tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, January 7, 1999
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Two Governors meet Advani
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (UNI) — Bihar Governor SS Bhandari and Assam Governor Gen SK Sinha (retd) called on Home Minister LK Advani here today and apprised him of the latest security and political situation in the two states. General Sinha is reported to have sent a detailed report to the Centre on the influx of Bangladeshi refugees in which he has cautioned that the influx posed a serious problem for the state which has been witnessing law and order problems.

Order on VC
AHMEDABAD, Jan 6 (PTI) — The Gujarat High Court has stayed the order reinstating the dismissed Vice-Chancellor of the state university. In an interim order, the Vacation Judge, Mr Justice Kundan Singh, yesterday stayed the earlier order of Mr Justice NN Mathur reinstating Mr SB Vora as the Vice-Chancellor of the Gujarat University. Mr Vora was dismissed in November by the Gujarat Government for not having taken political clearance to attend an international conference at Bangkok.

Fighting LTTE
COLOMBO, Jan 6 (PTI) — Sri Lanka has set up a new Joint Operation Bureau (JOB) consisting of senior and retired commanders of the army, navy, air force and the police to streamline the military operations against the Tamil extremists. A Defence Ministry Press note here said the newly formed joint operations wing would be headed by Lt-Gen Rohan Daluwatta, who retired last month as the head of the Sri Lankan Army.

Blasts kill 23
BEIJING, Jan 6 (Reuters) — Twenty three persons were killed and five injured in two coalmine explosions in China's central Hunan province, the China Mining News said today. The gas explosions occurred just weeks apart in Hunan's coal-rich country of Yiyang last month. The county is home to more than 100 small coalmines, many of which operate illegally despite repeated government orders to close.

PIL on prices
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court today disposed of the public interest petition on the growing prices of onion and certain other vegetables in the capital after the BJP-led Central Government submitted that it had taken all possible steps, including banning of the export of some of them and placing their import under the open general licence (OGL), to augment the availability of the commodities. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice YK Sabharwal and Mr Justice KS Gupta after perusing the affidavit, filed by the Centre in this regard said. In view of the affidavit and the earlier affidavit of the Delhi Government, the writ petition is disposed of.

George's France trip
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (PTI) — India and France will exchange views on key international security issues and discuss bilateral defence cooperation during the four-day visit of Defence Minister George Fernandes to Paris beginning January 11. Mr Fernandes, heading a five-member delegation, will have talks with his French counterpart Alain Richard and other dignitaries, a Defence Ministry spokesman said today.

Pitch damaged
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (PTI) — Four Shiv Sena activists tonight extensively damaged the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium pitch, venue of the first cricket Test between India and Pakistan starting on January 28. The activists said they had dug up the pitch in protest against the BCCI's decision to hold the match at Delhi. They were, however, arrested.