tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, September 11, 1999
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5 pc DA for Central staff
NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (TNS) — The Union Cabinet today decided to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance for Central Government employees and pensioners which at individual level would result in an additional income ranging between Rs 150 to Rs 800 for employees of varying seniority. The decision to release an additional instalment of 5 per cent DA would cost the exchequer Rs 1467 per annum but will be limited to Rs 978 crore in the current financial year. The new rates would be effective from July 1, this year. With the additional instalment, the rate of DA and relief would go up to 37 per cent, an official spokesperson said. About the timing of the decision in the midst of the elections, the spokesperson said the instalment was due as per the Fifth Pay Commission report and the Government did not want to delay it. The Cabinet also approved that India accede to the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives. It also okayed the revised World Bank-assisted India Population Project VIII.

Notice to CBI in MPs' bribery case
NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (UNI) — The designated court holding trial in the MPs’ bribery case today issued notice to the CBI and the 11 accused returnable on September 14 on a petition by complainant Ravinder Kumar claiming that he was being offered money to dilute the case. Mr Ravinder Kumar said in his petition filed in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke that he had a "tape recorded conversation by a person who claims himself to be the counsel for accused P.V. Narasimha Rao and the applicant in which conversation the applicant was asked to quote his price for weakening this case.’’

Officer booked
NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (PTI) — The CBI has registered a case against an Additional Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs presently posted in Calcutta for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 22.32 lakh to the department, the agency said here today. The accused while being posted at Visakhapatanam had allegedly abused his official position and entered into a criminal conspiracy along with two superintendents of Central Excise and a managing partner of a private firm M/s Veco Pharmaceuticals to cheat the department, the CBI said.

Quake toll 95
ATHENS, Sept 10 (DPA) — The toll this morning stood at 95 from the powerful earthquake this week that devastated the northern suburbs of Athens and rescue crews round only dead bodies in their overnight search of rubble, Greek state radio reported. Still missing were about 30 persons and hopes were slight that any of them would be found alive, Fire Department officials said.

Israel shifts powers`
GAZA Sept 10 (Reuters) — Israel’s transfer to the Palestinian Authority of civil powers in 7 per cent of the West Bank went into effect today after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat ratified the handover. A senior Palestinian negotiator said Arafat approved maps, agreed under a revised land-for-security deal, designating the areas coming under Palestinian civil administration. Mr Haj Ismail, commander of the Palestinian national forces in the West Bank and Gaza, signed the maps, which Israel said made the handover official.

Prakashotsav
NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (UNI) — Gurpurb Prakashotsav, celebrations marking the 396th year of Guru Granth Sahib, were celebrated in gurdwaras all over the country today. Special kirtans were organised and free food (guru ka langar) was served. The main function was organised at Motibagh Gurdwara in South Delhi by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSMGC) and Shiromani Committee, Amritsar.

Two kidnapped
NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (PTI) — Two businessmen were beaten up and kidnapped by some persons in the Paschim Vihar area of West Delhi last night, the police said today. Parvez and Pala, who run a travel agency in Connaught Place, were hardly 50 metres away from their home when four or five persons in a Tata Sumo overtook their two-wheeler, beat them up after a heated argument and forces them into their vehicle before speeding away.