tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, August 4, 1999
weather today's calendar

8 massacred over missing goats
LAHORE, Aug 3 (AFP) — Eight persons including six children, have been massacred in a Pakistani village over a dispute about two stolen goats, the police said today. A police spokesman said seven persons armed with pistols, rifles and axes allegedly shot dead their 45-year-old uncle. Abdul Rashid, in the village of Burki near the border with India yesterday and then stormed his home. The attackers, including a 16-year-old boy, were also said by the police to have killed their aunt and her six children, aged between six months and 15 years. After the killings, the assailants chopped off limbs of several victims, including two infants, with daggers and axes.

19 die in UP bus mishap
SRINAGAR (Garhwal), Aug 3 (UNI) — Nineteen persons were killed and 31 injured, when a bus carrying pilgrims fell into a ravine at Pakhi near Garurganga, in Chamoli district of UP last evening, delayed report said today. The bus was going from Lambagar to Rishikesh, when it skidded down the road while negotiating a turn, District Magistrate Drumakant Panwar told UNI over the telephone. The bus was carrying about 50 passengers, mostly pilgrims from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh.

S. Korean floods
MUNSAN, Aug 3 (AFP) — At least 50 persons were feared dead in flooding and landslides in South Korea as Typhoon Olga slammed into the country packing more heavy rain and strong winds. A Typhoon alert was issued across the country and thousands of soldiers, equipped with trucks, heavy equipment and even amphibious landing vehicles, were mobilised for salvage operations. The Typhoon also halted nearly all shipping and flights. Many towns north of Seoul remained under water, leaving some 20,000 persons homeless.

Boat tragedy
KAHALGAON (Bihar), Aug 3 (UNI) — At least 15 persons were feared drowned when a boat capsized midstream in the Ganga near Rajandipur village of Bhagalpur district today. Seven bodies have been fished out so far, official sources said. The occupants of the boat were farm labourers crossing the river to harvest crops. Some 40 persons were aboard the boat.

Deputy Speaker
SHILLONG, Aug 3 (UNI) — In a severe jolt to the ruling Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF), representing the legislature group of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Congress, opposition candidate Martin Danggo became the Deputy Speaker defeating his rival, Mr Tonsing Marak, by eight votes at a specially convened assembly session here today.

Raisa Gorbachev
MASCOW, Aug 3 (Reuters) — Raisa Gorbachev, wife of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, is seriously ill and is being treated in Germany, where her husband is by her side, Mr Gorbachev's spokesman said today. "The illness is serious", Mr Pavel Palazchenko, a long-time Gorbachev translator and adviser, told Reuters.

Ex-President discharged
NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (UNI) — Former President Shanker Dayal Sharma was today discharged from hospital after the doctors attending on him stated his health to be satisfactory. Dr Sharma was shifted to Escorts Hospital a few days back after treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he was admitted on July 11 following a heart attack.

Jessica case
NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (PTI) — The police today chargesheeted 11 persons, including main accused Manu Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, in connection with the murder of ramp model Jessica Lal at a South Delhi restaurant, saying the killing smacked of a "pre-planned conspiracy". The Metropolitan Magistrate fixed tomorrow for taking cognisance of the charges.