tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, November 6, 1999
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Laloo’s bail
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today extended till January 21 next year the interim bail of former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and 17 other accused in the Rs 950 crore fodder scam conspiracy cases. A three-Judge Bench comprising Mr Justice G.T. Nanavati, Mr Justice S.P. Kurdukar and Mr Justice K.T. Thomas extended the interim bail period as the prosecution had no grievance against the accused having flouted the conditions imposed during the interim bail period.

Jamnalal Bajaj Awards
MUMBAI, Nov 5 (PTI) — Prof Joseph Rotblat of England, social reformers Narayanbhai Desai, Dr Ajoy Kumar Basu and Saraswati Gora were today given the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Awards 1999 by Maharashtra Governor P.C. Alexander.

Military ties
WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (PTI) — India and the USA have resumed bilateral military contacts that suffered a setback after New Delhi conducted nuclear tests in May last. After the resumption of the bilateral military contacts, Indian Ambassador to US Naresh Chandra recently visited the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Army Chief of Staff Gen V.P Malik is visiting the USA and his engagements include appearing before a thinktank.

Fire in JNCC
MOSCOW, Nov 5 (PTI) — A big fire today damaged part of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) here. However, there was no casualty in the incident at the double-storeyed structure, an Indian Embassy spokesman said. Prompt action by the Moscow Fire Service prevented the fire from causing damage to the first floor of the building that houses Satyajit Ray Memorial Museum, library and the office of JNCC Director, he said.

7 labourers killed
HYDERABAD, Nov 5 (UNI) — Seven labourers, including three women, were killed when a wall collapsed on them at Sankalbagh in Kurnool town of Andhra Pradesh yesterday. The police here said 22 labourers were involved in the digging of the foundation for a compound wall when the tragedy occurred. The others escaped unhurt. The families of the deceased were provided compensation of Rs 1 lakh each by the company, which took up the project.

Govt denies reports
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (PTI) — The government today denied as "highly speculative" reports in a section of the Press that there was a move to revert to the retirement age of 58 years for central government employees. "The report that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wants retirement age back at 58 is absolutely baseless", a release from the Prime Minister's Office said. "No such proposal has either been mooted at the level of the Finance Ministry or the Prime Minister's Office", it said.

BJP meeting
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (UNI) — The two-day national council of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be held at Chennai from December 28. This was decided after party president Kushabhau Thakre had a meeting with state unit presidents last night. Prior to the council, the national executive will meet for a day on December 27. Briefing newspersons here today, party spokesman M.Venkaiah Naidu said the council would ratify amendments to the party constitution being proposed by the Jana Krishna Murthy sub-committee.