Chandausi (Uttar Pradesh), Dec. 17 : The reduced demand for mint and the processed menthol has badly affected the local farmers in Chandausi Tehsil of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad District.

Farmers lament that the falling prices of mint and the processed menthol have made the local farmers to take to wheat cultivation instead of mint.

Many people here have long viewed Chandausi as literally the Menthol City. It is because this place has been a major contributor to the total world produce of menthol.

New Delhi, Dec. 17 : Thousands of war widows from across the country paid homage to the war heroes during a ceremony held here on Wednesday to commemorate their supreme sacrifice at the national war memorial ''''Amar Jawan Jyoti'''' at India Gate.

The ceremony held under the aegis of War Widows Association was organized in relation to ''''Vijay Divas'''', the annual victory day marked on Dec. 16 every year to celebrate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.

But today, the war widows drew authorities' attention towards a host of problems affecting them in daily life.

Srinagar, Dec. 17 : With the onset of winter the demand for Hokshuns or, the dry vegetables has picked up in the Kashmir valley

"Hokshuns" are actually indigenously dried and preserved vegetables for daily diet consumed by general Kashmiri families during winters. They include brinjals, gourds, turnips, spinach and even tomatoes produced locally during summers.

In Kashmir, it is a common sight during summer to see vegetables hanging on house-walls for drying for winters.

New Delhi, Dec 17 : To highlight the issues of farmers and the serious crisis faced by the agriculture sector, hoards of farmers from Kerala held a protest march here today.

The protest was organised under the aegis of Karshaka Sanghatana Aikya Vedi (KSAV).

The prices of agricultural products have reduced sharply, but the over all cost of produce has increased, which adds to the farmer''s woes.

New Delhi - Three weeks after the Mumbai terrorist attacks, India's Parliament on Wednesday debated tougher anti-terrorism legislation and a plan to set up a federal investigative agency.

India's Home Minister P Chidambaram said the government sought a fair balance between fundamental rights and the authority of investigative agencies while framing the bills.

New Delhi, Dec. 17 : The bill for introducing a stringent terror law and a plan for the setting up of a central investigation agency on the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was placed in the Parliament on Wednesday.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram tabled the National Investigating Agency (NIA) Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendments Bills in the house, and opened the debate on the same.

Chidambarm appealed to the members to pass the bills unanimously and promised to rectify defects in the legislation, if any, during the next session in February.