NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (PTI) — The government will temporarily ban export of onions and, if necessary, resort to imports to bring prices of the essential commodity under control, Commerce Minister Ramkrishna Hegde has said. Mr Hegde gave this assurance to a Shiv Sena delegation, comprising Union Minister Suresh Prabhu and the convener of sena’s action committee on essential commodities Mr Kanhaiya Lal Gidwani, here yesterday. Mr Gidwani said today a memorandum was presented to Mr Hegde urging for a temporary stoppage of exports as the onion crop in major producing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra had been adversely affected this year. It suggested that the Centre should fix a maximum limit of 50 tonnes for producers and traders to hold with them to curb the large scale hoarding of onion and bringing down its price.

KABUL, Aug 16 (AFP) — The Taliban today claimed it gained a foothold in former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani’s north eastern stronghold, while allowing a first international aid flight to the north since its stunning victories. The Islamic militia has won the loyalty of local commanders in the districts of Ragh, Yaftal-i-Sofla and Sheghnan in the north eastern Badakshan province, Taliban officials said. The Taliban mouthpiece radio Shariat said white flags of the Islamic militia were now flying in various districts after the switchover by the commanders.

Miners die in blast

MOSCOW, Aug 16 (AFP) — Sixteen miners were killed overnight in a fire-damp explosion at a pit in the Donbass mining region of eastern Ukraine, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said today, quoted by Interfax. Another 12 miners were still missing reported early today. A team of 23 rescuers were searching for survivors in the pit at a depth of 610 metres, where the blast occurred shortly after midnight.

Panther kills one

DHARAMSALA, Aug 16 ( TNS )— An employee of the Forest Department, Bahadur Singh, was killed, when he was badly mauled by a leopard at the wildlife zoo at Gopalpur, near Palampur, yesterday. A three-and-a-half year old panther, attacked the 42-year Bahadur Singh, while he was cleaning the enclosure for the animals. The panther, reportedly hid in one corner of the enclosure, and did not go to the cage, where they are kept, while the cleaning job is done. After attacking, the panther, left the zoo and wandered into the forest.

Woman killed

MEERUT, Aug 16 (PTI) — A woman was kidnapped and subsequently killed near Majhota village under Daurala police station, about 15 km from here, today, the police said. Saira Khatoon, while returning from a fair with her husband was kidnapped at gunpoint in the early hours. Later, her mutilated body was found at a lonely place. Her husband, Mohiuddin, who was seriously injured while trying to save Saira, is undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Soyuz-Mir docking

MOSCOW, Aug 16 (AFP) — Russia’s Soyuz space craft, carrying a retired Kremlin adviser and two cosmonauts, docked with the Mir space station at 1056 GMT yesterday, Russian news agencies reported. The docking operation was automatic but its final phase was carried out manually, a spokesman for the space control center said. The Mir crew and the new arrivals were expected to meet inside the space station at 1230 gmt.

Businessman rescued

MUZAFFARNAGAR, Aug 16 (PTI) — The police today rescued a Maharashtra businessman who was kidnapped three months ago for a ransom and arrested three kidnappers, a police officer said. Firoz Khan, kidnapped from Kammar in Maharashtra for a ransom of Rs 1 crore, was rescued on the Khatima-Panipat highway while being taken to Bijnor from here in a car by the captors, Ramvir, Usman and Nawab, SSP S.N. Sabat said. The kidnappers were arrested and the car was seized, he said adding further investigations were on.