S P O T L I G H T

23 killed in boat accident
Kampala, December 14
Twenty-three persons lost their lives and five others survived narrowly when a boat they were travelling in capsized in Lake Kyoga, the police confirmed today. Spokesman Asuman Mugenyi said the overladen boat was carrying 28 passengers and their goods when it overturned on December 12. DPA

25 students fall ill
Burdwan (WB), December 14
Twentyfive school students fell ill after eating chicken curry in West Bengal’s Burdwan district today, the police said. The hostel students of Adivasi High School in Aus village had chicken curry during lunch. Immediately after eating the curry, some of the students started vomiting and fell sick. Twentyfive students were admitted to the primary health centre. The in charge of the hostel canteen has been arrested. PTI 

42 offenders held
Islamabad, December 14
Dozens of partygoers were detained and fined in a crackdown to curb un-Islamic practices in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now ruled by a far-right religious alliance, officials said today. “We picked up 42 offenders at the start of a tough campaign yesterday, but they were released after paying a fine,” Noshera district police chief Feroz Shah said. AFP

Army vice-chief
New Delhi, December 14
Lt-Gen Shantonu Choudhry, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command, Shimla, has been appointed the new Vice-Chief of Army Staff, while Lt-Gen J.J. Singh, GOC 1 Corps Mathura, has been promoted and would succeed General Choudhry. Army spokesman, Brig Shruti Kant, said today that General Choudhry succeeds General N.C. Vij who takes over as the new Army Chief from General Padmanabhan. All appointments are effective from January 1, 2003. TNS