Open up LoC at 5 points, urges Pak
New Delhi, October 22
Pakistan today finally came up with a formal proposal for the opening up of the LoC for facilitating relief and rehabilitation work in earthquake-affected areas and suggested five crossing points at the LoC, two more than what India suggested almost simultaneously.

In video: Family reunion for Indian nationals injured in Pakistan quake. (28k, 56k)
In video: India to set up relief centres along LoC. (28k, 56k)
In video: Specially-designed survival kits airdropped for quake victims. (28k, 56k)

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Govt to import onions
New Delhi, October 22
With onion prices shooting up across the country, the government tonight decided to import the commodity to protect “consumer interest”. A PTI report said the decision to this effect was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to review the production, storage and availability of onion in the country.

Nation page: Onion politics: it’s BJP’s turn now

In video (28k, 56k) Onions from Pakistan being carried in bags from the godown of Amritsar Railway Station on Saturday. — PTI photo

Tighten leash on Pak, India tells US
New Delhi, October 22
The US Under Secretary for Political Affairs today had two rounds of substantive talks for six hours with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran where the two sides discussed Asian Security, but the Americans did not come up with any list of do’s and don’ts on Iran and the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline did not even come up for discussion.

Centre extends relaxations on paddy
Jalandhar, October 22
In a major relief to Punjab farmers, the Centre has agreed to extend relaxations for the procurement of paddy from October 24 to November 15. Now the farmers would be able to sell discoloured paddy, upto 8 per cent, till November 15.

Punjab page: Paddy procurement yet to match last year’s figures

Minister booked for brother’s release
Patna, October 22
The battle between the RJD-led secular democratic front and the Election Commission on the issue of the alleged “controversial” release of the brother of the Union Minister of State, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, the RJD candidate Vijay Prakash Yadav from police custody took a turn for the worse.

Charge-sheeted cop on extension makes it to IPS
Chandigarh, October 22
Superintendent of Police Sukhmohinder Singh’s case is unique, even by Punjab Government standards. Last year, almost three weeks after he retired, the Punjab Government brought him back into service, gave him extension for one year and has, finally, when his extended tenure was about to end, inducted him into the IPS, thereby giving him one more year in service.

False SC, ST claims a fraud on Constitution: SC
New Delhi, October 22
The Supreme Court has come down heavily on election authorities for laxity in scrutiny of nominations, especially in the cases of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates to check any fraudulent claims against reserved seats, saying such acts were nothing but a fraud on the Constitution and deserved to be dealt with seriously.