Monday, July 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Jaswant Singh to be new Finance Minister
Venkaiah set to be BJP chief; Jaitley, Thakur quit
New Delhi, June 30
Even as External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh’s shift to the Union Finance Ministry and Rural Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu taking over as the BJP President appears imminent, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee gave finishing touches to the critical expansion-cum-reshuffle of his Cabinet here tonight.

  Edit page: Enter: an assertive Deputy Prime Minister

Question mark over Brajesh’s powers
New Delhi, June 30
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s expansion-cum-reshuffle of his Council of Ministers here tomorrow has cast a shadow over the power structure with Deputy Minister L.K. Advani emerging as the strongman, eclipsing the all-powerful Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra.

Ronaldo’s twin strikes shatter German dream
Yokohama (Japan), June 30
Brazil star Ronaldo laid to rest his 1998 nightmare by scoring both goals as the samba kings defeated Germany 2-0 to clinch a record fifth World Cup here today.

More World Cup stories on Sports page   Ronaldo (9) holds up the World Cup trophy while celebrating with team-mates their victory in the final. Brazil won a record fifth World Cup. — Reuters photo

IN PERSPECTIVE
Did Bedi’s arrest make govt act?
Chandigarh, June 30
Was it the arrest of banker K.S. Bedi alone that made the government sit up and order revamping of the Intelligence wing? This million rupee question is now agitating the minds of all those who have been closely following the PPSC recruitment scam. What is so special about this banker that made the government react the way it did?

In Agriculture Tribune today

Will genetically altered crops benefit farming?

Jamaat not to give poll boycott call
Srinagar, June 30
In a significant development, the Jamaat-e-Islami, a dominant constituent of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, has said it will not issue any call for boycotting the coming Assembly polls and hinted that it might participate in the democratic exercise in future.

Thirteen Sikh pilgrims die in mishap
Dehradun, June 30
Thirteen Sikh pilgrims, including six women, were killed and 28 injured when their bus, returning from Hemkunt Sahib, fell into a ditch in Peny village of Chamoli district today, a senior police official said here. The accident occurred when the bus lost control on a bumpy road and fell into the ditch, Mr Ashok Kumar Tamta, SP, Chamoli, said.

Monsoon eludes Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, June 30
Mercury rose in several parts of Punjab and Haryana today as monsoon continued to elude these states. Even though rain lashed the city and surrounding areas yesterday, residents will have to wait for a few more days before monsoon finally arrives, Met office said here. Hisar in Haryana experienced a high of 42.1°C, three degrees above normal. Ambala was also hot at 38.9°C.