tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, August 21, 1999
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Japan concerned at N-doctrine
TOKYO, Aug 20 (PTI) — Japan today said it was "deeply concerned" at India's proposed nuclear doctrine as it aimed at "acquisition of nuclear weapons with adequate retaliatory capability" and said it wants to discuss the issue with New Delhi. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, "We are negotiating with the Indian Government for an early visit to Japan of its External Affairs Minister".

Costa Rica quake
SAN JOSE, Aug 20 (DPA) — An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale shook large areas of central America early today according to reports in San jose. The epicentre of the quake was said to have been off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, 80 km south of San Jose. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. In San Jose many people rushed into the streets from their homes as the quake struck at 4:02 a.m. (1002 GMT).

Indians safe
NEW DELHI, Aug 20 (PTI) — All Indians in the quake hit cities in Turkey are safe, it was officially stated today. New Delhi has despatched medicines for the victims of the earthquake which has taken a toll of over 8000 lives. President K.R. Narayanan, Vice-President Krishan Kant, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi have sent messages expressing sympathy for those affected, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters here today.

Jiang's visit
BEIJING, Aug 20 (AFP) — China's Foreign Ministry today announced that Chinese President Jiang Zemin will sandwich state visits to Thailand, Australia and New Zealand around September's APEC summit in Auckland. A three-country tour will begin on September 2 and finish on the 16th, ministry spokesman Zhu Banghao said in remarks carried by the official Xinhua news agency.

Pant hospital case
NEW DELHI, Aug 20 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Centre on a fresh application by People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) seeking monitoring of the CBI probe into the Rs 86 crore GB Pant Hospital equipment purchase scam, by a retired judge. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.N. Variava and Justice S.K. Mahajan asked the government and the CBI to file their replies by September 13, the next date of hearing.

Mild quake in China
BEIJING, Aug 20 (PTI) — A low intensity tremor measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale jolted the city of Heyuan in South China's Gangdong province early this morning. There has been no report of casualties or damage so far, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The tremor was felt in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, in Shantou and in a few other cities, Xinhua said.