tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, October 23, 1999
weather today's calendar

Gujrathi M'rashtra Assembly Speaker
MUMBAI, Oct 22 (PTI) — The ruling Congress-NCP led Democratic Front today won the first trial of strength when its nominee Arun Gujrathi was elected Speaker of the Maharashtra legislative Assembly securing more votes than the combine had claimed while forming the government. Mr Gujrathi of the NCP polled 154 votes, while the Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance nominee Girish Bapat polled 132 votes in the 288-member House. The ruling combine will seek a trust vote in the Vilasrao Deshmukh ministry tomorrow.
New East Asian forum
MANILA, Oct 22 (DPA) — The 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Japan, China and South Korea will launch a new East Asian forum next month to address the region’s security and economic concerns, a diplomatic source said today.

2 farmers killed
NAWADA (Bihar), Oct 22 (UNI) — Suspected extremists killed two farmers in separate incidents in Nawada district during the past 24 hours. The police said outlaws kidnapped a farmer at Pathra village under Govindpur police station area today and slit his throat. In another incident, suspected outlaws shot dead a farmer under Warsaliganj police station area in the district last night.
Fire in cracker unit
RAIPUR, Oct 22 (UNI) — At least 25 persons were injured, two of them seriously,in a fire that broke out at a cracker manufacturing factory at Bhatapara in Raipur district last night. The factory building was gutted after the entire stock of explosives lit up following a short circuit, the police said today.
140 hurt in quake
TAIPEI, Oct 22 (DPA) — Another major earthquake struck central Taiwan early today, leaving at least 140 persons injured, damaging buildings and causing dozens of fires and partial power blackouts. A Central Weather Bureau spokesman said the quake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and struck 2.5 km west of Chiayi city, 12 km below the surface.
Blast kills 12
SANNA, Oct 22 (DPA) — At least 12 persons were killed and 15 others injured in the Yemeni province of IBB when a truck laden with explosives blew up in a crowded town after a shootout with the security forces, police sources said. The truck was apparently carrying smuggled dynamite for quarries near the town of Di-Alsufal where the shoot-out erupted after the truck jumped a police roadblock.
13 killed in Lanka
COLOMBO, Oct 22 (UNI) — At least 13 separatist Tamil guerrillas were killed with the security forces stepping up their operations in north Sri Lanka during the past 24 hours. A Defence Ministry statement said four terrorists were killed in clashes in the Kilali Lagoon in Jaffna. In Paranthan area seven rebels were killed in three separate incidents while two more were killed in the Wanni area.
Dy Speaker election
NEW DELHI, Oct 22 (UNI) — The election of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker will be held on October 27. Announcing this at his first press conference after his re-elction as Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr GMC Balayogi said the election of the Deputy Speaker had been delayed.
Bank employees
CALCUTTA, Oct 22 (UNI) — Bank employees will hold demonstration throughout the country on October 29 in protest against the Union Government’s decision to table the insurance regulatory authority Bill in the Lok Sabha. All India Bank Employees Association general secretary Tarakeswar Chakraborty said today.
Pahlaj Nihalani
MUMBAI, Oct 22 (UNI) — Pahlaj Nihalani has been elected president of the newly-formed All-India Film Producers' Council. The election was held yesterday at a joint meeting of the Association of Motion Picture and TV Programme Producers and the Film Producers Guild of India which decided to work together under a new umbrella organisation. Both associations will however, maintain their identity.
Blasts accused held
MUMBAI, Oct 22 (UNI) — In a well-planned operation, the crime branch of the police has nabbed two dreaded fundamentalist criminals involved in the sensational Coimbatore bomb blasts of 1998, which claimed several lives. The two persons arrested are Mohammad Abdul Azeez Mohammad Gaus (25) of Madurai in Tamil Nadu and M.S. Khaja Nizamuddin, alias Umar (25), of Malapallayam Thirunvelli of the same state. Azeez carries a reward of 2 lakh on his head.
30 killed in Burundi
BUJUMBURA (AP) — The army today said Hutu rebels killed more than 30 persons when they attacked a village northeast of Burundi’s capital. The raid at Mpehe village near Muramvya, about 40 km from the capital Bujumbura, occurred early Thursday, said military spokesman Longin Minani. He said some of the victims were shot and others hacked to death with machetes.