Domestic coal prices will not fall further: Coal India

KOLKATA - Domestic coal will not get any cheaper, India’s largest coal company said here Thursday.

Sarcastic Mayawati says opposition has made her richer

LUCKNOW - Celebrating her birthday with less than usual fanfare, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Thursday sarcastically ‘thanked’ the opposition parties for their ‘malicious campaign’ against her fund collection and said her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) collected twice the donations this year compared to her previous birthdays.

Maoists gun down two policemen in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR - Two policemen were killed and a woman constable was missing in Chhattisgarh after Leftist guerrillas attacked a police team Wednesday, officials said.

Britain asks Pakistan to take on LeT ‘frontally’

NEW DELHI - Britain Tuesday asked Pakistan to take on Laskhar-e-Taiba, the suspected architects of the Mumbai carnage, ‘frontally and politically’ even as India again reminded Islamabad to bring the perpetrators of the terror attacks to justice and honour its anti-terror pledge.

Ahead of polls, Advani promises jobs and water to farmers

NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday revived an old slogan promising productive employment to every individual and water to every farm as he set out to woo farmers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Secret of Sarkozy’s stamina: alternative therapy

LONDON - The secret of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s boundless energy lies in an alternative therapist who massages his back and sends him ‘positive energy waves’, according to a new book on the man known as the ‘hyper-president’.

Free electricity to families affected by Himachal hydropower projects

SHIMLA - Free electricity would be given to families affected by hydropower projects of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) in the state, a government official said Saturday.

‘NSA sacking has tarnished Pakistan’s credibility’

ISLAMABAD - The sacking of Pakistan’s national security adviser for owning up the nationality of the sole terrorist arrested during the Mumbai carnage has tarnished the country’s credibility and raised questions about the government’s ability to keep top officials on a common platform, the country’s media said Saturday.

Government may call in army to tackle oil strike

NEW DELHI - Taking a tough stance against the striking officers of public sector oil companies, the government Friday said the army could be called in to tackle the crisis and said talks were possible but the initiative had to be taken by the strikers. In some places, the army will start loading and unloading fuel later Friday afternoon.

Kashmir pins its hopes on young, energetic Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR - For Hassan Parray, Omar Abdullah’s ascendance to the chief ministership of Jammu and Kashmir has brought hope. A casual labourer in a semi-government body here, he has been waiting to be confirmed for the last nine years.

A strong pro-democracy message from Kashmir (Comment)

At a time of gloom in India, the poll outcome in Kashmir has been like a ray of sunlight breaking through the dark clouds. One reason for the high hopes generated by the contest was the large turnout of voters, which was nothing other than a slap in the face of the separatists.

Another New Year, another day of strife for Delhi’s homeless

NEW DELHI - New Year resolutions, loud music, parties or just cosy chats around the bonfire… while much of Delhi rung in 2009 in every which way with family and friends, many thousands of homeless in the capital spent a wakeful night in the biting cold waiting for another day of strife to dawn.

Pashupatinath to be dragged to court?

KATHMANDU - Seven months after Nepal’s god-king Gyanendra was stripped of his crown and legal immunity, the shadow of prosecution lies over the patron of the deposed monarch, Lord Pashupatinath, whose temple in Kathmandu valley is one of the eight holiest Hindu shrines.

Ten issues India Inc has to contend with in 2009 (Comment)

What lies ahead for the Indian economy in 2009? This is the question looming large in corridors of the country’s corporate world, as India Inc hopes the economy will transition from annus horribilis that 2008 was to annus mirabilis, which it hopes the New Year will be. A look at 10 major issues which the country’s corporate sector has to contend with in 2009:

Overseas Muslims’ federation honours Muslim students in India

AGRA - The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) has honoured 77 Muslim students from across India for excellence in Class 10 and 12 examinations.

Nepal king gone but republic remains restless (Yearender - 7)

KATHMANDU - Despite its crop of failures, 2008 will remain a landmark in the history of Nepal, Asia and indeed the world communist movement, providing inspiration to communists across the globe.

Potent sex chip could make Viagra redundant

LONDON - Sex and lust will never be the same again, thanks to a wondrous ’sex chip,’ which could produce a pleasure as intense and thrilling as a ‘delicious pastry.’

‘Over the counter pill won’t reduce teen pregnancies’

LONDON - Making oral contraceptives available without prescription will not reduce unwanted pregnancies, according to an expert.

Caffeine produces greater effect on men than women

LONDON - Caffeine produces a greater effect on men than women. The effect begins to make itself felt just 10 minutes after it is drunk.

Diaspora meet to spur tourism infrastructure in Kerala

KOCHI - The two day ‘Ente Naadu’, billed as a platform for the Kerala diaspora to invest in tourism projects in the state, has attracted a good response with more than 500 delegates from 42 countries attending the meet.