Friday, December 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Ex-minister Lone’s brother shot dead
Ultras barge into house, fire point-blank
Srinagar, December 5
A brother of slain Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister in the National Conference government Mushtaq Ahmad Lone was shot dead today by militants in his house in Kupwara district, official sources said. Unidentified militants barged into the house of Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone at 4.30 p.m. at Sogam in Lolab and fired from point-blank range killing him on the spot, the sources said. The militants then fled.

Centre to discuss Johl report
Chandigarh, December 5
The Union Secretary for Food and Supplies, Mr Arun Bhatnagar, has called a meeting in New Delhi on December 16 to discuss the implementation of the Punjab report on diversification of agriculture.

CCD reaches compromise
Disinvestment of govt equity in oil sector PSUs
New Delhi, December 5
A compromise formula on the politically contentious issue of disinvesting government equity in oil sector PSUs appears to have been thrashed out by the Centre today with the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment, (CCD) arriving at a mutually agreeable and unanimous decision on the matter.

Macedonia Pak mission bombed
Karachi, December 5
A bomb ripped through Macedonia’s consulate in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi today and three bodies were pulled from the rubble, the police said.

In video: Three persons were killed and several injured when a bomb ripped through Macedonia's Consulate in Karachi.
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Pak-N.Korea N-nexus threat to global security, USA told
New Delhi, December 5
India today conveyed to the USA its serious worries over the Pakistan-North Korea nuclear nexus and is understood to have told the visiting US Deputy National Security Adviser, Mr Stephen Hadley, that the US media itself had reported that Islamabad’s assistance to Pyongyang’s uranium enrichment programme continued until three months back.

Defence Minister George Fernandes with US National Defence Security Adviser Stephen Hadley in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI photo

Centre gives 137 cr more to J&K
Jammu, December 5
The Council of Ministers headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at a special meeting held here today, appreciated the success achieved by the Chief Minister in getting an additional financial assistance from the Centre to the tune of Rs 137 crore for various projects, including bridging the gap between the supply and demand in the power sector.

Water user charges hiked
Chandigarh, December 5
The Cabinet subcommittee has approved the revision and utilisation of user charges for repair and maintenance of rural water supply schemes in Punjab, it is reliably learnt.

One-hour strike by PSEB staff Patiala, December 5 The Punjab government allegedly pressurised the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) into removing System Operations Chief Engineer Padamjit Singh from his post to pave the way for power supply contract to a private firm who had not done similar job and failed to give details of agreements with other companies which would make the supply possible.