Sangma to head AICC task force
Congress president Sonia Gandhi took the first step towards revamping the party by constituting a six-member task force headed by former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma. Besides Sangma, the other task force members are Sharad Pawar, Manmohan Singh, A K Antony, Ahmed Patel and Arjun Singh. The panel has been asked to study the suggestions for revitalising the party.
New exim policy to simplify norms
The basic structure of the earlier export-import policy is expected to be be retained while changes/revisions in the policy for 1997-2002 are to be announced by commerce minister Ramakrishna Hegde on Monday. The thrust of these changes will be on consolidation of all the existing schemes with modifications in order to make things easier for the exporting community.
Temple plan not shelved: Uma
Union Minister of State for Culture Uma Bharati said on Friday that "systematic" efforts were on to remove "all hurdles in the way of the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya." She, however, added that the construction of the temple would be the "first thing we will do when the BJP comes to power on its own."
Washington knew of Pak plan but failed to stop it
The United States was aware of the impending test by Pakistan of its Ghauri missile and tried to buy it off by promising to speed up delivery of the sequestered F-16s. But demonstrating an unusually independent streak, Islamabad went ahead and tested the missile, risking not just the delivery of the planes, but also possible sanctions by the White House and legislative wrath from proliferation hawks in the Congress.
FIs may opt for selling stake in Raasi Cements
Financial institutions which were earlier opposing "hostile" takeovers are veering around the idea of selling their stake in Raasi Cements to India Cements. The latter has already offered to buy the 20% FI stake in Raasi at a price of Rs 300 per share.
Irish peace scales its first hurdle
The executive committee of northern Ireland's biggest party yesterday voted to back the historic peace deal aimed at ending 30 years of violence, a victory for Ulster unionist leader David Trimble. Facing rebels in his ranks, Trimble appealed to his pro-British protestant followers during an acrimonious five-hour meeting to accept the compromise peace accord.
