tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, March 7, 1999
weather today's calendar

Boeing crashlands, crew rescued
CHENNAI, March 6 (PTI) — Five cockpit crew members of an Air France cargo freighter had a miraculous escape after the huge Boeing 747 aircraft crashlanded at the airport here and caught fire in the wee hours today. The crew was rescued through the rear gate of the plane. One of them suffered a pelvic fracture, Chennai airport Director Sudhir Kumar said. The plane, carrying 66 tonnes of cargo, got charred in a sudden blaze after it crashed.

Bahrain Emir dead
DUBAI, March 6 (PTI) — Bahrain’s Emir Sheikh Isa bin Sulman al-Khalifa, who ruled the Gulf Arab state for 38 years, today died of a heart attack at his palace in capital Manama. He was 66. The Emir died shortly after meeting US Defence Secretary William Cohen, who is touring Gulf states to scout support on the US policy towards Iraq. State Television Network, declared three-month mourning as the Emir’s son, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa, has been named his successor.

Karnad gets award
BHOPAL, March 6 (PTI) — Versatile actor-director Girish Karnad and three other eminent artistes have been presented with the prestigious Kalidas awards for 1998-99. While Karnad got the award for theatre art, D.K. Pattammal got it for classical music, Kalanidhi Narayanan for classical dance (both from Tamil Nadu) and Arpita Singh of West Bengal for plastic art. Swami Harigovind of Rajasthan and Om Prakash Tak of Himachal Pradesh were presented the Tulsi award.

Soren to face trial
NEW DELHI, March 6 (PTI) — JMM MP Shibu Soren will face trial along with six other persons for allegedly killing his private secretary Shashi Nath Jha in May 1994. Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke today framed charges against Soren, Ashish Thakur, Sunil Khaware, Nand Kishore Mehta, Ajay Kumar Mehta, Pashupati Nath Mehta and Shailendra Bhattacharya as he found "prima facie" evidence to proceed against them. Bharihoke fixed March 22, 23 and 24 for commencement of the trial.

Demand on PF
NEW DELHI, March 6 (TNS) — The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation will approach the Union Finance Ministry for raising the existing limit of rate of interest from the existing 12 per cent to 13 per cent for the purpose of Income Tax exemptions. This was decided here today at the 150th meeting of the CBT chaired by the Union Labour Minister, Mr Satyanarayan Jatiya. The meeting also decided to issue a permanent Employees Provident Fund number along with an identity card to all members.