New Delhi, Dec 16 : Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora today said that as India imports over 75 per cent of its crude oil requirement, the international oil prices have a decisive role in the domestic pricing.

In a written reply to a question by Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha and Shivanand Tiwari, Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister said, "Indian Basket of crude oil, which averaged $79.25 per barrel during 2007-08, had gone up to $142.04 per barrel on July 3.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today slammed the decision of the government to slash interest rates as part of its initiative to spur demand amid a global crisis.

Government banks lowered interest rates to 8.5 per cent on home loans for buying a new home costing up to 500,000 rupees and 9.25 per cent for loans between 500,000 rupees to two million rupees.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : The Government today introduced a Bill in Lok Sabha to formally set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) and another legislation to strengthen laws against terror.

Introducing the Bill, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram said there is need for setting up an agency at the Central level to investigate offences related to terrorism and certain other acts, which have national ramifications.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : In a bid to restore the trust hurt by tainted milk scandal, China has asked its food producers to rid their products of illegal additives.

The investigating team led by Health Ministry, the State Food and Drug Administration, and seven government departments have blacklisted 17 non-food substances that could be added to food production.

New Delhi, Dec. 16 : The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Josette Sheeran, today praised the close co-operation between the Government of India and WFP in pioneering innovative hunger solutions to combat global malnutrition.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : Indian pugilists Jitender Kumar, Akhil Kumar, A. L. Lakra and Dinesh Kumar received a warm welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport
(IGI) today on their return from Moscow where they clinched bronze medals at the Boxing World Cup.

The four boxers were hailed by the fans who had gathered at the airport to welcome them with flowers and music.

Boxer Akhil Kumar who had missed bronze at Beijing Olympics seemed extremely pleased with his performance at the Moscow World Cup.