Responding to questions raised by a Congressman to the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, inquiring whether the US Government will reverse its 2005 decision not to issue a US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland stated that their position on the visa issue has not changed at all.

The Indian American Muslim community had earlier demanded the State Department should not change its policy on Modi's visa.

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Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been nominated by the government to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) along with actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga. Their nominations were approved by President Pratibha Patil under the Constitution that allows the President to nominate 12 members to the 250 member Rajya Sabha.

Sachin Tendulkar 39, is famous for his masterful exploits in the game, Rekha 57, is known for her superb portrayals in Hindi cinema in the 80s, and industrialist and social worker Aga 70, a member of the Sonia Gandhi led National Advisory Council, is a social worker who figured among the richest Indians on the Forbes list.

Tendulkar is the first sports personality to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. There have been several film personalities nominated in the past including Hema Malini, Vyjayantimala, Nargis Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Sivaji Ganesan. A nominated member has the option to provide a declaration within 6 months if he wants to associate himself with a political party in the House.

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According to its operator GMR Infrastructure Ltd, the New Delhi airport will be the world's most expensive, since it has received permission to raise charges. GMR received a regulatory approval to raise the airport charges from May 15, which increase it called 'adequate' to cover its costs.

Air ticket prices for international flights operating from the airport will rise by around Rs.580, domestic fares will increase by an average Rs.290. These charges will push up landing and parking fees for aircraft and raise the user development fee, a move that may discourage foreign airlines to operate to and from the Indian capital.

One IATA executive said "India's aviation industry is already sick and the increase in Delhi's charges will put it in intensive care from a cost perspective".

The move may also hurt demand from cost-conscious Indians, who are already battling high inflation and have the option of travelling by much cheaper trains.

The Airports Authority of India, Germany's Fraport and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd are GMR's consortium partners for the airport.

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Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the launch of India's first indigenously developed anti-malaria drug in the country and stressed upon its accessibility and affordability urging states to be more active in eradication of the disease.

The drug called Synriam was developed by Ranbaxy in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology with the support of the Indian Council for Medical Research.

It is uncertain how many cases of malaria exist in the country, but it is estimated that mortality is between 35,000 and 40,000.

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Women in Mumbai have to pay to use public toilets though men can use the facilities for free, giving rise to a campaign led by 35 non-government organisations that demands women be entitled to use the public toilets free.

One NGO has outlined 3 basic requirements for the convenience of women – they should be permitted to pee for free, public toilets should provide vending machines with sanitary towels, as men have for condoms, and they should have changing rooms in the toilets.

Over 7000 signatures were collected in one area supporting the campaign, saying it was a question of dignity for women.

A similar campaign was launched last year but the civic authority did not respond. This time round the campaigners plan on confronting female members of the authority.

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