Bogota - Five low-grade bombs exploded in Colombian capital Bogota on Thursday injuring at least 11 people, police said.

Brasilia - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday called for "urgent" reform in international financial institutions as the ongoing credit crisis has put developing countries at risk.

"The progress that our countries have made is at risk. The global financial crisis can affect developing countries in an unfair and particularly harsh way," he said.

Bank of India has shown a 80 percent increase in net profit during the period July-September with both interest and Non-interest incomes going up. The bank has registered a profit of Rs 7.63 billion as against Rs 4.25 billion last year. Also the total income has shown a rise from Rs 36.03 billion last year to Rs 46.12 billion. While the net interest income rose to Rs 13.63 billion against Rs 9.86 billion a year back, whereby improving the net interest margin from 3.04 percent a year back to 3.2 percent now.

New York - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday received an all-clear to run for a third term, after the City Council voted to extend a term limits law from eight to 12 years.

Bloomberg, a successful billionaire and founder of the financial wire services bearing his name, demanded a third four-year term so he can continue to lead the city through the severe economic crisis affecting Wall Street.

The Singur land is up for takes after the withdrawal of Tata Motors. However, the State Commerce and Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen has urged the need to set up alternate industry in the land after acquiring it back from the Tata group. Mr. Sen also stated that if Tata's would like to set up any industry, they were welcome to do so. 

Also new investment for the 997 acres shall pour in only once the land is returned to the government. To quote Sen "So far no fresh proposal has come for the Singur land".

The critical situation of the financial market has started taking its toll on a lot of companies. The financial services company Bajaj Finserv has shown losses during the period July to September.

The Managing director of the company confirmed the slowdown and pressure on margin in his statement: "Yes, we are seeing a slowdown in the sector. Industry growth has slowed down".