Globe Trotting

Yeltsin sacks FSB chief
MOSCOW: President Boris Yeltsin dismissed the powerful chief of the Federal Intelligence Service (FSB), General Nikolai Kovalyov, and appointed his senior aide Vladimir Putin the new director general of the Russian counter-intelligence agency. Yeltsin declined to disclose the reasons for Gen Kovalyov’s dismissal, but said after a brief respite “we are heading for a politically difficult autumn.”

Iran confirms test
TEHRAN: Iran confirmed today that it had successfully tested a long-range missile that it developed without foreign help. Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani told Iranian television that the test of a long-range missile was successful. Shamkhani said the missile which has a range of 1,300 km was tested on Wednesday but did not say where the test was carried out.

Gem not sold
COLOMBO: An uncut blue sapphire that was projected to be one of the world’s 10 most valuable gems, could not be sold as the bidders failed to match the minimum price $800,000. Leela Dharmadasa, owner of the 880-carat gem, called off the sale on Saturday and said he will decide later whether to organise another auction. A local representative of an unidentified foreign bidder offered a maximum of $ 350,000.

PML-MQM ties
LONDON: The Mutthida Quami Movement, coalition partner of the Pakistan Muslim League in the Sindh provincial government, is considering parting ways with its ally A five-member MQM delegation has arrived here for consultations with party founder Altaf Hussain to finalise whether or not to part ways with PML and quit the Sindh government.