Rattled Sharif meets Tarar
A beleaguered Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif held top level consultations over the latest developments within and outside the country even as his government ruled out the possibility of an army coup in the wake of a favourable statement from the United States.

India says no to South Asian nuclear meet
India has rejected a Pakistani proposal for a strategic restraint regime in South Asia saying the issue of nuclear disarmament was much larger and should involve the whole world.

Militia threatens showdown in E Timor
A series of shooting incidents, one involving Australian troops, shook East Timor on Thursday as pro-Jakarta militia threatened a showdown with the multinational force in the territory.

  Don't intimidate sovereign states on human rights, China warns UN
  Russian jets strike Grozny
  When old rivals met for a new round in UN
  Resolution of Lanka's ethnic conflict a distant dream
  Taiwan earthquake toll crosses 2,000
  Asian oil up as Opec says supply curbs will be maintained
  Post-quake repairs to push up Taiwan copper imports
  Bank of England may lift rates again in '99 -- Analysts
  Japan gives Ripplewood Group the first shot at LTCB
  Asian markets end mixed in thin trade
  Moving closer to cross-border trading