New Delhi, Apr 20 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today left for a week-long visit to Spain and Poland.

During her visit, Patil is likely to sign a number of bilateral agreements to further boost India''s relations with the European countries.

New Delhi  - The Indian economy should regain its annual growth rate of 8 to 9 per cent as the world economy begins to recover from September, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday.

Despite three stimulus packages announced by the government, Asia's third largest economy grew by only 5.3 per cent in three months ending December 31, the slowest pace in over five years, against 8.9 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago.

State run Power Finance Corporation has declared the results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009.

For the period under review, the New Delhi-based firm said that it has posted a growth of 32.22% in its net profit after higher loan disbursals.

The company’s net profit in the fourth quarter stood at Rs 390.58 crore, as compared to net profit of Rs 295.40 crore during the corresponding period of the last year.

Rampur/New Delhi, Apr 19 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi filed his nomination papers as a candidate from the Rampur constituency of Uttar Pradesh.

"I am incapable of facing them (his opponents on the seat). I am contesting on the faith and strength of the people," he said.

Meanwhile, nominees of the Congress party have entered the fray from two of the seven seats in New Delhi.

New Delhi, April 18:  Congress candidate from West Delhi Mahabal Mishra today assured world-class urban infrastructure in his constituency and sought public support for re-electing Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister in the coming election.

Addressing corner meetings in Baprola village, Jai Vihar, Bakarwala JJ Colony, Kotla Vihar, K S Nagar, Risal Garden, Shiv Vihar JJ Colony, the three-time MLA said provisional certificates issued to unauthorized colonies in West Delhi by the UPA government were aimed at bringing relief to them by providing basic facilities.

New Delhi, Apr 18 : Two days before demitting the Election Commission office, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Saturday said that the BJP leader Varun Gandhi's controversial speech was worse than what was aired.

"There is no reason to believe that the tape containing Varun's speech was doctored. His speech was worse than what was aired," Gopalaswami said in an interview with NDTV.