tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, December 24, 1999
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Bill on SCs introduced
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (UNI) — The government today introduced in the Rajya Sabha the Constitution (Eightyeighth Amendment) Bill, 1999, to restore for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes relaxation of qualifying marks and standards of evaluation in matters of reservation. The bill was introduced by Minister of State for Personnel and Training Vasundhraraje.
SC outlaws ‘riba’
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (Reuters) — The Pakistan’s Supreme Court today declared “riba”, or interest, as un-Islamic and said the country must introduce an interest-free economic system by the year 2001. A four-Judge Bench issued the ruling during a sitting in Lahore. Local bankers and foreign creditors have in the past expressed fears that such a ruling, if enforced by the new military government, could cause a collapse of the banking system and loss of foreign credit to indebted Pakistan.

Producer’s feat
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (UNI) — Veteran film producer D Rama Naidu, MP, has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for producing the highest number of 101 films. Andhra Pradesh-born Naidu, who has been producing movies in several Indian languages since 1963, disclosed at a press conference the news of his receiving the certificate from the authorities of the book.
Arjun tanks
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes tonight said all efforts were being made to carry out the much delayed first test flight of indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft in the next one or two months and place orders for 124 Arjun tanks after evaluation of its armour by January end.
Curfew relaxed
JAIPUR, Dec 23 (UNI) —Curfew, which was clamped in Phalodi town of Jodhpur district following clashes between two communities, was today relaxed for one-and-half hour from 3.30 p.m. Director General of Police Amitabh Gupta said nine more persons involved in the clashes, which took place on Tuesday, had been taken into custody, bringing the total number of people arrested to 18.
Bankmen’s strike
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (PTI) — Bank employees today decided to defer their one-day nation-wide strike scheduled for December 27 following an appeal by Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.
Algerian quake
ALGIERS, Dec 23 (AP) — At least 28 persons were killed and 175 injured when a strong earthquake shook western Algeria, yesterday, the Interior Ministry said today.