tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, September 30, 1999
weather today's calendar

Ex-Chief of Army staff critical
NEW DELHI, Sept 29 (UNI) — Former Army chief Gen P.V. Kumaramangalam who was the Chief of Army Staff from 1966-1969 is critically ill and is admitted to Air Force Command Hospital at Bangalore, defence sources said here today. The 86-year-old former Army Chief was admitted to the command hospital after he developed serious breathing problems.

Astrosat
MUMBAI, Sept 29 (UNI) — India is planning to launch an astronomical satellite — Astrosat, which will be fully dedicated to astronomical research, the Space Commission Chairman, Dr K. Kasturiranjan, said while delivering the Department of Atomic Energy's C.V. Raman Lecture organised by the Indian Physics Association at Navi Mumbai near here today. However, it will take around five to six years to place Astrosat in the orbit. Astrosat will have a telescope, solar panel, star sensor, X-ray imaging camera and X-ray sky monitor apart from various other equipment of research.

Geelani stable
NEW DELHI, Sept 29 (PTI) — The condition of Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was said to be stable today though as a precautionary measure he was still in the intensive cardiac care unit of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here. The custody of Geelani, who was flown in here by a special plane yesterday following heart ailment, was handed over to the Delhi police, Hurriyat spokesman in Delhi said.

Nishant testfired
BALASORE (Orissa), Sept 29 (UNI) — The indigenously built unmanned aircraft Nishant was successfully testfired at 1.30 p.m. today from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-Sea, 15 km from here. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories, Nishant was designed to undertake discrete aerial reconnaissance of battlefields, including target acquisition.

3 die in blast
GUWAHATI, Sept 29 (UNI) — At least three persons were killed and as many injured in a bomb blast at their residence at Kachua of Nagaland district yesterday, official sources said here today. The victims belonged to the same family and the injured were admitted to hospital. It was yet to be ascertained whether the bomb was planted by the militants in the house.

Heroin seized
ISLAMABAD, Sept 29 (DPA) — The anti-narcotics police in Pakistan has seized 760 kg of heroin in the southwest of the country and killed two suspected smugglers, reports from the Baluchistan province bordering Iran said today. Four suspected drug peddlers were wounded in a gun battle some 400 km southwest of the provincial capital of Quetta, domestic news agencies reported.