Recent research revealed that wearing a face mask can offer protection against respiratory infections like influenza and the common cold. Research team led by Raina MacIntyre, professor and head of UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine studied data collected from more than 280 adults in 143 families in Sydney during the winter seasons of 2006 and 2007. The study subjects were randomly asked to wear mask during exposure to a sick child in family.

It's seems that Bollywood stars are realizing the importance of maintaining cordial relations with the co-stars. Recent patch up between Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor must inspire big forever-fighting bollywood stars to bury the past and patch up with their fellow actors.

According to sources, Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan were cross against each other since he had a war of words with Shahid on their 'Rockstar' tour.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, under the chairmanship of foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, is meeting on Wednesday to discuss reduction in fuel prices. It may take final decision on much awaited reduction of prices of petroleum products on accounts of decline in crude rates in the international market.

Prices of petrol can be reduced by Rs 4 a litre, diesel by Rs 1 per litre and cooking gas LPG by Rs 25 a cylinder, much lower than expected by transporters and general public of the country.

Decline in input cost prices and strong performance by hair and skin care category helped Dabur India Ltd to show good results in the third quarter of current financial year. The firm posted a rise of 16.1% in net profit for Q3 ended December 31, 2008 despite low customer spending and tight financial conditions.

Sunil Duggal, Chief Executive, Dabur India said, "Even in the current economic scenario, demand for our everyday use products continue to be strong and we have not seen any significant impact on consumer spending." He hoped that the firm would continue to expand its business in next financial year despite global slowdown.

Due to a limited role offered in PCB, former test captain Javed Miandad quit as director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday.

Miandad informed, "I have tendered my resignation to the chairman PCB because I was only confined to look after affairs of domestic cricket and was never consulted in other cricketing affairs."

Back in November, Miandad was appointed by incoming PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

On Tuesday in the ninth round at Wijk aan Zee, Abhijeet Gupta defeated Ukrainian tailender Oleg Romanishin and maintained an impressive finish in Group 'C'.

With this win, obtained with total of 48 moves with white, Abhijeet's tally has risen to 5.5 points and now he has come to the third place in the 14-player field.

Following this, he claimed a central pawn on the 32nd move and pressed home the advantage with a well-placed bishop and an active rook, Abhijeet finally called the shots.