Hero signs up Virat as brand ambassador Barc's Apsara nuclear reactor recommissioned after 9 years Dutch bank ING axes CFO over laundering probe

NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler market leader Hero Motocorp announced Tuesday signing up of Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador.

Kohli will start his innings with Hero Motocorp with a campaign for the new Xtreme 200R premium motorcycle, the company said. The campaign coincides with the start of the nationwide retail sales of the Xtreme 200R, which is priced at Rs 89,900 (ex-showroom Delhi), from Wednesday, it added.

Kohli represents the youth of today, which 'Fears Nothing' and aims for the pinnacle characteristics that have always defined Hero, said the company. MUMBAI: The country's oldest research reactor 'Apsara', which was shut down permanently in 2009 for revamp, has been recommissioned with a higher capacity.

It was recommissioned after upgradation on September 10, BARC said in a statement Tuesday.

The reactor came into existence in August 1956 and was utilised for various experiments including neutron activation analysis, radiation damage studies, forensic research, neutron radiography, and shielding experiments.

"Nearly 62 years after Apsara came into existence, a swimming pool type research reactor 'Apsara-upgraded' of higher capacity was commissioned. The reactor made indigenously uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of low enriched uranium," BARC said.

The upgraded reactor will increase indigenous production of radio-isotopes for medical application, it added.

"By virtue of higher neutron flux, this reactor will increase production of radioisotopes for medical application by about 50 per cent and would also be extensively used for research in nuclear physics, material science and radiation shielding," the release said. THE HAGUE: Dutch banking giant ING on Tuesday axed its top financial officer following a scandal over the firm's failure to vet clients in order to prevent money laundering.

Koos Timmermans' head is the first to roll after it emerged

last week that the Nether

lands' number one bank ING paid $897 million to settle a criminal probe over money

laundering.

Dutch prosecutors said the bank was guilty of "serious omissions in the prevention of money laundering".

Clients were able to use accounts "held with ING Netherlands for criminal activities for many years, virtually undisturbed," the prosecutors added.