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U. S. health officials said on Thursday that a new national surveillance system will monitor adverse events in patients who receive blood transfusions.

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta can summarize national data by having a coordinated national network, to understand better how to prevent adverse transfusion events such as reactions to blood products, medical errors, and process problems.

The secretary of health and human services said that some U. S. families no longer can afford health insurance as some health insurance premiums have soared.

Anthem Blue Cross of California, an insurance company owned by the for-profit company WellPoint Inc., announced that its individual premiums would rise by as much as 39 percent in the coming months, said Kathleen Sibelius, secretary of health and human services, in a public statement.

Raising by 0.25 percentage points the discount interest rate at which the US central bank lends directly to commercial banks, the Federal Reserve tightened monetary policy on Thursday for the first time in more than a year.

A statement said that the Fed's discount rate was hiked from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent. The action was taken "in light of continued improvement in financial market conditions."

New Delhi, Feb 19 - After playing a mother in \"Lahore\", a film that she feels will improve relations between India and Pakistan, social activist and actress Nafisa Ali will be seen as Hrithik\'s mother in \"Guzaarish\".

"I am doing 'Guzaarish' where I play Hrithik's mother. It's a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film and to work with him is a magical experience because it is a totally different world of sets and lighting and attention to detail, which is truly magnificent," Nafisa told IANS in an interview here.

Sanjay Dutt may play an important role in political thriller "Freedom" based on the events of the last three decades, says Vivek Agnihotri, who is all set to direct it.

Agnihotri told IANS," Yes, it (the cast) is more or less finalized. While R. Madhavan is already on board, talks with Sanjay Dutt are in the final stages as well."

By designing a new collection of watches, American singer-actress Jessica Simpson is all set to expand her business empire.

According to reports of contactmusic. com, the singer already boasts her own jewellery line as part of her Jessica Simpson Collection, which also includes shoes, handbags, luggage, clothing and eyewear and now she's adding to her fashion empire with a range of timepieces.