Berlin  - German consumer confidence has slipped as the global economic uncertainty deepens, a survey released Thursday showed.

The Nuremberg-based GfK marketing institute said its forward- looking consumer confidence index came in at 2.4 points in April compared to 2.5 points in March, which was revised down from a preliminary reading of 2.6 points.

"Despite a flood of negative information about economic development, the overall mood among German consumers has remained virtually unchanged," the Gfk said.

Kavaratti Islands (Lakshadweep), Mar 26 : Indian army has undertaken an expedition in Lakshadweep Islands to spread awareness amongst the locals to save the island''s fragile ecosystem.

The expedition undertaken by the ''Bison Division'' is to provide a taste of adventure sports to the army personnel and create awareness towards preservation of the marine flora and fauna of the islands.

It also imparts knowledge on steps, which could be taken to mitigate the environmental hazards to the fragile ecosystem.

Karvy Stock Broking Limited has maintained ‘buy’ rating on Reliance Industries (RIL) stock with an intraday target of Rs 1550.

According to Karvy, interested traders can purchase the stock between Rs 1520-1525 with a strict stop loss of Rs 1510. If the stock market remains on positive track, the stock pricing becomes more attractive, and reach above Rs 1555.
 
Shares of the company, on Wednesday (March 25), closed at Rs 1533.40 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 99.41 and 15.52 respectively. The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 2706.60 and a low of Rs 930 on BSE.

London, Mar. 26 : Worries about how competitive McLaren might be in this racing season appears to have prompted a change of heart in 24-year-old Lewis Hamilton.

Rumours are in circulation that he could head to Ferrari where he would more than double his salary.

"I haven't had offers from other teams and I am not talking to anyone. But I would listen to an offer if someone asked. It would be a compliment and it would be silly if I did not," The Telegraph quoted Hamilton, as saying.

London, Mar. 26 : England football team coach Fabio Capello has jokingly branded Wayne Rooney a `crazy man' after the striker's red card in Manchester United's 2-0 defeat at Fulham.

Rooney was dismissed in the dying minutes of the game last Saturday and punched a corner flag in frustration as he headed towards the tunnel.

But, far from being angry at Rooney's behaviour, England boss Capello found it highly amusing, reports The Sun.

Laughing Capello approached Roon in training and said: "You are a crazy man. What are you doing punching a corner flag?"

Washington, March 26 : A novel research by scientists has suggested that a new fungus that threatens global wheat production could spread faster than expected.

The research, done by scientists at Oregon State University (OSU) and other institutions, has determined that both plant and human diseases that can travel with the wind have the potential to spread far more rapidly than has been understood.

It concluded that invading diseases do not always progress in an orderly, constant rate.