Potato crop hit

DAMAULI: The District Agriculture Development Office, Tanahu has said potato production in the district could decline this year. The decline is due to blight that has affected the potato crop. Majority of the farmers are dependent on potato crop in the district. However, the farmers who had started cultivation early are expected to get a good result, said Horticulture Development Officer at the Office, Arjun Babu Neupane. — RSS

Workers get pay hike

DUBAI: Around 1,800 overseas workers in a Bahraini construction firm are expecting a rise in earnings after their employer assured them of a salary review within four days. The workers have called off their nearly weeklong strike and decided to resume duties on Friday. The strike ended on Thursday when workers declared that they wanted to go back to work even if others did not. — HNS

India inflation drops

NEW DELHI: India’s annual inflation rate dropped to 4.07 per cent as prices of some food items fell. Inflation declined to 4.07 per cent for the week ended February 2 from 4.11 per cent from the previous week. In recent weeks, inflation has remained below the central bank’s ceiling of close to five per cent for the fiscal year to March 31, 2008. On Friday, prime minister Manmohan Singh said keeping curbs on prices was a priority of his government. — AFP