding allies force Vajpayee to defer Cabinet expansion
Faced with conflicting demands from allies as well as within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has abruptly put off plans to expand his Council of Ministers on Friday till the month end.

Cabinet approves disinvestment in six cash-rich PSUs
The Government has approved sale of part of its equity in six cash-rich Public Sector companiesthrough buyback or cross-holding, to meet the disinvestment target of Rs 5000 crore during 1998-99.

Stanchart's exaggerated claims are grounds for closure: Justice Variava
In yet another enormously hard hitting judgement in connection with the securities scam of 1992, Justice Sam Variava of the Special Court has ruled that Standard Chartered Banks' claim of Rs 795 crores out of a loss of Rs 1253 crores claimed by it on account of Hiten Dalal is disproved.

Letters to the editor

LEISURE
  Lankan child claims to be reincarnation of former president
  International kite festival amuses hundreds

SPORTS
  Jordan leaves Bulls struggling
  Gilchrist storm washes out Lanka

EXPRESSIONS
  Too much of a gentleman
  The smoker has rights, too

BUSINESS
  Amex, Citibank bid for Bankam's retail business
  SEBI scraps `all or none' trades

GENERAL
  NCM seeks minority status for Hindus in 6 States
  It's a matter of how minorities feel: Nariman

POLITICS
  UP ministers form coordination committee, CM embarrassed
  Trinamool Cong to hold crucial meeting tonight