National News: General

BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck China's Sichuan province on Monday, less than 100 km (60 miles) from the provincial capital of Chengdu, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site.

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) Inflation is expected to come down to 6 per cent from the present level of 7.

Over a dozen Chinese students learn yoga as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Institute of Yoga and Consciousness of Andhra University and Planet Yoga of Hong Kong in a bid to tap lucrative yoga market in China.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday arrived in Dubai on a three-day visit to the Gulf country as part of the ongoing high-level interactions between India and the UAE. Mukherjee, who arrived here from South Africa, was received by the Indian ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmed, Consul-General in Dubai Venu Rajamony and other officials.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday relaunched its campaign for the Marathi language, and among the first institutions to face its brunt was the prestigious Bombay Scottish School in Mahim.

New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) 'If anyone says he is not afraid of anything, either he is lying or he is a Gorkha,' S H.F.J. Manekshaw, the Indian Army's first and only field marshal, once said. Manekshaw preferred calling himself Sam 'Bahadur' as a sign of respect for the brave Gorkha soldiers, a large number of whom came from Nepal.

Samba (Jammu and Kashmir), May 12 (IANS) 'Enough is enough,' Aziz Mohammed declared before barging into a house in Jammu and Kashmir where two militants had been hiding after killing three people. The soldier lost his life but brought a daylong gun battle to an end.

By Aung Hla Tun
YANGON (Reuters) - The United States was set to fly relief supplies on Monday to Myanmar, a country it has called an "outpost of tyranny", as aid continues to dribble into the reclusive state nine days after a devastating cyclone.

By Krittivas Mukherjee
NAUBISE, Nepal (Reuters) - Five years ago on a warm August night loud thuds on the door altered Tirtha Kumari Bhujel's life forever.

The diktat by the Akal Academy here that all students, including Hindus and other non-Sikhs, would wear turban in the school, has kicked up a row.

Ashok Sodhi of the Daily Excelsior was not an early riser. But early this morning, when he heard of the firing, the 45-year-old simply grabbed his camera and was on the move. On the way to the encounter site, he stopped briefly to buy a toothbrush and paste. As the vehicle moved, he brushed his teeth. A journalist had brought along some food but Sodhi didn't want any of it.

Someone has taken the bull on Dalal Street by its horns-and dragged it to court. Deepak Mohoni, a Pune-based stock market analyst and columnist, has taken the Bombay Stock Exchange to court over the word 'Sensex', claiming he coined the word in the late 1980s.

New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) The 10th anniversary of India's nuclear tests that stunned the world and led to an outburst of nationwide celebrations, passed quietly with few low-key official functions

Mumbai, May 11 (IANS) India is making large-scale investments in uranium exploration, helping reduce its dependence on the fate of its nuclear deal with the US to meet energy needs, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar indicated here Sunday.

Dharamsala, May 11 (ANI): President of the regional parliament of south Tyrol in Italy Franz Pahl on Sunday met the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, and condemning Chinese repression in Tibet said that holding the Olympics in China was not a good decision.

Sukna (West Bengal): While officials in West Bengal blame residents for the outbreak of the bird flu virus, resident complain that they are not being compensated enough for the culled birds.

The Indian Left reasserted its opposition to the Indo US civilian nuclear deal and made it clear to the ruling government that it will not allow the 123 agreement to be operationalised.

Indian officials in West Bengal are blaming locals for the outbreak of the bird flu virus whereas the locals are complaining that they are not being compensated enough for the culled birds.

India's union agriculture and food minister, Sharad Pawar said on Sunday (May 11) that the proactive stand of the Indian government has kept a check on food prices in the country.