S P O T L I G H T

Pak test-fires Hatf missile
ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (PTI) — Pakistan today successfully test fired a more accurate short-range ‘Hatf-1’ surface-to-surface ballistic missile with range of 100 kms, a move that it likely to further aggravate tense relations with India. “The Hatf-1 is an indigenous effort and contributes significantly to Pakistan’s national security and deterrence strategy,” the statement said adding all of Pakistan’s neighbours were informed in advance about the missile test.

100 YC men injured
KOLLAM, Feb 7 (UNI) — Over 100 Youth Congress activists and several police personnel were injured, some of them seriously, as violence broke out during a Youth Congress march to the office of the District Superintendent of Police in connection with the SN College issue. The police said eight police officers and 25 other personnel were injured, some of them seriously.

US defence budget
WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) — President Bill Clinton today proposed a $ 305.4 billion defence budget, up 14.4 billion dollars from the previous year and the second increase in U.S. military spending since the cold war. Mr Clinton’s national defence budget proposal for fiscal 2001, which starts on October one, would authorise $ 291.1 billion for the Defence Department and most of the remaining 14.3 billion would go for the Energy Department’s nuclear weapons programmes.

HP Budget session
SHIMLA, Feb 7 (TNS) — The Budget session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha will be convened from March 2 to April 20. There will be 26 sittings in all. The decision was taken by the state Cabinet here today.