With major political outfits in Jharkhand failing to cobble up a simple majority, the state seems to be heading for a fresh spell of President’s rule. Governor Mr M.O.K.

Contrary to earlier fears, the elections to 81 civic bodies across West Bengal, including the prestigious Kolkata Municipal Corporation, passed off peacefully on the whole on Sunday. There was no poll-related casualties although voting was spread over 16 districts, including some volatile ones like South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas,

Indicating a political realignment in the Andhra Pradesh, Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi on Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and agreed to support Congress nominees in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had the last laugh, with Ms Jaya Bachchan springing a surprise by turning down the offer of the SP to renominate her for the Rajya Sabha.

Mumbai FC registered a 2-0 win over Mohun Bagan to avoid relegation in the I-League match at the Cooperage here on Friday.
Skipper Abhishek Yadav scored a brace and was awarded the man-of-the-match award.

The curtain will fall on one of the premier football clubs in the city as Mahindra United, who will disband after the match, take on JCT in their last I-League encounter here on Thursday.

A flash strike by Air India (domestic) ground staff and aircraft maintenance engineers was called off by union members on Wednesday evening after a stay order by the Delhi high court. Air India, meanwhile, dismissed 17 union leaders and suspended 15 others. Sources said more dismis-sals may follow.

There was further reason for India to be greatly annoyed with the Canadians after it emerged on Wednesday that an Intelligence Bureau official who was to have travelled to Canada as part of preparations for the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to that country was denied a visa as his organisation had “engaged in violence”.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao had said on Tuesday that the external affairs ministry had taken up the matter of visa denial “immediately and appropriately” with the Canadian high commission and the Canadian government.

In spite of rising prices, India’s gold demand seems to be recovering. India imported 193.5 tonnes of gold in the first three months of 2010, almost eight times the last year’s figure — when demand had slumped. Meanwhile, a combination of economic concerns and a weak rupee pushed up the price of gold further. The price of pure