Rs 50 bonus for paddy farmers New Delhi, October 16
It is a festival bonanza for paddy farmers. The government today announced a bonus of Rs 50 per quintal over and above the minimum support price of paddy, a decision aimed at boosting the procurement of foodgrains in the current kharif marketing season.	A farmer tries to salvage his paddy after rain in Bathinda on Thursday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera
Basmati status for Pusa 1121

Voluntary leave scheme for 15,000 AI employees
Hyderabad, October 16
Allaying fears of retrenchment in Air India, civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Thursday categorically said the government was not considering any lay-off plan for the national carrier.

Jet reinstates sacked employees
Mumbai, October 16
Under severe attack for sacking 1,900 employees a day after its alliance with Kingfisher, leading private airline Jet Airways today apologised to the terminated staffers and asked them to join duty from tomorrow.

Editorial: Back to flying

Wall Street savaged
Markets around the globe convulse. London FTSE 100 index of leading shares sheds 7.16% while in Paris the CAC 40 fell 6.82% and the Frankfurt DAX gave up 6.49%
New York, October 16
Wall Street stocks plunged in the second biggest single day point loss in history and their worst percentage fall in two decades, ravaged by fears the world’s biggest economy is slipping into recession.

Rajapaksa: Not ready for truce
Colombo, October 16
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ruled out a ceasefire with the LTTE as demanded by Tamil Nadu politicians and vowed to continue the military offensive against the Tigers in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi.

Lanka: India’s concerns to be addressed

EC to hold meeting of chief secys
New Delhi, October 16
The Election Commission, it seems, is all set to restore the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir. The commission, which had announced polls in five states on Tuesday, has now convened a meeting of chief secretaries of six states tomorrow to find out how many Urdu-knowing employees they had on their rolls.

Snow blocks Manali-Leh highway
Manali, October 16
The 474-km long Manali-Leh highway, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, was closed to vehicular traffic in the wake of fresh snowfall at Rohtang Pass, Baralachala Pass (4,883m), Lachulunga(5,065m), and Tanglangla (5,360m). 
(Details on Himachal page)

Homosexuals are minority group: HC Govt is virtually accusing the court of dividing the country: Bench New Delhi, October 16 The Delhi High Court has taken a strong exception to the Centre's contention that the court would divide the country if it recognises homosexuals as a minority group. A bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah said that the government is virtually accusing the court of dividing the country which cannot be part of an argument. Sort out differences, PM tells Patil, Ramadoss