China's role vital in solving Indo-Pak problems: Clinton
China must be a part of any ultimate resolution of the differences between India and Pakistan, including the dispute over Kashmir, President Clinton declared yesterday. Clinton's astonishing assertion came in a week in which he has been increasingly investing Beijing with new roles and responsibilities in the run-up to his visit there beginning June 25.

RBI steps in to stabilise forex market, stem outflow
In a desperate move to arrest the unprecedented fall in the value of Indian rupee, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday announced several measures to restore the confidence of exporters and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and stem further outflow of foreign exchange from the country. Among other things, pre-shipment export credit for six months and post-shipment credit for 90 days has been reduced by 550 basis points to 6.5% for incremental exports over base year 1997-98.

N-tests blast 5 minutes off doomsday clock
Scientists manning the Doomsday Clock advanced it on Thursday to within nine minutes of an apocalpytic midnight, citing the slow progress in reducing nuclear arsenals in the world and last months atomic tests by India and Pakistan. The move was aimed at dramatising the failure of world diplomacy in pushing forward the disarmament agenda.

LEISURE
  Rickshaw Ride of Life
  On the sidewalk

SPORTS
  Dan-gerous Eggen shows Norway the way
  Big day for the host nation

EXPRESSIONS
  The voice of India
  Let the explosions herald elimination

BUSINESS
  Exporters hail RBI measures
  SEBI imposes curbs on short sales to rein in bears

GENERAL
  Death ends Nivedita's yearning for extremes
  Lanka mum on Jaya demands

POLITICS
  Ernakulam poll debacle -- Congress heads may roll
  Samajwadi, RJD disrupt House proceedings