tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Tuesday, June 15, 1999
weather today's calendar

Dalai Lama’s visit
JERUSALEM, June 14 (AFP) — The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, visited holy sites of the three major Western regions in Jerusalem today and urged patience in the guest for peace in the West Asia. The Tibetan leader added a Yarmulka, or Jewish skullcap, to his traditional attire of Bordeaux-coloured robes for a meeting with Israeli Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau next to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest shrine.

Pondy Janata Dal
PONDICHERRY, June 14 (UNI) — The Pondicherry unit of the Janata Dal has decided to withdraw its support to the DMK-led government in the union territory. Sources here today said that a delegation led by party chief M. Ellango called on senior party leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at Chennai yesterday and held discussions with him on the current political situation, arising out of the snapping of ties between the DMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) the major partners of the ruling coalition here.

Strategic ties
VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), June 14 (AFP) — The Kosovo conflict has prompted Russia to seek "strategic partners" in the form of China and India, Russian First Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Mikhailov said here today. He made the comment during a visit to this far eastern port city by Chinese General Zhang Wannian, vice-president of the China’s central military commission. "The events in Yugoslavia have inevitably forced us to take steps to strengthen Russia’s defensive capacity and find strategic partners", Mr Mikhailov said noting that "these partners are China and India".

Thabo Mbeki
CAPE TOWN, June 14 (DPA) — The South African Parliament today elected Mr Thabo Mbeki, 57, as the country’s new President. Mr Mbeki succeeds Mr Nelson Mandela, 80, who is expected to retire soon to his rural home in the country’s Eastern Cape province. He was elected unopposed by the 400-seat National Assembly here.

‘No need’ for trust vote in Goa
PANAJI, June 14 (UNI) — In a surprise development, the Goa Governor Lt-Gen. J.F.R. Jacob today advised Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro not to seek a vote of confidence as he was convinced that the Council of Ministers enjoyed the necessary majority in the Assembly. The Chief Minister today called on the Governor and informed him that he had the necessary majority in the House and also the support of the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and the Goa Rajiv Congress (GRS). Both have two members each in the house. Besides, an independent from Poigunim Mr Isidore Fernandes, has also pledged support to the government thus rising the strength of the Congress ministry to 25 in the House of 40. Mr. Manohar Parrikar, who heads the 10 member BJP group was unanimously chosen to lead the party in the House. He will enjoy the status of Leader of the Opposition.

20 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, June 14 (PTI) — Sri Lankan troops today mowed down 20 LTTE rebels and wounded six others in different encounters in the northern Jaffna and Vani regions, defence sources said. Seven militants were killed when troops engaged a group of rebels at Thaddavandoddy in Jaffna Peninsula. LTTE rebels said over their clandestine radio that a self-styled Lt Col and three others were killed in a confrontation in Mannar district on Saturday.

Algerian ultras
ALGIERS, June 14 (DPA) — Some 750 members of the Armed Islamic Groups (GIA) in Algeria have laid down their arms in response to a peace deal reached between the government and the Army of Islamic Salvation (AIS), independent newspaper La Tribune reported today. The members who agreed to lay down their arms were operating in the regions of Bouira, 80 km east of Algiers, and Mascara, 300 km southwest of the Capital, the paper said.

Radiation source
NEW DELHI, June 14 (PTI) — With the commissioning of the first synchrotron radiation source (SRS) — a sophisticated device for advanced research in physics, chemistry and medicine — at Indore, India has joined the select band of nations capable of designing such a facility. Designed by scientists of the Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT) in Indore, the device was commissioned yesterday in the presence of Mr R. Chidambaram, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), an official release here said.