tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, August 9, 1999
weather today's calendar

Navy to buy aircraft, build subs
LONDON, Aug 8 (PTI) — India plans to go on a defence shopping spree, acquiring six aircraft and three frigates worth $ 1.2 billion, and build modern submarines to strengthen the country's navy. Negotiations are underway with Paris-based 'Directions des constructions navates' for technical assistance and sub-systems for the submarines, the Defence news weekly said quoting Indian officials. The weekly said India had earmarked $ 350 million to build the submarines. The project will being in January, 2000 and is likely to be completed by December, 2003.

Gaisal probe
KATIHAR (BIHAR), Aug 8 (UNI) — Sabotage could not be ruled out in the collision between the Brahmaputra Mail and the Avadh-Assam Express at Gaisal on August 2, Chief Commissioner of Safety, Railways, M Mani said today. Mr Mani, who concluded the three-day inquiry into the accident in which about 290 persons were killed, said it was the "most strenuous" and "difficult" probe ever. About 150 witnesses appeared before the commission.

Saddam's threat
BAGHDAD, Aug 8 (AFP) — Eleven years after the Iran-Iraq war, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein today accused Iran of refusing peace and issued a veiled threat to use force to settle outstanding grievances. In a speech to the nation, Saddam Hussein said Iran "is still holding thousands of Iraqi prisoners," and has refused to return military and civilian aircraft which Baghdad sent to Iran for safety during the 1991 Gulf War. "Iran's conduct is unprecedented," he said, accusing Tehran of refusing to make peace despite Iraq's repeated "peace initiatives".

5 electrocuted
GUWAHATI, Aug 8 (UNI) — Five persons were electrocuted and 25 received burns, six of them seriously, when a bus came in contact with a high tension wire Tamulpur today. Raw bananas, being carried on the top of the bus touched an overhead high tension wire transferring electricity. The driver, who mistook a violent shock for an earthquake stopped the bus marking the bus remain in contact with the live wire. Panic-stricken passengers, rushed for the exit and two of them got electrocuted. Three more were killed and many received burns when they again boarded the bus after finding that there was no quake.

Jurist award
NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (UNI) — Mr Justice M.N. Venkatachelliah, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, has been selected for the "jurist par excellence award" by the Jagan Nath Kaushal Jurisprudence Centre. Centre Chairman Col P.S. Satsangi said here today that the award would be given away by former President R.Venkataraman on August 13. Mr O.P. Saxena, President, All-India Lawyer Forum, has been selected for the "crusader of human rights award 1999" while Mr K.S. Bhatti, Registrar of Indian Law Institute, has been chosen for the "crusader of legal literacy award, 1999".

Sena leader shot
AMRITSAR, Aug 8 (UNI) — Former state Shiv Sena unit Vice-President Ram Sharan Arora was shot dead by some unidentified persons near Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital here late this evening, police sources said. Details were awaited.