Srinagar, Oct 21 : India and Pakistan restored cross-LoC trade on Tuesday by launching truck services on the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote roads, scripting a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra flagged off goods laden trucks making the resumption of trade ties between the divided parts of Kashmir after 60 years.

Three trucks carrying fruits and vegetables were also flagged off by H H Tayabji, Adviser to the Governor from the Rangar International Trade Terminal in Chakan-de-Bagh in Poonch District.

New Delhi, Oct 21 : Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora today said that the present volatility in the global economy has affected India and though the Government is trying its best to overcome the present difficult times, it is the duty of each one of us to use the hydrocarbon fuels prudently and in most efficient way.

Speaking at a function here, Deora said unless we adopt such technologies which help us to increase fuel efficiency leading to conservation of the fuels, it would be enormously difficult for us to sustain this level of growth.

New Delhi, Oct 21 : Photo electoral rolls will be used all over the country, except in the north eastern states, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said.

Addressing the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, Gopalaswami said that though the process of issuing electoral photo identity cards started in 1995, 100 per cent success has never been achieved for several reasons.

He said a list of missing voters was also being prepared in each polling station to ensure the eligible persons did not lose their voting right.

The CEC said multi-level checking of electoral rolls was being undertaken to compare the 18-plus population as per census data with the number of registered voters.

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 21 : Armed pirates in speedboats have hijacked an Indian dhow with 13 crew members off the northern coast of Somalia, a maritime official has said.

The cargo-laden vessel was en route to Somalia when it was seized over the weekend, said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.

New Delhi, Oct 21 : Union Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav today said that Indian Railways is the lifeline of the nation and it is necessary to run fast moving trains in view of ever increasing passenger and freight traffic.

New Delhi  - India's benchmark Sensex ended 4.5 per cent higher on Tuesday buoyed by a cut in a key lending rate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that the fundamentals of the Indian economy were strong.

The 30-share sensitive index which gained 247.74 points on Monday, added another 460.30 points in trading Tuesday to close at 10,683.39, up 4.5 per cent.