PM reviews rupee slide, disinvestment
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today convened a high-level meeting of a group of Ministers to review two specific issues - the current volatility in the foreign exchange market and the public sector disinvestment process.

Veerappan comes out with fresh demands
Notwithstanding four fresh demands by the forest brigand, Veerappan, as the kidnap episode involving Kannada thespian, Mr. Rajkumar entered the 13th day, the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments tonight inched closer to a solution to the crisis.

Niaz to visit India for 'track-II' diplomacy
Pakistan's former foreign Secretary, Mr. Niaz A. Naik, who hit the headlines for engaging in secret- diplomacy during last year's Kargil conflict, has said he would visit India in the first week of next month to resume the `track- II' diplomacy between the New Delhi and Islamabad.

Match-fixing: King panel members to visit India soon
The King Commission, inquiring into match- fixing allegations against South African cricketers, will be extending its investigations to India.

Parliament passes Jharkhand bill
Parliament today approved the Bihar Reorganisation Bill, 2000 with the Rajya Sabha passing it by a voice-vote. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, announced that the three new States - Chhatisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand - would be formed by November 1.