New Delhi - After dipping by over 3 per cent in early trade, India's stock indices staged a smart recovery on assurances by the country's federal bank that it was committed to ensuring adequate liquidity in financial markets.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-share Sensex saw a day of volatile trading. Beginning on a positive note, it hit the day's lowest of 8,956 points after Japan announced it had slid into recession. It then recovered to close at 9291.01 points, about 1.01 per cent below its previous close.

New Delhi - Two Dutch tourists were duped into paying 200 dollars for a plate of samosas, an Indian snack which usually costs less than 15 cents, at a cattle fair in eastern Bihar state, a newspaper report said Monday.

The young couple ate four samosas while visiting the annual cattle fair in Sonpur on the outskirts of Bihar capital Patna.

Once they were done, they were told by the stall owner that the samosas were special ones made of herbs with aphrodisiac qualities and cost 2,500 rupees (about 50 dollars) a piece, the Hindustan Times reported.

New Delhi, Nov. 17 : U. S. President elect Barack Obama''s remark suggesting Washington''s scope in facilitating a solution to decadesold Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, has generated a new optimism in Pakistan.

In an article titled "Obama for Kashmir solution" published in The Nation, former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad states Obama realises that no strategy or roadmap for durable peace in the region including in Afghanistan would be comprehensive without focusing on the underlying causes of conflict and instability.

New Delhi, Nov. 17 : India is looking forward to strengthening its energy cooperation with Russia, especially in the nuclear field, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said here today.

"Both India and Russia are keen to expand nuclear cooperation. All the preparatory work has been done", Menon said, inaugurating an international conference on "Changing Patterns of Indo-Russian Cooperation" at Observer Research Foundation.

New Delhi, Nov. 17 : With India continuing to be the major target for terrorist attacks, there is an urgent need to augment policing in the country, according to Shriprakash Jaiswal, Minister of State for Home Affairs of India.

Sumbal (J-K), Nov 17 : Brisk voting continues in Jammu and Kashmir during the first of the seven-phase polling on Monday amidst mild protests from separatists.

Ten constituencies in Leh, Kargil, Bandipora and Poonch districts are voting on Monday.

Sumbal in Bandipora district went to polls with mild protests from a small group of protestors.