S P O T L I G H T

Nationwide stir on Jan 10
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (UNI) — The All-India Government Employees’ Federation has called upon the eight million state employees and teachers to go on a one-day, nationwide strike on January 10 against the Central and State Governments’ moves to downsize staff and divest equity in the public sector. In a statement here today, the federation said the new economic policy of the Centre on the diktats of the World Bank-IMF-WTO, was being “overzealously implemented’’ by many state governments.

Turkey sends troops into Iraq
ANKARA, Jan 6 (DPA) — Some 10,000 Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq to strike at Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) bases which have been used in the past as launching pads for attacks in Turkey proper, the private NTV television station reported today. Without naming sources or saying when the troops moved in, NTV said a number of clashes with PKK guerrillas had taken place in northern Iraq. The report said Turkish troops were being helped by guerrillas belonging to the Celal Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Telephone rates
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6 (PTI) — The SAARC countries have agreed to have uniform telephone rates and develop cellular communication among them. They reached an understanding on the subject during two-day meeting of the Technical Committee of the SAARC on Transport and Communications which ended here today. 

Envoy meets Suu Kyi
YANGON, Jan 6 (AFP) — UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail today met Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since September 22, witnesses said. Mr Razali arrived at her Yangon home and stayed for more than two hours. He arrived in Yangon yesterday for a five-day trip which is part of his ongoing mission to bring the Myanmar junta and opposition together in a historic dialogue.

Skeletons found
BAREILLY, Jan 6 (UNI) — A garbage heap near the crowded Indira Market in the Kotwali area of the city today yielded some collection of 11 body skeletons. Official sources today said here the skeletons had probably been kept in a nursing home for a long time for some tests and later thrown away. The police has registered a case.

Ex-minister found dead
TOKYO, Jan 6 (AFP) — A former Japanese junior minister, convicted on charges of vote-buying and bribe-taking, was found hanged at his home here today in an apparent suicide, the police said.

Cold wave toll
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (UNI) — The death toll in the cold wave sweeping the northern region crossed the 100 mark today with 13 more deaths reported during the past 24 hours. Of the 103 deaths, 38 were reported from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Delhi and three from Gujarat. A report from Lucknow said 13 persons died in freezing cold in the past 24 hours.

Speaker missing
MOGADISHU, Jan 6 (DPA) — Somalian Parliament Speaker Abdalla Derow Issak went missing on Saturday amid heavy fighting between the Ethiopian-backed Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) and forces supporting the new interim government.

Concedes defeat
BANGKOK, Jan 6 (AP) — Thailand’s ruling Democrats conceded defeat in general elections today after exit poll showed a political party led by a scandal-tainted tycoon was sailing to an easy victory.