42 die in blast
MOSCOW, March 19 (Reuters) — An explosion killed 42 persons and injured more than 40 today at a market in the city of Vladikaykaz in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus region, a local Interior Ministry spokesman said. The blast tore through the market at about 1120 am (1350 IST). An Interfax news agency report said the explosion had been caused by a bomb.

Gandhiji’s murder
NEW DELHI, March 19 (UNI) — A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court today seeking a direction to the CBI to reopen the 1948 Mahatma Gandhi assassination case for reinvestigation so that the "really guilty" could be brought to book. The petitioner, Pradeep Chandrakant Dalvi, noted playwright and author of the controversial play ‘Me Nathuram Godse Boltey’ (this is Nathuram Godse speaking), which was banned by the Maharashtra Government at the instance of the Centre, pleaded before the court that the CBI should proceed forthwith against other persons appearing to be guilty of the murder of the Father of the Nation.

‘Shaktimaan’ probe
NEW DELHI, March 19 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today appointed a three-member committee under former Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Leila Seth to probe the alleged "adverse" effect of popular DD serial "Shaktimaan" on the children. Mr Justice M.K. Sharma, who ordered the appointment of the committee said National Commission for Women Chairperson Vibha Parthasarthy and noted journalist Dilip Padgaonkar would be the other two members of the committee. The appointment of the committee was ordered following a petition by Bheesham International, a company owned by Mukesh Khanna, producer, director and actor in the lead role in the serial, challenging Doordarshan’s notification issued in January for the termination of the serial.

Nusrat Bhutto
ISLAMABAD, March 19 (PTI) — The legal battle between former premier Benazir Bhutto and the Nawaz Sharif Government has become intense with the Lahore High Court issuing a non-bailable arrest warrant against Ms Benazir’s ailing mother, Ms Nusrat Bhutto. The Ehtesab (accountability) Bench of the Lahore High Court issued the arrest warrant against Ms Nusrat Bhutto for the second time yesterday in a case filed by the Accountability Bureau in which she is being tried on the charges of concealing her assets in the declarations filed by her before the Election Commission at the time of February 1997 elections.

Iraqi Haj pilgrims
AR’AR BORDER POST, (Iraq) March 19 (AFP) — Thousands of Iraqi pilgrims crossed the Saudi Arabian border today, demanding visas to allow them to undertake the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrims were in the customs zone in Saudi territory and "negotiations are underway between the Iraqis and Saudis to issue visas," an Iraqi official with the delegation said.

53 die in blast
MOSCOW, March 19 (AFP) — At least 53 persons were killed and more than 100 injured today when a bomb ripped through a market in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz, a blast branded as a "terrorist act" by the local authorities. President Boris Yeltsin immediately dispatched top security officials to the scene after the explosion detonated in the centre of a bustling market in the north Ossetian capital, situated just 50 km from Chechnya.

Cong's IT returns
NEW DELHI, March 19 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today asked Congress to file status report on income tax returns filed by the party till this year. A Division Bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar and Justice Manmohan Sarin, also asked the income tax authorities to place before it an action taken report in this regard by April 21. Income tax department counsel r. d. jolly informed the court that a notice under Section 148 of income tax act was issued to the Congress party on March 9 asking it to explain reasons for not filing the returns.