tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, December 9, 1999
weather today's calendar

PM given 1 cr for Orissa victims
NEW DELHI, Dec 8 (UNI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was presented a cheque for Rs 1 crore from the Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) today from the Prime Minister’s relief fund towards the aid of Orissa’s cyclone victims. The cheque was presented to Mr Vajpayee by KRIBHCO Chairman Chandra Pal Singh at a function here.

Governor’s gesture
CALCUTTA, Dec 8 (PTI) — In a rare gesture, the newly-appointed Governor of West Bengal, Mr Viren J. Shah, has decided to forego his salary for the post and draw Re 1. The Governor has taken the decision “with a view not to burden the state exchequer,” a Raj Bhavan press note said here today.

PM puts off visit
NEW DELHI, Dec 8 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has postponed his proposed visit to Himachal Pradesh on Sunday where he was scheduled to lay foundation for Parbati hydro electric project. Fresh dates for the visit will be announced only after the environment clearance for the project is obtained by the National Hydro-electric Power Corporation.

Disturbed Area Act
IMPHAL, Dec 8 (PTI) — Manipur has been placed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, for a further period of six months from December 1, a government notification issued today said. Continued eruption of violence and crimes committed by “unlawful elements” necessitated declaration of the Disturbed Area Act.

17 killed in crash
MANILA, Dec 8 (DPA) — All 17 persons aboard a twin-engine commercial passenger plane were killed when it crashed into a mountain village in the northern Philippines, airline officials said today. Asian Spirit executive vice-president Jack Po said all bodies had been recovered but only 14 had so far been identified.

Taliban account
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (DPA) — Pakistan has closed Afghan banks and frozen the accounts of the Taliban to implement the United Nations sanctions against the radical Islamic movement of Afghanistan, news reports quoting the Iranian news agency Irna said today. Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said it was the requirement of the United Nations charter.

Indo-Russia deal
MOSCOW, Dec 8 (UNI) — India and Russia have signed a new aviation protocol which envisages joint cooperation in the civil and military spheres for the next 10 years.