tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Tuesday, August 3, 1999
weather today's calendar

China test-fires missile
BEIJING, Aug 2 (PTI) — Amidst heightening tension with Taiwan, China today successfully test-fired a new type of long-range ground-to-ground missile, official Xinhua news agency reported. "China successfully conducted a launching test of a new type of long-range ground-to-ground missile within its territory," it said. No other details were immediately available.

MQM splits
KARACHI, Aug 2 (AFP) — The influential Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which dominates politics in Karachi, has splintered with the resignation of seven key leaders, sources said today.

10 feared drowned
PURNEA (Bihar), Aug 2 (UNI) — At least 10 persons were feared drowned when a boat capsized in a river near Mangalpur bank under the Baisa block area in Purnea district today. The police said the bodies of two minors had been fished out so far, while eight others were traceless.

Flood toll 158
PATNA, Aug 2 (PTI) — The overall flood situation in Bihar aggravated today with major rivers, including the Kosi, the Bagmati, the Kamala Balan, the Punpun and the Gandak, eroding their embankments and engulfing fresh areas as the toll mounted to 158. Eight deaths were reported during the past 24 hours.

Tankers off road
MUMBAI, Aug 2 (PTI) — Over 50,000 tankers, trucks, three wheelers and private buses today went off the road in response to a statewide strike called by the Maharashtra Rajya Truck, Tempo, Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh since midnight. It has been demanded withdrawal of toll collection at the newly-constructed flyovers in the city.

Survivors rescued
MANILA, Aug 2 (AFP) — Fishermen helped to rescue 161 persons who jumped into the sea to escape from a burning ferry in central Philippine seas leaving only one person unaccounted for, the coastguard said today.

Benazir’s nephew dead
KARACHI, Aug 2 (AFP) — A teenaged nephew of former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto committed suicide by shooting himself at his Karachi residence, the police said today. Sarwar Ali Talpur, son of a sister of Mr Bhutto's jailed husband Asif Ali Zardari, was found shot in the head.

Dhaka strike
DHAKA, Aug 2 (DPA) — A general strike crippled life and businesses in Dhaka and 12 other cities and towns across Bangladesh today, sparking off street riots which left over 100 persons injured and dozens of transport vehicles damaged, the police and witnesses said. The 30-hour shutdown was called by an anti-government alliance, spearheaded by the main Opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to protest against an alleged government move to give overland transit rights to India.

Gujral not to contest
NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (UNI) — Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has decided not to contest the coming Lok Sabha poll. In a press statement today, Mr Gujral said, "Since the unfortunate split in the Janata Dal, I have decided not to join either side and with this in mind I am not contesting the forthcoming elections to Parliament."