S P O T L I G H T

Rebels kill 15 Russian troops
MOSCOW, Feb 19 (Reuters) — Rebels have shot down a Russian helicopter in the breakaway region of Chechnya, killing 15 troops, Interfax news agency quoted Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo as saying today. “Yesterday was a tragic day. A helicopter was brought down in the south (of Chechnya) and 15 persons were killed,” he was quoted as saying in a rare confirmation of losses.

Clinton to ‘visit’ Pak
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (UNI) — US President Bill Clinton would visit Pakistan during his forthcoming tour to South Asia, said a high-level official here today. The Chief Executive’s Media Adviser, Mr Javed Jabbar, told reporters in Lahore that there was no doubt about Mr Clinton’s visit to Pakistan.

Children taken ill
SANTINIKETAN, Feb 19 (UNI) — At least 52 children took ill, many of them seriously, after being vaccinated at a ward of Bolepur Municipality, official sources said here today. As part of the routine immunisation drive undertaken by the state Health Department, many children were given free doses of medicines at the ward health centre this morning.

1 dies in collision
NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (PTI) — One person was killed and two others were injured seriously when their van collided with a passenger train at an unmanned level crossing in Kaithal in Delhi Division today, a Northern Railway press note said here.

H.S. Bali dead
NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (PTI) — Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council H.S. Bali died in a hospital here yesterday, family members said. Mr Bali, a former MLA, was 68. He had recently undergone a heart surgery.

Nizam’s jewellery
HYDERABAD, Feb 19 (UNI) — Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has requested the Prime Minister to intervene and order the transfer of the Nizam’s jewellery to Hyderabad to be kept in a museum.