tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, May 29, 1999
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10 killed in Chechnya
MOSCOW, May 28 (DPA) — At least 10 persons were killed in a border skirmish near the republic of Chechnya this morning, while special units from the Russian Interior Ministry freed two orthodox priests and five soldiers held hostage, Russian news agencies reported. At least nine Chechen guerrillas and one Russian soldier were reported killed this morning in a raid on a border post between Chechnya and the neighbouring Russian republic of Dagestan Interfax news agency quoted Russian Interior Ministry officials as saying.

Taliban bombs kill 13
ISLAMABAD, May 28 (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban jet fighters swooped in low overhead today in northern Taloqan, killing 13 persons. Seven members of a family in the provincial capital of Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province, were killed when a bomb smashed into their home, said Hussein Anwari, a spokesman for the northern-based alliance. The alliance is trying to stop the Taliban religious militia from gaining complete control of the country.

Tansi land case
CHENNAI, May 28 (PTI) — Charges could not be framed in the Tansi land scam for the second consecutive hearing today as lawyers of the main accused - former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha and her close associate Sasikala Natarajan - told the court they were not keeping good health. Although Ms Jayalalitha did not appear, her lawyers offered to bring her to the court "despite her ill-health" if it was insisted upon.

HP releases ADA
SHIMLA, May 28 (PTI) — Himachal Pradesh today issued orders releasing the additional dearness allowance (ADA) instalment to its employees from January this year. The Finance Department in its notification issued today said state employees would get ADA at the rate of 10 per cent of the basic pay. The employees would now get 32 per cent of dearness allowance on the basic pay, it added.

Sensex sheds 89 points
NEW DELHI, May 28 (TNS) — Share prices in the Indian stock markets went into a tailspin today amid reports that Pakistani infiltrators have fired at Indian M-17 helicopters. The BSE Sensitive Index (Sensex) today fell by 89.13 points — a fall of 2.31 per cent. The Delhi Stock Exchange which plunged to 821 points (intra-session) staged a partial recovery to close 5.24 points down at 838.27 points.