Taipei - Taiwan prosecutors on Thursday requested a 14-month prison term for a city councilman after charging him with inciting a mob to attack a visiting Chinese official last week.

The indictment clouded next week's visit by China's top negotiator with Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, as pro-independence groups saw the charges as the government appeasing China and vowed to confront Chen wherever he goes.

State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, the largest associate lender of SBI, has increased the fixed deposit rates by 100 basis points to 10.75 per cent.

The bank stated in an official communiqué that for fixed deposits in between 2-3 years, the rate has been increased from 9.75 per cent to 10.75 per cent. However, the bank has kept interest rates for other maturities unchanged at the September 3 level when it last raised rates.

Last month, SBBJ raised the interest rate on term deposit in between 1-2 years by 50 basis points to 10.25 per cent.

Athens - Greek state carrier Olympic Airlines cancelled around 100 domestic and international flights on Thursday as air traffic controllers and flight crews launched a
24-hour strike in protest against government plans to privatize the airline.

The cancellations will cover approximately 100 flights to European destinations such as London, Rome, Brussels and Frankfurt, reports said. Some domestic flights will also be canceled.

Last month, the Greek government launched a tender to sell off the ailing airline, saying it would find new public sector jobs for its workers.

Officials have said Qatar Airways is among the investors interested in the sale but union leaders have pledged to halt the privatization.

Jakarta - Indonesia's parliament on Thursday passed an anti-pornography bill into law, which Islamic parties and organizations argued is needed to save the country from immoral behaviour.

Shouts of "Alhamdulillah" ("Thanks be to God") came from the balcony of the House of Representatives' plenary hall as the gavel was banged to mark the passing of the bill, witnesses said.

The bill, which outlaws pornographic acts and dissemination of overtly sexual images has been almost a decade in the making and has been watered-down on several occasions amid rows over the definition of pornography.

Washington, Oct 30: The first direct archaeological evidence of the consumption of hallucinogens in pre-Hispanic Andean populations has emerged in the form of Andean mummy hair.

Indirect evidence for psychoactive drug use in South America''s ancient populations abound, ranging from the discovery of drug equipment to the identification of hallucinogenic herb residuals in snuffing kits.

However, there wasn''t direct evidence that the ancient Andean people actually consumed mind-altering drugs.

Himachal Pradesh-based Himalya International has signed an agreement with US-based grocery chain ALDI to sell its products under "Himalya Fresh" brand name in America.

Under the arrangement, ALDI grocery stores would sell Himalya Fresh products like frozen vegetables, baby potatoes and breaded appetisers through 1,000 retail stores across the US, company Chairman Manmohan Malik said in a statement here.

The company is expecting exports to the US to grow by 60% and touch USD 10 million during the current financial year.