NEW DELHI: The government today paved the way for liberalisation of foreign exchange regulation norms and to check laundering of black money abroad with the Cabinet clearing two bills for introduction in the Parliament's current session. The Cabinet cleared the twin bills -- Prevention of Money Laundering and Foreign Exchange Management (FEMA). A patent bill in tune with World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement was deferred.

Japan curbs on Pak

TOKYO: Japan is considering easing of sanctions against Pakistan in view of its economic crisis and foreign exchange crunch, but is unlikely to do the same in the case of India, prime minister-designate and foreign minister Keizo Obuchi today said. "Japan is at a stage of beginning considerations" for easing sanctions imposed on Pakistan after its nuclear tests as it "badly needs financial support from the IMF," Obuchi said shortly before his election as the president of ruling LDP to become the country's nextPrime Minister on July 30.

Benazir arrest

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) today threatened to take to the streets in protest if the government arrested her on her return from the foreign trip on Sunday. The PPP was responding to local newspaper reports that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government had decided to arrest the former prime minister. Meanwhile, Benazir has that there was no change in her travel plans.