Sharif introduces Bill to curtail President's power
In a bid to curtail President's power in Pakistan, the Nawaz Sharif Government has pushed through a Bill in the national assembly seeking to empower government to make appointments to high public offices without the head of the State's consent.

Duma backs '99 budget, indicates support for PM
Russia's Communist-led lower house of parliament today overwhelmingly approved in first reading an austere 1999 budget, thus throwing its weight behind the government's efforts to keep the crisis-hit country afloat.

A meteor striking Clinton is more likely than resignation: Gore
Vice-president Al Gore said his friend and boss President Bill Clinton is ``more likely to be hit by a meteor'' than resign his office in the face of a Republican-led impeachment effort, according to an interview transcript released yesterday.

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