W O R L D | Wednesday, March 24, 1999 |
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Villages set ablaze in
Kosovo
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Round-the-World-balloonists Bertrand Piccard (3rd from right) with his wife Michelle (1st right) and Brian Jones (left) being held by his wife Joanna, after they returned to Switzerland on Monday being welcomed by family members and wellwishers gathered on the tarmac at Geneva airport. AP/PTI |
Serious security
breach at US lab India
to be most populated Missiles
Ghauri, Shaheen on display WB
loans: India rebuts US claims Viagras
first anniversary bash Arafat
begins US visit on low key Students
protest against Habibie |
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Villages set ablaze in Kosovo BELGRADE, March 23 (AP) Fighting raged yesterday between government forces and the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army in the northern and central parts of Kosovo. Several villages were ablaze and there were unconfirmed reports of mass killings near the town of Srbica. A second round of peace talks in France failed last week after Serbs refused to sign a US-backed peace accord that gives the ethnic Albanians substantial autonomy. The plan also calls for 28,000 NATO troops including 4,000 Americans, to supervise the accord . The Serbs have offered to accept a political agreement, but had insisted that peacekeepers should be a separate issue from other parts of the agreement, a position Washington rejects. The North Atlantic Council, NATOs top policy-making body, authorised Secretary-General Javier Solana yesterday to order air strikes on Yugoslavia if Mr Holbrookes bid failed. Clashes in Kosovo escalated last weekend after international monitors withdrew following the collapse of the second round of peace talks. Two persons were killed and four others seriously injured late yesterday when bombs exploded at two ethnic Albanian-owned cafes in the provincial capital, Pristina. The ethnic Albanian-run Kosovo Information Centre said at least five villages were burnt in the northern Drenica region and Lapastica, the rebel headquarters for northeastern Kosovo yesterday. KLA fighters ambushed the police yesterday near Srbica, triggering a gunbattle that lasted several hours, witnesses said. Ethnic Albanian residents in Srbica said black-masked Yugoslav soldiers shot to death at least 16 unarmed people in a weekend campaign to crush separatist resistance. The Serb authorities, however, said the only Albanians killed in Srbica were seven KLA fighters, who died in battle. A NATO fleet of warships
and attack planes was ready for a possible bombardment of
Yugoslavia, a mission that likely would begin with
pilotless Cruise missiles fired at the nations air
defence network. |
Pak shows off claim on Kashmir ISLAMABAD, March 23 (PTI) Pakistan today for the first time included a tableau showing Kashmir as a part of its territory at a military parade here to mark the countrys national day. The tableau bearing the banner "Kashmir banega Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan)" was part of a joint services parade down Jinnah Avenue this morning. Significantly, the tableaus inclusion comes a month after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif agreed to reduce tension and work towards a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem. Leading the tableau was a group of girls in traditional Kashmiri attire while the tableau itself bore several banners highlighting Pakistans position on the issue. Official APP news agency quoted Information Minister Mush Hid Hussain as saying shortly after inspecting the tableau a few days ago that "introduction of the Kashmir tableau in the Pakistan Day parade is part of governments efforts to project and promote the Kashmiri cause." Pakistan also displayed for the first time its much-vaunted long and medium range missiles, Ghauri and Shaheen capable of hitting targets in most parts of India at a military parade to mark its national day. The surface-to-surface Ghauri missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads upto 700 kg upto a distance of 1500 km and the still to be tested Shaheen which can carry a 1,000 kg warhead up to 750 km were included in the parade. Ghauri, the Pakistanis claim, was developed by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khans Kahuta Research Laboratory (KRL) ostensibly to counter Indias Prithvi missile. But Western media quoting
US intelligence reports said Pakistan received technology
for Ghauri from Communist North Korea as it closely
resembles Pyongyangs Nadong missile. |
Serious security breach at US lab WASHINGTON, March 23 (PTI) The US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has confirmed there was a serious breach of security at the Los Alamos laboratory where the Chinese allegedly stole nuclear secrets contradicting President Bill Clintons claim that Beijings espionage was unproven. There was a serious breach of security at the Los Alamos laboratory, and the Chinese got nuclear secrets and damage was done, he said confirming Newsweek report that the CIA had found evidence that the Chinese have cracked even the most secret weapons laboratory. Mr Richardson, however, questioned the Newsweek report that Chinese penetration of the laboratories appears to have been total and termed it as an over exaggeration. There is a lot of hysteria over there that is unfounded. But we will get to the bottom with ongoing investigations of any future problems. Mr Clinton on Saturday said: It is my understanding that the investigation has not yet determined for sure that espionage occurred...If anybody committed espionage. It is a bad thing, and we should take appropriate action. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Jon Kyl, member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Fox News yesterday that he had asked FBI Director Louis J. Freeh to detail field officers to US weapons laboratories. We have got to change the culture of these laboratories. The atmosphere has to change to include counter-intelligence. Mr Richardson disputed the assertion in the media that all changes that he made, including the firing of Wen Ho Lee at the Los Alamos laboratory, was the result of a New York Times report. That is not the
case, he said, adding that the President
ordered us in February, 1998, to begin a
counter-intelligence plan. We had been taking very
aggressive steps. We were about to terminate this
individual at Los Alamos. The story broke and it appeared
we were reacting. We were not. |
India to be most populated UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (PTI) India is poised to become worlds most populated country within the next 50 years, a UN estimate has said. Indias population will rise by more than 50 per cent to 1.53 billion from the present 1 billion by 2050, according to the world bodys population division estimate. Even though in terms of absolute numbers India will rank highest, population growth rate of countries like Pakistan will be much higher, the report said. Pakistans population was expected to grow by about 120 per cent, rising to 345 million from the present 156 million. China, however, had registered a decline in population growth, from an average of 6.2 children per couple to below replacement level of 1.8 children, Director of UN population division Joseph Chamie said. Nigerias population was also expected to climb to 244 million from the present 112 million while overall world population was expected to reach 9 billion, the UN estimates said. Mr Chamie said the
population of 30 countries, including Germany and Japan,
was expected to decline. |
Missiles Ghauri, Shaheen on display ISLAMABAD, March 23 (PTI) Pakistans military might was on full display during the National Day parade here this morning with the countrys much-vaunted long and medium-range missiles, Ghauri and Shaheen, on display for the first time. The surface-to-surface Ghauri missile is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, weighing up to 700 kg, up to a distance of 1500 km while the yet untested Shaheen can carry a 1,000 kg warhead up to 750 km. Ghauri, the Pakistanis claim, was developed at Dr Abdul Qadeer Khans Kahuta Research Laboratory (KRL) ostensibly to counter Indias Prithvi missile. But Western media, quoting
US intelligence reports, said Pakistan received
technology for Ghauri from the communist North Korea as
it closely resembled Pyongyangs Nadong missile. |
WB loans: India rebuts US claims WASHINGTON, March 23 (PTI) India today rebutted US claims that it had agreed to the postponement of development loans from the World Bank in the aftermath of the Pokhran nuclear tests. This is the first time anyone has said that India voluntarily agreed to the postponement of development loans for now in the wake of the nuclear tests or she agreed that the concerns expressed by the USA were legitimate, Indias Executive Director at the World Bank Surinder Singh said. Mr Surinder Singhs US counterpart at the World Bank, Mr Jan Piercy had claimed that it was the decision of India and the World Bank that resulted in development loans to India not being put up for the vote after the Indian nuclear tests last May. Mr Piercys statement was absolutely wrong, Mr Surinder Singh said adding that the decision to postpone development loans to India certainly did not have our support and it is not right to say that the postponement was done at our request or even with our consent. Presenting Indias
position, he on the contrary said the World Bank loans
should not have been postponed and added that the World
Bank operations should be based only on economic
considerations and the decision to postpone loans due to
the nuclear tests were not based on these considerations. |
Viagras first anniversary bash NEW YORK, March 23 (DPA) The worlds first scientifically proven impotence medication is celebrating its birthday. The US authorities approved Viagra for sale in the USA a year ago on March 27, and the little blue pill began to conquer the world. Today, doctors in 72 countries around the world prescribe it. Men who need help with their virility pay in dollars, marks, yen, roubles, shekels or whatever currency is demanded to get their love drug. Now they dont need an injection, a pump or any other kind of help to get an erection effortlessly and painlessly. Experts agree: Viagra has triggered a sexual revolution among the older generation. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer which makes the pill saw its turnover shoot up by $ 1 billion within a year. Pfizers profits for 1998 were up 27 per cent on the previous year. Never before has any drug become so popular quite so fast. At the express wish of the government in Beijing, Pfizer is currently carrying out clinical tests on Chinese citizens. India and Indonesia, the worlds most populous countries after China have also not decided yet whether to approve the drug. In theory, the impotence drug should help women too. Viagra relaxes muscles and so increases the flow of blood to the genitals. In men the effect is to promote erection of the penis, while in women the increased blood flow could cause the clitoris to swell. But an early study on the effects of Viagra on women was not very encouraging. The scientific journal, Urology, reported in its March edition that a test of 33 women showed Viagra was no more effective than a placebo. With men at least, the drug has a proven success rate of 70 per cent. Taken one hour before they hope to have intercourse the chemical helper is said to be effective for an average of about four hours. For some men this has proven to be too much. According to the US Federal Drug Administration, Viagra has been linked to the deaths of at least 133 users in the USA. Among those now suing
Pfizer is a man from New York, who had a heart attack
after taking Viagra before sex. In Britain, a man who
took the drug committed suicide. In Israel, the wife of a
70-year-old man is bringing a suit because he separated
from her after discovering the drug. |
Arafat begins US visit on low key WASHINGTON, March 23 (AFP) The Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, opened his official US visit here on a low key note by meeting the Secretary of State Ms Madeleine Albright, at her home. Mr Arafat, who is on a whirlwind tour of Europe and the US to drum up support for Palestinian statehood, spent two hours in talks with Ms Albright at her Georgetown home. I thought this would be a nice way to welcome him, Ms Albright said, although she refused to be drawn on the substance of their discussion. The Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Mr Martin Indyk, and special West Asia co-ordinator Mr Dennis Ross, also attended the meeting. The subject of Palestinian
statehood is expected to dominate the agenda when Mr
Arafat meets President Bill Clinton later today. |
Students protest against Habibie JAKARTA, March 23 (AFP) Around 300 students staged a protest outside the military headquarters here today against President B.J. Habibie, accusing him of leading Indonesia to the brink of disintegration. The Jakarta University Student Communication forum (FKSMJ) also pressed the military in a press statement to take on responsibility for keeping the country united. Make peace my Indonesia, stop the nations disintegration, read a red-coloured poster. The students claimed Mr
Habibie had failed to control ethnic and sectarian
violence that has claimed hundreds of lives since the end
of last year. |
Paraguay leader shot dead ASUNCION (Paraguay), March 23 (AP) Gunmen fatally shot Paraguays Vice-President as he went to his office this morning, radio reports and a governing party senator said. There were few details of the attack, but radio reports said Mr Luis Maria Argana was entering his office at the city centre when gunman opened fire at 8 a.m. (local time). A senator from the ruling
Colorado Party, Mr Juan Carlos Galaverna, later told
reporters that Mr Argana was mortally wounded and died
after the shooting. |
Charles to cut Queen Mothers expenses LONDON, March 23 (AFP) Britains Prince Charles has been given the task by the royal family of persuading his grandmother to cut back on her lavish lifestyle after she ran up a huge overdraft, a newspaper report has said. The Sunday Express said Prince Charles had devised a plan to pay off an overdraft of £4 million ($6.4 million) run up by the 98-year-old queen mother at the Royal Bank Coutts. Citing unidentified royal
aides, it said this included staff cutbacks, mothballing
one of the queen mothers five homes the
Castle of Mey in the North of Scotland and selling
rarely-used cars. |
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