tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, October 7, 1998
weather today's calendar

Imelda acquitted
MANILA, Oct 6 (AFP) — The Philippines Supreme Court today acquitted former First Lady Imelda Marcos of graft charges, saving her from a 12-year prison term. In a 23-page decision, the court reversed a January 29 decision by another Division Bench, which upheld an anti-graft tribunal’s conviction of the 69-year-old widow of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Eight of the Supreme Court judges voted for her acquittal, five voted to convict her and one abstained.
BEST strike
MUMBAI, Oct 6 (UNI) — The indefinite strike by the employees of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) paralysed bus services here, causing severe inconvenience to commuters today. Minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from some parts of the metropolis with angry commuters barging into BEST counters. According to BEST sources, only 13 buses plied in the city since midnight. The strike, which began at midnight, has been called in support of the demand for pre-Diwali bonus, pension and medical facilities.
1 shot at in Bihar
BIHARSHARIF, Oct 6 (PTI) — One person was shot at and critically injured in strife-torn Biharsharif even as the security forces staged a flag-march in the town for the third day today, official sources said. The man was attacked when he was on the way to open his shop in the Bichli Khandak area in Bihar town, where one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and two companies of the CRPF are assisting the Bihar military police and local police to maintain law and order, sources said. The authorities today arrested four persons for forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters.
Taliban invited
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (AFP) — The UN has invited Taliban leaders to Islamabad for talks with the UN special envoy visiting the region to defuse tension between Iran and the Islamic militia, UN sources said today. The envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, arrived in Teheran on Sunday and is expected to travel to Pakistan this week after talks with Iranian officials. Taliban leaders have been invited here because the UN officials are not authorised to go to Afghanistan for security reasons, the sources said.
Bhutan king
NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (PTI) — The Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, today held wide-ranging talks with visiting Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck with special focus on enhancing economic and political ties between the two neighbours. Mr Vajpayee had one-to-one parleys with King Wangchuck for nearly 45 minutes followed by a lunch hosted by the Prime Minister. Later, delegation-level talks were held between the two sides, officials said. India had yesterday voiced concern over reports of insurgents using Bhutan as a training ground for their activities in the north-eastern states.

Advani's visit to Kulu
Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, Oct 6 — The Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, will visit Kulu tomorrow to take part in the concluding function of the Dasehra festival. Mr Advani is expected to reach Kulu in the morning and return here by afternoon to be present at the meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra are scheduled to meet Mr Vajpayee in the evening following an invitation from the Prime Minister.
Rajiv foundation
NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today asked Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), its Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and other trustees, including a former president, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, to file replies within four weeks to the notices issued to them earlier on a plaint against the trust on alleged grounds of irregularities and mismanagement. The direction was issued by Mr Justice S.K. Mahajan to counsel of the defendants as they failed to file replies to the notices issued on August 27. The matter would now come up for hearing on December 18.
Minor's rape case
PATNA, Oct 6 (PTI) — The rape case of a minor girl here took a new turn today with leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Sushil Kumar Modi alleging that former Chief Minister and RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav had close links with the father of two of the alleged rapists. The BJP's a call for south Patna bandh in protest against the incident today passed off peacefully.