News Briefs
March 14, 1996
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)Communications satellite launch successful
KOUROU, French Guiana -- The European Space Agency launched a powerful telecommunications satellite Thursday for INTELSAT aboard an Ariane space rocket. (676K QuickTime movie)
The satellite will relay television broadcasts and telephone communications to South Africa, Europe and Africa from its orbital position above the Atlantic Ocean. Using digital compression technology, the four-ton satellite will be able to transmit 120,000 simultaneous phone conversations.
A previous satellite in the INTELSAT 700 series was destroyed after liftoff last month when the Chinese Long March 3-B rocket carrying it crashed in China's southwestern Sichuan province, killing six people. Thursday's successful launch is expected to compensate in part for last month's loss.
Pope recovering after illness
VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II was said to be in "very good" condition Thursday, a day after a sudden fever forced him to cancel his weekly public appearance.
The 75-year-old pontiff has suffered a series of health problems lately, including a bout of the flu that caused him to miss a Mass on Christmas Day.
"The general condition is very good, as are his spirits," said the pope's chief spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. "We foresee that the pope will rest for a few days."
The cause of the fever has not been determined.
Israel reportedly foils terrorist plot
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli police have arrested two Palestinians who were carrying explosives and awaiting instructions to carry out a suicide attack, a newspaper said Thursday.
The two men were arrested Monday near the West Bank town of Hebron, the Haaretz daily said. The men, who were carrying explosives and other equipment needed for an attack, told investigators they were told by their handlers to wait for coded orders, the newspaper said.
The army said it was checking the report. Time magazine reported this week that five suicide bombers from the militant faction of the Muslim group Hamas had been equipped with explosives and were ready to strike in Israel.
Hamas carried out four suicide bombings in Israel between February 25 and March 4, killing 58 people and the four assailants.
- Leaders give mixed reaction to Mideast peace summit
- Struggle for Peace: CNN reviews the recent history between Palestinians and Israelis
Reuters contributed to this report.
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