Clinton calls Sharif, CTBT in the air
Faced with growing economic crisis due to the US sanctions, Pakistan has decided to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Meanwhile, the Pakistani government plans to seek a final nod from Parliament.

Chernomyrdin launches fresh economic measures
Russia's acting premier, Viktor Chernomyrdin, announced a raft of economic measures on Tuesday evening to boost the government's foreign currency revenues and a crackdown on retail traders profiting from the current financial crisis, Interfax reported.

Starr rejects Clinton plea for preview of report
Independent counsel Kenneth Starr has rejected a request by attorneys for United States President Bill Clinton to receive an advance copy of a much-anticipated report by Starr to Congress on the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

  N Korea gears up to celebrate Kim's ascension in lavish style
  Cambodian Oppn steps up protests against Hun Sen
  India scores diplomatic victory at parliamentarians' meet
  Pak to sign CTBT, public backlash feared
  Oppn-LTTE planning to topple Govt
  Euro bourses tread warily after US leap
  World Briefing
  Russians rely on skills to survive economic crisis
  Telstra flags profit in reply to Alston
  Indonesia protesters told to be patient
  Yeltsin ponders PM, aides draft economy plan
  India, Sri Lanka should jointly market tea
  Vietnam eyes big cocoa project in coffee haven
  Japan's complaint against US at WTO
  Coffee growers worried about prices -- ICO
  Sri Lanka rupee seen down 12 per cent in 1998
  Fall in Nikkei, rates add to Japan gloom