CHENNAI: The long-awaited final judgement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case will be delivered by the Trial Court at Poonamallee near here on January 28, 1998. The presiding judge of the designated court today reserved his verdict on the fate of the 26 persons charged with plotting and executing the May 21, 1991, assassination of the former prime minister at Sriperumbudur.

Iraq-UN talks on

DUBAI: The three-member UN team today began mediating with Iraq to ease tension over Baghdad's objection to the presence of Americans in the group investigating the country's arms pile-up. As mediation began, UN postponed flights of United States U-2 spy plane and Iraq reciprocated the gesture with deferring its plans to expel the inspectors.

Tibet talks

BEIJING: China today said it was ready to hold talks with the exiled Tibetan leader, Dalai Lama, ``at any time'' provided he renounced his quest for Tibet's independence and acknowledged it as an ``inalienable part'' of China.

Hawala case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today deferred hearing in the Jain-hawala case to November 25 after the Union of India told the court that the high-powered committee set up by it to look into the question of granting autonomy to Central investigating agencies would submit its report by the next date of hearing.

JKLF men held

SRINAGAR: The J&K police today detained for some time 10 Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leaders, including its chairman, provoking protests and subsequent police firing in air and teargassing in Srinagar.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.