tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, December 16, 1999
weather today's calendar

Syrian-Israeli peace talks begin
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (DPA, AFP) — Peace talks designed to lead to a comprehensive West Asian peace opened this morning at the White House with statements of hope and determination by both Israel and Syria.
President Bill Clinton met privately with Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk Al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and then the three of them appeared in the White House Rose Garden in the raw weather of a Washington winter.
Mr Barak, said, “We have to put behind us the horrors of war”.
Mr Sharaa spoke of the “approaching moment of truth”.
Mr Clinton said, “What we are witnessing today is not yet peace, getting there will require bold thinking and hard choices, but today is a big step along that path”.

46 Tamil Tigers killed
COLOMBO, Dec 15 (PTI) — At least 46 Tamil Tigers and four soldiers were killed in fresh fighting in Sri Lanka’s north and east even as several coastal areas of Jaffna were hit by shelling by the rebels, who continued their attacks on the strategic Elephant Pass garrison on the fifth day today. At least 38 guerrillas perished when the LTTE infiltrated into the Thanankilappu army defences today, army sources here said, adding that four soldiers were also killed in the latest fighting.
Yukta Mookhey
MUMBAI, Dec 15 (PTI) — Miss World Yukta Mookhey was accorded a warm welcome by family members and fans when she arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport early today by a British Airways flight.
Conference on kids
CALCUTTA, Dec 15 (PTI) — The first-ever global conference on “children 2000 AD” began here today with a call from the Union Government to create a worldwide network for protection of children’s rights and to stop their abuse, both economic and sexual.
Bhopal gas case
BHOPAL, Dec 15 (UNI) — The Chief Judicial Magistrate will hold day-to-day hearing from January 10 in the Bhopal gas tragedy case. Mr L. D. Borasee, while hearing the 15-year-old case today, directed day-to-day hearing for five days in view of the seriousness of the litigation.
Chargesheeted
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 (PTI) — The CBI has chargesheeted former union minister Sheila Kaul’s son-in-law and a senior Customs official for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10.94 lakh from a housing society here to procure a “no objection certificate” for it from the Urban Development Ministry in 1994.
Pak apology sought
DHAKA, Dec 15 (AFP) — Nine out of every 10 Bangladeshis wants Pakistan to apologise for atrocities carried out by its troops 28 years ago, according to a national survey published here today. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the national news agency, and Dhaka University’s Journalism Department jointly conducted the survey.
Lokpal Bill
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 (UNI) — The Cabinet today deferred its decision on the proposal of introducing the controversial Lok Pal Bill in the current session of Parliament. However, the Cabinet has decided to refer the Bill to a group of ministers, headed by Home Minister L.K. Advani.