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Public sector power solutions major Power Grid Corporation of India has informed that it has registered a growth of 156 % in its net profit for the quarter ended March 2009, following clearance of past transmission charges by the regulator.

The company posted a net profit of Rs 616 crore in the quarter, against a net profit of Rs 240 crore in the corresponding quarter the previous year.

Further, it also witnessed a surge of 35% in its total income, which grew to Rs 2,334 crore, as compared to Rs 1,729 crore, corresponding quarter the previous year.

Taipei  - A Taiwan bookstore is trying to catch a book thief who not only steals books, but also leaves cards in the store's books with tips on how to steal books.

The Eslite Bookstore, Taiwan's largest bookstore chain, said Wednesday that since April, someone has been leaving printed cards in books in several of its stores, with tips on how to steal.

Warsaw - The newly-formed Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation met for the first time Wednesday as Polish officials hoped to raise some 120 million euros (166 million dollars) for conservation work at the former Nazi death camp.

The foundation was created after the Auschwitz museum said it lacked funds for needed renovations and called on the international community for help.

"Will something be left after us, or will there be nothing?" said Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, the foundation's founder and Auschwitz survivor.

Madrid  - Veteran midfielder Alberto Rivera has sigmned for Spanish Liga club Sporting Gijon from relegated Betis for an undisclosed fee, Gijon said Wednesday.

Rivera, 31, is Gijon's first summer signing. They are also interested in Atletico Madrid reserves Juan Valera and Miguel de las Cuevas, as well as Numancia goalkeeper Juan Pablo.

Gijon coach Manuel Preciado knows Rivera well, because they were together at Levante from 2002 to 2005. Rivera then moved on to Betis, who are now keen to sell off players after being relegated.

New Delhi, Jun 17 : India has signed a deal with an Ukraine firm to modernise its 100 medium lift AN-32 cargo aircraft.

The contract, worth over 400 million dollars was signed between Ukrainian military export monopolist Ukrspetsexport and India to upgrade the planes operated by the Indian Air Force.

Antonov Aircraft Company, headquartered at Kiev, will give the eponymous 20-tonne-capacity aircraft "a full upgrade of on-board communications and navigation systems," Defence Ministry officials said.

Kiev - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday warned of a new flare-up in the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict, and possible reductions in energy supplies to Europe.

Berlin's top diplomat during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sidorski called for renewed efforts to head off an impending impasse.

"There are pressing interests to prevent another another gas supply conflict," Steinmeier said, in comments to reporters in the Ukrainian capital.