tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, July 25, 1999
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Barak-Arafat meeting delayed
CAIRO, July 24 (DPA) — Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to postpone until Tuesday a meeting which was scheduled for today night due to Mr Arafat’s participation in the funeral of King Hassan II of Morocco, Egypt’s Middle East news agency, MENA reported from Gaza.

UGC Chairman
NEW DELHI, July 24 (UNI) — Dr Hari Pratap Gautam has been appointed Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Prior to this, he was Vice-Chairman of the UGC since February this year and acting as Chairman since April 28 when Prof A. S. Desai laid down office after completing her tenure. Dr Gautam is a man of medicine and a Professor of cardio-thoracic surgery. Before joining the UGC, he was Vice-Chancellor of Benaras Hindu University (BHU) from 1995 to 1998.

Ultras kill 4 cops
DALTONGANJ (Bihar), July 24 (PTI) — Four policemen were shot dead today by armed extremists of the banned Moist Communist Centre (MCC) near Baresath in Palamu district, the police said. The extremists attacked the policemen when they were escorting a bus, SP R.K. Singh told PTI before leaving for the spot under the Garoo police station. Another constable who suffered gun-shot injuries was being operated upon at Sadar Hospital here, he said.

5 ministers sacked
MUMBAI, July 24 (PTI) — Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane today sacked five Independent Ministers of State from his Council of Ministers. According to the spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr Rane has recommended to the Governor, Dr P.C. Alexander the removal of Mr Anil Deshmukh, Mr Shivajirao Naik, Dr Vijaykumar Gavit, Mr Dilip Sopal and Mr Tukaram Dighole.

2 drowned
JAYPORE (Orissa), July 24 (UNI) — Two tribal women were drowned when a country boat carrying at least 25 persons capsized midstream of the flooded Kolab river near Digapur in Koraput district yesterday. A report received here today said the boatmen and others, however swam to safety. The police with the help of fire brigade personnel had retrieved one body.