Vajpayee puts economy on `long road' to recovery
Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday unveiled a fresh package of economic reforms aimed at reviving the sagging capital market and stepping up investment in the infrastructure sector. The highlights of the package include proposals to allow buyback of shares and do away with statutory approvals for inter-corporate investment.

West Asia interim pact signed
Israel and Palestine vowed to implement the interim land-for-peace accord signed on Saturday and carry on the spirit of cooperation to the final round of talks scheduled to begin within 10 days even as radical hardliners from both sides slammed the deal.

SEBI hikes creeping acquisition limit
Close on the heels of Prime Minister's announcement of greater freedom for the corporate sector under the takeover regulations, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Saturday decided to increase the creeping acquisition limit of promoters to 5% from 2% and the threshold limit for public offers to 15% from 10%.

Letters to the editor

LEISURE
  AXN Action TV launched
  Russia to test space mirror

SPORTS
  Harris hauls Kiwis to last-ball victory
  Taylor, Langer steer Australia to commanding position

EXPRESSIONS
  Brief history of the world
  Gowda dons his gloves

BUSINESS
  De Beers, Cargil get FIPB nod
  Chidambaram for 51% divestment in banks

GENERAL
  US expected to pressurise Pakistan on nuclear pact during Sharif visit
  Sharma had declared just Rs 51 lakh under VDIS

POLITICS
  Patel spurns Gowda over JDLP
  Cong, BSP set for strategic ties