Brussels - The European Union's top energy official is set to depart for a mission to Turkey and Azerbaijan Wednesday in a bid to bypass Russia for new gas supplies, officials said.

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs' visit is set to send a strong political signal that the EU is interested in two major pipelines, known as ITGI and Nabucco, which would bring gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe while avoiding Russia, European Commission officials said.

New Delhi, Nov 4 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today said that India and Belgium are keen on strengthening the bilateral relation by diversifying and boosting trade between the two countries.

While addressing the Luncheon Session on “India and Belgium Partners in a Globalised World” with His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, here, the Minister said that the bilateral trade between the two countries during 2007-08 was US 8.6 dollars billion representing a growth of 13 per cent over the 2006-07 trade which stood at US 7.6 billion dollars.

New Delhi, Nov 4 : The Government today decided to declare River Ganga as a ''National River''.

A high powered Ganga River Basin Authority will also be set up to protect the ancient river from pollution and other degradation.

The proposed Authority would be headed by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and would have as its members Chief Ministers of states through which the river flows.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Dr. Singh, which reviewed the Ganga Action Plan.

Melbourne, Nov 4 : Australian players have been placed in the barely tenable position of being unable to train on the ground at which they are to play a pivotal Test match in two days’ time.

The Vidarbha Cricket Association’s new stadium in Nagpur was completed this year and has only previously hosted a pair of trial games, FOX Sports reported.

Its practice facilities are not yet ready, meaning the Australians and Indians have been booked to train at the old VCA ground, which hosted the 2004 Test between the two nations.

London, Nov. 4 : Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo got all hot and bothered after pals played a cruel prank about his sweaty armpits.

Team-mates filled his training room locker with cans of deodorant and aftershave when Ronaldo was pictured by the Mirror sweating through a jacket on a night out.