The Sensex continued to trade in the positive terrain as better than expected annual rate of inflation boosted the market reaction. Intense buying was witnessed across index heavyweights.

Realty, banking, power and IT stocks have rallied sharply. BSE Midcap and Smallcap index gained 1.30% and 0.43% respectively.

The 30-share index, BSE Sensex today (Dec 18), started the day negatively at 9,710.20, down 5.09 points, after a fall of 2.62% on the previous working day.

London, Dec 18 : ''Wine tastes better with age'' goes the saying, but now scientists have come up with a new process to shorten the ageing process to bring the wine reach perfection - electric field.

For many, nothing can replace genuine quality plus long, slow ageing in an oak barrel and years of storage in cool, cobwebby cellars, but scientists now claim that a quick blast with an electric field can improve lower-quality wine and shorten storage time.

The use of electric current for maturing wine is a technique that is backed by a decade of research, and has even passed the ultimate test- blind tasting by a panel of wine experts. In fact, almost five wineries have already invested in the technology.

Geneva - At least 1,111 people have died of cholera in Zimbabwe, the United Nations said Thursday, noting that 20,581 suspected cases have been reported.

The statistics from the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are generally viewed as the minimum number of deaths, and the actual toll may be higher.

Also, the case fatality rate has again increased, standing now at 5.4 per cent, far above the generally accepted rate of less than 1 per cent during a cholera outbreak.

Washington, Dec 18 : The murder of American actress Jennifer Hudson's family members has been seen as a tragic affair, with the reason behind them said to have been caused by a gift.

Hudson''s sister Julia had celebrated her 31st birthday on October 23 and had held a small party at home, reports People magazine.

London, Dec 18 : American pop princess Britney Spears has revealed that she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Japan.

Spears had performed `Womanizer' on Japan's Best Music Artist show and gone on a sightseeing tour of Japan.

"I love Japan! I think all the tiny cars are so cute," the Sun quoted her as having written on her blog.

"I enjoyed a walk in a botanical garden and got to see a Japanese wedding. Then I went shopping.

"We just visited the oldest Buddhist temple. It was so beautiful," she had added.

Taipei - Taiwan has decided to stage its major war games every other year instead of holding them annually, a senior military official said Thursday amid a thaw in previously hostile relations with China.

"Because the cycle of the live-fire Hankuang Exercises is too short, making it difficult for the military to have adequate time to correct and adjust shortcomings found in each drill, we have decided to hold the series of drills every other year instead of annually," Defence Minister Chen Chao-min said at a legislative session in Taipei.