tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, November 25, 1999
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Jacob to take over on Saturday
CHANDIGARH, Nov 24 (PTI) — Lt Gen J F R Jacob, Governor of Goa, will take over as Punjab Governor on Saturday, official sources said here today. Mr Jacob, who will be the 29th Governor of Punjab, will be administered the oath of office and secrecy at 11.30 a.m. by Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice A B Saharya.

President ill
NEW DELHI, Nov 24 (PTI) — President K.R. Narayanan is down with viral fever and his scheduled two-day visit to Mumbai from today has been postponed, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said. The President has been advised rest for two to three days by the doctors attending on him. Mr Narayanan was to dedicate Shanmukhananda Hall, the rebuilt prestigious auditorium to the nation tomorrow.

SD Sharma stable
NEW DELHI, Nov 24 (UNI) — The condition of former President, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, admitted to a private hospital here continue to be stable but critical. Dr Sharma, admitted to the intensive care unit of the Escorts Hospital had been put on ventilator, family sources said here today. He had been suffering from heart and kidney ailments. Dr Sharma had been ailing since October 9.

Taliban offer
NICOSIA, Nov 24 (ANI) — Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement has offered to hold unconditional talks with the USA Taliban Foireign Minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil said at a news conference at Kabul, "if America wants to talk, we are ready for it". We have no condition for the talks," he said. Mr Muttawakil said:, "We had some proposals, but unfortunately the Americans did not respond positively to either of them".

Lok Pal Bill
NEW DELHI, Nov 24 (UNI) — Minister of State for Public Grievances and Pensions Arun Shourie today said the right to information and the Lok Pal bills would be introduced in the coming session of Parliament. After assuming charge, the minister who met officials of his department and the Press, said the Central Vigilance Commission Bill was also almost ready. Mr Shourie, who is also Minister of State for Planning Programme Implementation, later met top officials of the department.

Sharad Pawar
MUMBAI, Nov 24 (PTI) — NCP President Sharad Pawar today categorically ruled out his party's support to a possible BJP move to bring a resolution in Maharashtra legislature, aimed at debarring persons of foreign origin from occupying highest offices in the country.