Guwahati, Mar 7 : Unfavorable weather conditions for tea plantations coupled with global slowdown have badly affected tea exports of Assam.

Statistics say that India, the second-largest tea producer in the world experienced a slump by 25 per cent in January 2009.

Indranil Sharma, a tea garden owner in Guwahati said that apart from the slowdown in exports, even the weather is playing havoc this season.

Owing to scanty rainfall the soil has literally dried up. Though dry spells are common in Assam but this year the spell is there for a longer period.

New Delhi, Mar 7 : The commando style terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore clearly tells the world how the terror outfits have a free run in Pakistan. How else could the perpetrators of the attack on the cricketers walk away so easily without being challenged?

The events made it clear that anyone wanting a guarantee for security in Pakistan should include the terror groups in the negotiations. The events have made it clear we are living with a dangerous neighbour.

Singur (West Bengal), Mar 7 : Potato cultivators in Hooghly district of West Bengal are facing a crisis with the outbreak of a mysterious disease.

Farmers in Singur, which had caught the global limelight over agricultural land acquisition for the Tata's proposed Nano factory, are worrying about their uncertain future.

Baksa (Assam), Mar 7 : People of Barpeta district have expressed hope that the national highway connecting Pathsala town in Assam to Bhutan border would be a road to their prosperity.

The National highway 151 will connect Pathsala town of Barpeta district to Bhutan Border passing through Baksa district.

The locals are eagerly waiting for completion of the road. They believe it would change their fortunes.

Fatehpur, Mar 7 : Undeterred by past failures, a 65-year-old man in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh is appearing in class 10th standard exams for the 44th time.

Mian Jabbar Husen could not clear his 10th secondary exams for 43 years but still has not lost hope to clear it.

Mian Jabbar's financial condition is very poor. He sells vegetables to make his both ends meet. This is the reason that he hardly finds time to study.

Husen said that education is higher than the religion and money. It is a possession, which no one can snatch.

Akshay Kumar, it seems, has taken a fancy for international singers of late. After Chandni Chowk To China, the actor has again teamed up with US-based desi hip-hop and rap star Bohemia for a peppy song and music video for his forthcoming Percept Picture Company's film 8X10 Tasveer. Apart from this Akshay had earlier teamed up with Snoop Dogg in Singh Is Kinng, Kylie Minogue in Blue.