There was no let up in dengue cases in the capital with 33 patients testing positive on Tuesday, taking the total to 685.

Two children have so far succumbed to dengue ever since the disease began spreading in the capital early this month. Thirty cases were reported from three municipal corporations while two were from the VVIP areas of the capital. One case originated from outside the capital.

In a move which may open a Pandora’s box for the Centre, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sought coal at a special subsidised rate for local consumption from the Planning Commission. Ms Banerjee told Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia that since 80 per cent of coal is sourced from West Bengal, the state should be given the mineral at a special subsidised rate.

Sources said that the Planning Commission members were taken aback by the demand of the temperamental West Bengal chief minister, as the move if at all considered could lead to similar demands from other coal mining states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The committees set up by the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to resolve the standoff over the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant met here on Tuesday for the first time when representatives of the pro

Responding to Ram Jethmalani

No-frill carriers begin aggressive marketing to attract passengers despite skyrocketing jet fuel prices that have affected the financial health of the aviation industry. Though full-service carriers have already decided to hike base fare by 10 per cent and also raised fuel surcharge, some major lowcost airlines have begun promotions to attract the summer rush. GoAir recently introduced return zero fare tickets under

A passenger jet powered in part by vegetable oil successfully completed a two-hour flight Tuesday to test a biofuel that could lower aircraft emissions and cut costs, Air New Zealand said.