The Tribune...Spotlight

			Wednesday, July 22, 1998
weather today's calendar

US delegation in Pak
ISLAMABAD, July 21 (PTI) — The US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott today held "comprehensive and in-depth" talks with Pakistani officials on nuclear non-proliferation, Kashmir and other security issues in an attempt to extract a commitment from Islamabad to sign the CTBT.
Talbott, who is leading a high-level US delegation that flew in here this afternoon after holding negotiations in New Delhi, went in for the first round of talks with Pakistani officials led by Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed which lasted more than three hours.
Joshi sacks minister
MUMBAI, July 21 (UNI) — Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Suresh Nawale was today sacked from the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance ministry. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in both Houses today. Mr Nawale, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, had yesterday informed the lower House that a mob of 200 youth stormed his residence and threatened him with dire consequences. Mr Nawale is suspected to have cross-voted in the recently held Rajya Sabha elections. The Opposition took up the issue in both the Houses and demanded protection for Mr Nawale and his family members.
Mob burns buses
CALCUTTA, July 21 (PTI) — A mob torched and damaged five buses and attacked the police today in Baguihati in protest against "unprovoked" police firing on three motor-cyclists in the area in North-24 Parganas district last night. Fire-fighters too faced the wrath of the mob, as police reinforcements arrived to disperse the mob from VIP road, connecting the airport with the city. Twelve persons were arrested in this connection.
3 kidnapped
AGARTALA, July 21 (PTI) — Three persons, including two traders, have been kidnapped by ultras of banned outfits in Tripura while a CPM MP's son is yet to be traced 26 days after his abduction by the NLFT, official sources said militants suspected to belong to the All Tripura Tiger Force kidnapped the two traders — Ranjan Debbarma and Haripada Das — at gunpoint at Uttarmahanrai area yesterday.
5 buried alive
BULANDSHAHAR, July 21 (PTI) — Five members of a family, including three children, were buried alive when the roof of their house caved in after torrential rains here, the police said today. The victims were sleeping when the roof collapsed last night.
Teachers' stir threat
NEW DELHI, July 21 (PTI) — The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations (AIFUCTO) today threatened to go on an indefinite strike from August 11 if their demands, including UGC-recommended pay scale and enhancement of retirement age of 62, are not accepted.
AIIMS superintendent
NEW DELHI, July 21 (PTI) — A Delhi court today remanded R.C. Anand, Medical Superintendent of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) who was arrested for allegedly taking bribe, to 14-day judicial custody. He was arrested by the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi Government yesterday for allegedly taking bribe of Rs 10,000 from a supplier.