WB may okay more loans
After clearing the $543 million Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructuring Loan on Thursday, the World Bank is likely to clear 3 other loans totalling over $500 million early next week. This implies a significant turnaround in the attitude of the G-8 nations which have been opposing loans to India following the Pokharan nuclear tests.

Reluctant Sonia is party's saviour
The move to oust the Vajpayee Government has drawn Sonia Gandhi into a war of nerves with the non-Congress opposition parties over the installation of an alternative government at the Centre. Although the flurry of activity in the opposition camp has created the most serious crisis yet for the 100-day old Government, the BJP is hopeful that ultimately, Sonia Gandhi will not pick up the gauntlet thrown by the Chandra Shekhar gang and the Left Parties.

UF backs new front; keen on Cong-led Govt
After the initial tentative reactions from within the United Front to the formation of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha, UF leaders are now viewing it as a welcome move and say they are ready to back a Congress-led alternative government. At least two senior UF leaders, chairman H D Deve Gowda and former Union minister S R Bommai, have come out in support of the RLM saying the objective of the new front and the UF was the same; to fight communal forces.

LEISURE
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SPORTS
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EXPRESSIONS
  No middleman, please
  Mum's the word

BUSINESS
  Indo-French asked to refund money
  DoT corporatisation cleared

GENERAL
  Task force asks Govt to set up national security council
  Karnataka Govt may reintroduce arrack bottling

POLITICS
  Sonia targets relief
  KPCC hunts for dynamic new chief