US satellite
WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (AFP) — A US military communications satellite has been successfully launched from Kennedy space centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, the International Launch Service said. The ultra high frequency follow-on (UHF f/o) F-10 will relay intelligence photographs and reports as well as combat orders to the USA and allied forces on the ground. The satellite was launched yesterday the service said.

Governor takes over
PATNA, Nov 23 (UNI) — The newly-appointed Bihar Governor Vinod Chandra Pandey today took over as the state’s 28th Governor. Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Mr Justice B.P. Singh, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Pandey at a simple function here at Raj Bhavan. Mr Pandey is a former Cabinet Secretary. Besides Chief Minister Rabri Devi, her Cabinet colleagues, Rashtriya Janata Dal President Laloo Prasad Yadav, state legislative council Chairman Jabir Hussain, Assembly Speaker Deo Narayan Yadav, Opposition Leader Sushil Kumar Modi and several other prominent personalities were present at the ceremony.

S.D. Sharma
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma, undergoing treatment at Escorts Heart Institute here for around a month, was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition deteriorated last night. Dr Sharma was put on a ventilator and shifted to the ICU after he felt difficulty in breathing, his private secretary J N Kashyap said today. The doctors when contacted, said his condition was now "stable".

Law Day awards
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (UNI) — Justice S.C. Agrawal and Justice Sujata V Monohar, retired judges of the Supreme Court have been selected for the prestigious National Law Day Award for 1998 and 1999, respectively, for their contributions in the field of administration of justice. Mr Rohit Kochhar has been chosen for his contribution in the field of corporate law. Noted jurist Fali S. Nariman, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha was accorded with this honour for his contribution in the field of constitutional law. Senior advocates Rajinder Singh of Jabalpur and Sushil Kumar of Delhi have been selected for their excellence in criminal law, the Bar Council of India said today.

Firearms snatched
IMPHAL, Nov 23 (PTI) — Militants camouflaged in security uniforms today forced their way into the residence of a Manipur minister and snatched firearms, including sophisticated guns, from his security guards, official sources said. The sources said about 25 extremists entered the residence of Manipur Minister of State for Command Area Development Md Heshammudin at Kwakta, this morning and overpowered the security guards. After minor scuffle, the ultras took away atleast 10 firearms.

JAAC defiant
RANCHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — The Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) has refused to accept a circular of the state Planning Department stipulating that the services of officials of other departments not ‘fully transferred’ to the JAAC should be withdrawn from the council. The state Planning Department had no authority to issue a circular like this as the state government by an earlier order had handed over the services of officials of 42 departments to the JAAC for a period of three years ending July 14, 2000, a resolution passed on the concluding day of the interim council’s general body meeting said yesterday.

Brain fever
HYDERABAD, Nov 23 (PTI) — The killer Japanese encephalitis today claimed seven more lives in Andhra Pradesh, pushing the number of deaths to 145 so far. Thirtyfour suspected fresh cases were reported from various districts, according to a Health Department bulletin issued by its Director here today.

Arms snatched
IMPHAL, Nov 23 (UNI) — Militants today broke into the house of state Minister for Irrigation Mahammad Hasimuddin and took away the arms of his security guards after overpowering them. Thirty gunmen in army uniforms broke into the minister's residence at Kwakta village on Tidim state highway, 55 km from here, this morning and overpowered the security guards belonging to 7 Manipur Rifles and took away all their arms and ammunition. The gunmen fled in four cars.

Pak protest
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (Reuters) — Pakistan protested to India today over what it called the second incident in a week of intelligence staff harassing a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi. A Foreign Ministry statement said a diplomat at Pakistan's High Commission (Embassy) in New Delhi was "mistreated by the Indian intelligence operatives" yesterday. "The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was summoned to the Foreign Office this evening and a strong protest was lodged with him on the incident", it said.

Rain death toll
CHENNAI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Thirteen persons, including five women and four children, have been killed and 45,000 rendered homeless in incessant rain in Tamil Nadu since yesterday as a flood alert was issued on banks of the Tamiraparani river and in low-lying areas of Salem and Cauvery basin.

Kargil report
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — The high-level committee, probing possible intelligence failure and other events leading to the Kargil conflict, will submit its report to the government by December 15, its chairman, Mr K. Subrahmanyam, said today. "We have covered all areas in light of the terms of reference and that is all events leading to the Kargil intrusions", Mr Subrahmanyam told PTI after meeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee this evening.

RJD appointment
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Vishnu Pandya, a former National General Secretary of Rashtriya Janata party, has been appointed as National Secretary of the Samata Party. The appointment was made by Samata Party President George Fernandes, party General Secretary Jaya Jaitly said in a statement today. Pandya, also president of the Gujarat state programme implementation committee, is a well known journalist and author of several books on social and political issues, she said.

NLFT attack
AGARTALA, Nov 23 (PTI) — Suspected NLFT militants shot dead three employees of the Forest Department and critically injured another at Kironmalakar Para in West Tripura district today, the police said. Eleven employees of the Forest Department were returning from a forest area in a vehicle to Kalyanpur when they were fired upon by the militants. Two forest guards and driver of the vehicle were killed while seven other staffers escaped unhurt, the police said.

Taliban’s offer
KABUL, Nov 23 (Reuters) — Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban movement today offered to hold unconditional talks with the USA, which sponsored current United Nations sanctions on the Islamic movement’s government. "If America wants to talk, we are ready for it", Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil told a news conference in Kabul. "We have no condition for the talks". He said the Taliban and American officials had not held talks since the Aviation and Financial Sanctions ordered by the UN Security Council came into force on November 14.

Central team
TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Nov 23 (UNI) — The Union Government will despatch a team to Tamil Nadu for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage due to rain, if it receives a request to this effect from the state government. Talking to newsmen before leaving for New Delhi after making an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Perambalur and Pudukottai districts, Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam said if there was any request from the state government, the Centre would consider it. He said there was heavy damage to the standing crops.