tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, August 19, 1998
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LTTE frees crew of Indian ship
COLOMBO, Aug 18 (PTI) — The LTTE today released all 17 Indian crew members of the merchant ship, M.V. Princes Kash, which was destroyed by the Sri Lankan Air Force on Friday last after it had been captured by the Tamil rebels. The captain and the 16 crew members, all Indian nationals, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by the LTTE in the rebel-held northern Vanni region today, an ICRC spokesman said here. The LTTE has, however, so far not agreed to release the four Sri Lankan crew members who continued to be in its custody.
Meghalaya Cabinet
SHILLONG, Aug 18 (PTI) — The 23-day-old Meghalaya coalition ministry led by Mr B.B. Lyngdoh was today expanded with the induction of nine more ministers in the jumbo Cabinet, where ministerial berth was given to 35 of the 46 legislators of the ruling Congress-UDP combine. Of the nine ministers inducted today, one is of Cabinet rank and eight ministers of state. Six of the ministers belong to the Congress and three of the United Democratic Party (UDP). With this, the number of Congress ministers has risen to 20 and that of UDP to 15.

500 cr for NE
GUWAHATI, Aug 18 (PTI) — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today announced that Rs 500 crore would be made available during the Ninth Plan period for flood control measures in the north-eastern states. Addressing a press conference here after making an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Vajpayee said this was part of the special package announced by the Centre. Of the Rs 500 crore, Rs 150 crore will be spent in Assam to attend to short-term flood control measures.
Ship collision
JAKARTA, Aug 18 (Reuters) — Four persons were killed and four injured when a passenger ship and a bulk carrier collided in the Strait of Malacca last morning, shipping company officials said. The Indonesian-registered passenger ship KM Sinabung with 1,348 passengers on board collided with the 1,50,000 DWT Panamanian-registered World Nord, a bulk carrier transporting coal from Indonesia to Spain. Four passengers aboard the Sinabung were crushed to death and four injured.
Rane's plea
PANAJI, Aug 18 (PTI) — The Goa Bench of the Mumbai High Court today dismissed the petition by former Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, challenging the validity of the July 29 order of the Governor dismissing his government. The order was delivered by a Division Bench of the court comprising Mr Justice R.K. Bhatta and Mr Justice J.A. Patil.