tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, December 18, 1999
weather today's calendar

CTBT: Efforts for consensus
NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today initiated the process of evolving a consensus on the question of the comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) by holding consultations with the Congress on the issue. Mr Vajpayee met a high-level Congress delegation headed by Ms Sonia Gandhi and outlined steps taken by India since the Pokhran nuclear tests in May last year which included a voluntary moratorium on further nuclear tests. He asserted that New Delhi remained committed to total global disarmament.
Nazi slave fund
BERLIN, Dec 17 (DPA) — German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today announced that agreement has been reached on a $ 5.2 billion compensation fund for Nazi-era slave and forced labourers. At a news conference in Berlin, Mr Schroeder said he was pleased to be able to make the announcement at the close of a century in which Germany had been the cause of much suffering throughout the world.

Resolution on Iraq
United Nations, Dec 17 (Reuters) The Security Council, ending eight months of contentious negotiations, today adopted a landmark resolution that could send U.N. weapons inspectors back to Iraq and ease Gulf war sanctions if it cooperates with a new U.N. disarmament agency. But the 11-0 vote, with four abstentions — by permanent council members China, France and Russia, along with Malaysia — sends Iraq a message that the council remained far from united. Baghdad has already stated its rejection of the resolution, presenting the council with a looming problem. An easing of sanctions will depend on Iraqi cooperation with the new U.N. arms commission, once it has been established. The resolution provides that if Baghdad cooperates for a test period of 120 days, it will earn a suspension of sanctions, renewable every 120 days.
LTTE downs copter
COLOMBO, Dec 17 (UNI) — The LTTE today shot down an army helicopter killing four crew members in the war-torn Elephant Pass in northern Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry announced today. The MI 24 gun helicopter was actively engaged in the encounter with the militants.
10 killed in blast
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (DPA) — At least 10 persons were killed and 17 injured when a bomb exploded in a crowded street in the southern part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) today, police and hospital sources said. Initial reports said the bomb was planted in a handcraft in Islamagarh town.