by Rahul Ghoshal
LUCKNOW, India, March 29 (AFP)
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit northern India early Monday, killing more than 50 people and sparking widespread panic in several cities including New Delhi.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 00:35 a.m. (1905 GMT Sunday), was located in the remote Kumaon hills of Uttar Pradesh state, bordering China and Nepal, about 300 kilometers (190 miles) northeast of New Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Yogendra Narayan said 42 bodies had been recovered in the worst-hit town of Chamoli, where 90 percent of the buildings had been destroyed.
by Michael Thurston
VIENNA, March 29 (AFP)
Chinese President Jiang Zemin held a final day of official meetings Monday as he winds up 10-day European tour clouded by human rights questions and the Kosovo crisis.
Jiang, in Vienna after trips to Italy and Switzerland last week, had talks with economic experts at the Austrian chancellery and with the speaker of the country�s parliament.
The Chinese leader, accompanied by an 80-strong delegation, is due to fly home late Tuesday, after spending a day sightseeing in Salzburg, Mozart�s hometown, following his final talks in Vienna.
His trip to Europe, which began on March 20 in Venice, Italy, is aimed at boosting economic and political ties. Delegation officials say it has been successful in this respect.
But small human rights protests have greeted Jiang in all three countries, and he has also been pressed on issues ranging from Tibet to religious freedom by political leaders.
�In most countries President Jiang is warmly received. But sometimes there are non-harmonious elements and even noises,� admitted foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.
NEW DELHI (AFP)
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, yesterday said that India was examining a possible alliance with Russia and China following Nato air strikes.
Vajpayee said that member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement were discussing the �one-sided action� by the United States against Yugoslavia, a founder of the grouping.
He said: �India believes and respects the sovereignty of all countries and opposes the use of force .. as such actions are contrary to the UN Charter and violate the independence and sovereignty of a country.�
India has called for an immediate end to the air strikes, saying that they undermined the authority of the entire UN system.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
© 1998 IPA House. All Rights Reserved.