Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will visit Assam on Saturday to asses the situation there after the serial blasts. More than 75 people died in the Assam blast.

Death toll in Assam serial blast has touched 77, with 11 more people succumbing to their injuries.  

Public sector lender Indian Overseas Bank has informed that its board has approved a plan to raise capital of Rs 1100 crore through Tier-I and Tier-II bonds.

The bank will raise Rs 300 crore through Tier I perpetual bonds, Rs 290 crore through lower Tier II bonds and Rs 510 crore by way of upper Tier II bonds.

Yesterday, Indian Overseas Bank has declared its quarterly results. The lender has registered a net profit of Rs 359.01 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, a growth of 12.29 per cent from that in the corresponding period year ago.

New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) has informed that the company has entered into agreement with U. K.-based ITV.

Under the arrangement, the NDTV would offer telecast rights of its general entertainment channel, Granada TV, across India and other South Asian countries.

In addition, NDTV would also offer Granada TV’s contemporary dramas, like Prime Suspect, The Jeremy Kyle Show, The Friday Night Project, Ballroom Bootcamp, Airline and Vroom Vroom. Initially, the channel would be broadcast in English, with local sub-titles to be available in launch markets.

The government has decided to enact a legislation relating to the protection and utilization of Intellectual Property in the Public Funded Research and Development.

The bill titled ‘Protection and Utilisation of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill 2008’, intends to allow public sector R&D organizations to commercialize their inventions and share their profits with the inventor.

The draft Bill, similar to the United States’ Bayh-Dole Act in the US, will encourage research in state-funded laboratories.