Amsterdam - SNS Reaal has increased its equity capital by 1.25 billion euros (1.57 billion dollars), the Dutch bank and insurance firm announced on Thursday.

Of the total equity increase, 750 million euros originates from the Dutch government, which has purchased securities yielding the Dutch state 8.5 per cent interest on an annual basis.

In addition, the Dutch government acquired the right to appoint two people to SNS Reaal's board. Finally, all SNS managers will give up their bonuses.

Tokyo - Mizuho Financial Group Inc on Thursday announced a plan to increase its capital by issuing preferred subscription securities and establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary company in the Cayman Islands amid the global financial crisis.

The preferred securities, which are not convertible to common shares, would be sold mainly to Japanese insurance companies, the firm said.

Mizuho Financial was expected to issue about 300 billion yen (3.08 billion dollars) in the securities by the end of the year, according to media reports.

New York, Nov.

New Delhi, Nov 13: The Union Home Ministry has asked States to compile a list of incidents of communal violence in recent times and the names of people who had been found to be involved.

The UPA Government under pressure from allies to ban the Hindutva outfit asked all state governments to send a “detailed report” on the role of the Bajrang Dal in communal incidents and action taken.

Washington, Nov 13: Archaeologists have discovered a labyrinth filled with stone temples and pyramids in 14 caves, some of which are underwater, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which according to Maya myth, might be the portal to hell.

According to a report in National Geographic News, the discovery has experts wondering whether Mayan legend inspired the construction of the underground complex, or vice versa.

Maya myth said that the souls of the dead had to follow a dog with night vision on a horrific and watery path and endure myriad challenges before they could rest in the afterlife.

Washington, November 13: A new study has confirmed that a commonly used anaesthetic can produce changes associated with Alzheimer''s disease in the brains of living mammals.

Led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers, the study shows how administration of the gas isoflurane can lead to generation of the toxic amyloid-beta
(A-beta) protein in the brains of mice.

"These are the first in vivo results indicating that isoflurane can set off a time-dependent cascade inducing apoptosis (cell death) and enhanced levels of the Alzheimer''s-associated proteins BACE and A-beta," says Dr. Zhongcong Xie of the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MGH-MIND) and the MGH Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care.