Thackeray expels 9 Shiv Sainiks
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has expelled nine party office bearers and removed seven from their posts for anti-party activities during the recently concluded elections, Sena spokesperson and senior leader Subhash Desai said.

Rs 6,000cr plan for armed forces
The minister of state for defence Bachchi Singh Rawat on Saturday said that a Rs 6,000 crore modernisation plan for the armed forces was on the anvil and would be tabled beforethe budget session of parliament. Rawat told reporters that an earlier proposal of decreasing the strength of the armed forces was being reconsidered keeping in view the Kargil conflict.

Former President SD Sharma serious
Former President Shanker Dayal Sharma, who was admitted on October 9 to Escorts heart institute in New Delhi, continues to be in a serious condition. Family sources said that Dr Sharma, who had developed heart problems and other complications, has been put on ventilator.

Conmix to set up subsidiary
Conmix, a German and Arab joint venture on Saturday announced setting up of a wholly-owned subsidiary in India, Conmix India, to manufacture innovative construction material at its new plant in Pune. The Rs 130 crore company is putting up its manufacturing facility at a cost of Rs 7 crore for dry plasters, to be followed by three more plants in other parts of the country.

Infotech stocks in limelight
Equities, mainly infotech stocks, overcame the initialsetback and rallied smartly later with sharp rises in index heavy-weights helping the benchmark and other indices to recover during the week following heavy institutional purchases as also short covering by operators. Despite losses in economy stocks like Tisco, Telco, RIL, SBI and others, the Sensex notched up impressive gains due to a strong upsurge in HLL, Infosys Tech, NIIT and ITC.

Haryana cabinet expanded
Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala has inducted three cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state, raising the strength of his three-month-old ministry to 23.

Import of edible oil raises concern
The Centre has expressed grave concern over the massive import of edible which has aggregated to 43 lakh tonne in the oil year (November-October) 1998-99 as against 27 lakh tonne in the previous year. The Union minister for consumer affairs and public distribution, Shanta Kumar has instructed senior officials in the ministry to review situation.

NCP to holdconvention
A two-day state level convention of the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra will be held in Pune from November 13. The meet would be inaugurated by NCP chief Sharad Pawar at 1800 hrs at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Nehru stadium, Swargate.

Jeevan Mitra offers triple cover
Life Corporation of India's Jeevan Mitra in its new avatar holds more promise than it appears to at first. In the new plan, the risk cover is three times the basic sum assured.

Who will get the best insurance pie?
The experts in the industry feel the opening up of the insurance sector will benefit the customers most. For one, the insurance premium that consumers are paying will come down dramatically.

YES movement
The UK-based insurance major Legal & General assists talented youth in the country attain excellence in their chosen fields through its programme `Young Excellence Sponsorship'.

Compiled by Rajwant