Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Jan. 4 : The continuous dry spell in the Dharamshala in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh has made apple farmers worried for their produce.

Apple growers in the mid and high hills of the state are worried that their crop will be severely hit unless the weather god obliges them with snow or rainfall.

Usually, sowing of wheat and other crops is complete by late December. However, farmers in most parts of the state are still waiting for rain. Any further delay in sowing will further delay harvesting of the crop.

"Our cultivable land is turning barren. We don''t have any other source of income, we are completely dependent on agriculture," said Kantha Devi, a farmer in Kangra valley.

Mumbai, Jan. 4 :''Bachchanalia'', a book dedicated to the films and memorabilia of Bollywood''s superstar Amitabh Bachchan, was released in Mumbai on Saturday.

Bachchanalia: The Films and Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan is co-authored by noted film writer Bhawana Somaaya.

"I am grateful and very humbled by this release and I don''t deserve it but I am thankful to the publishers and to Bhawana Somaaya for bringing this book out," said Amitabh Bachchan.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, daughter-in-law of Amitabh Bachchan was also present at the function.

Srinagar, Jan. 4 : People''''s Democratic Party (PDP) has severed its ties with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre following Congress party's decision to get into an alliance with the National Conference (NC) to form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti is the sole representation from PDP in Lok Sabha.

In a letter written to the UPA chairperson, PDP's President Mehbooba Mufti has conveyed her party's decision. She said "PDP has formally dissociated itself from the UPA alliance at the Centre."

London, January 4 : Rock legends Status Quo has claimed the title of playing the most arena concerts in 2008.

The busy veterans beat pop band Take That to second place - by just one gig - after taking to the stage in front of 300,000 fans at 35 UK shows.

"Nothing beats playing live," the Sun quoted Quo's frontman Francis Rossi as saying.

The English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs grabbed the third spot while BRIT Award-winning pop group Sugababes bagged the fourth position.

Tel Aviv - An Israeli soldier was killed Sunday morning in a clash with Hamas in the Gaza Strip during Israel's ground offensive in the salient, an Israeli military spokesman said.

He said 31 Israeli soldiers have been wounded in the ground fighting, one of them critically, two seriously, and the rest moderately to slightly.

Medical officials in Gaza say 35 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli troops crossed into the Strip Saturday night as part of "Operation Cast Lead" against militants, and 150 have been wounded.

Beirut - Demonstrators clashed Sunday with Lebanese security forces as they attempted to advance to the US embassy near Beirut, while protesting the ground assault on Gaza and the US stand on Israel's military actions.

Around 150 people belonging to the Lebanese Communist Party gathered outside the embassy building north east of the capital and attempted to cross the barbed wire that has placed around the embassy.