N-safety check
TOKYO, Oct 4 (PTI) — Japan today ordered all nuclear facilities in the country to urgently "double-check" their safety mechanism following the nuclear accident though Tokyo's nuclear policy appears to remain unchanged as consensus persists on dependence on nuclear power.

12 killed
BAREILLY, Oct 4 (UNI) — Twelve persons were killed and 61 injured when a bus carrying back security personnel deployed on election duty hit a tree in Mirganj police circle of Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh this afternoon.

Blasts in Pak
KARACHI, Oct 4 (DPA) — Two bomb blasts ripped through the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad today, raising fears of more terrorist violence but causing no casualties. The pipe bombs were planted by terrorists in a city court compound and in a residential area. Last week security agencies defused two homemade bombs found in public places in the city.

Tripura violence toll
AGARTALA, Oct 4 (UNI) — With one more person succumbing to his injuries, the death toll in yesterday's militant violence in Tripura rose to 12. The police said here today that the militants also kidnapped five persons from Golaghati in West Tripura for defying their poll boycott call yesterday.

Church room set afire
NAGERCOIL, Oct 4 (PTI) — Tension prevailed in Kuzhithurai in Kanyakumari district after unidentified persons set afire the storeroom of a church late last night, the police said here today. Decorative articles and other materials kept in the store room were destroyed in the fire, it said.

UN award
NEW DELHI, Oct 4 (UNI) — The Mumbai-based National Slum Dwellers Federation has been selected for this year's prestigious Habitat scroll of honour awards. The award is given annually by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to organisations and individuals for outstanding contributions to human settlements development.

Litterateur dead
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 4 (PTI) — Noted litterateur N. Mohanan died here last night following a severe heart attack. He was 66. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter.

Explosives seized
KARIMNAGAR, Oct 4 (PTI) — In a major breakthrough, the police seized a huge haul of ammunition and explosive materials from two different locations and arrested two "sympathisers" of the banned People's War Group, including a sarpanch in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh yesterday.

Typhoon Dan
TAIPEI, Oct 4 (DPA) — Taiwan today issued a sea warning for typhoon Dan, expected to bring heavy rains to the island and worsen the plight of those made homeless by the recent earthquake. The light typhoon was located today north of The Philippines' Luzon Island, extending its influence to the Bashih channel between Taiwan and The Philippines.

Stringent steps
NEW DELHI, Oct 4 (PTI) — The 15th Law Commission has recommended a series of stringent legal measures against corrupt public servants, including the forfeiture of their ill-gotten property. Stating that the "canker of corruption" in public life had struck deep roots in society and administration, an official press note said here today the commission recommendations followed a 1996 judgement of the Supreme Court which directed a law providing "forfeiture" of property acquired by holders of public office through corrupt and illegal acts.

LTTE men killed
COLOMBO, Oct 4 (Reuters) — Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry said today 15 Tamil Tiger rebels and a civilian were killed in clashes in the country's north. The ministry said six of the rebels were killed when troops confronted a group of guerrillas near Tanduvan village in the northern Wanni region yesterday. The other eight rebels were killed in clashes with troops in the north yesterday.

Lightning kills 6
KOZHIKODE, Oct 4 (UNI) — Five schoolchildren and a teacher were killed and about 50 others injured when lightning struck a school building at Kuttiyadi in Kozikode district of Kerala today. Most of the students received burns when lightning struck at around 3.45 p.m.

Naidu's plea
HYDERABAD, Oct 4 (UNI) — Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu today urged the Centre to immediately release Rs 200 crore to provide drinking water and employment for the labour in the drought-affected areas of the state.

Sharif’s package
ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (PTI) — In a significant move, the Nawaz Sharif government has decided to offer a constitutional package, including an elected council for the northern areas, which hitherto had been considered as part of Kashmir and disputed territory of Pakistan. These areas had so far been federally administered.

Notices to NGOs
PANAJI, Oct 4 (PTI) — Certain non-government organisations (NGOs) have spent Rs 50 crore on advertisements during the current elections and they have been issued notices to explain the source of their funds, Union Minister of State for Home Ram Naik told reporters.

40 taken hostage
BOGOTA, Oct 4 (AFP) — A breakaway group of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) kidnapped about 40 civilians today at Ocana in north-east Colombia, according to the city's ombudsman Jairo Amaya. The EPL insurgents forced schoolchildren, university students and adults off buses in the Juan XIII area of Ocana, taking the hostages to a wooded area. Some Children have already been released, according to media reports.