New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for establishment of the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) at Pune.

The total funds allocated by the Government over a period of three years for the establishment of the IGPB are Rs. 5.93 crore.

The Ministry under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, will register the IGPB as a society. The board will be autonomous from its very inception. The board, initially facilitated by the Government and managed and driven by the industry, is expected to boost growth of the sector, benefiting both the producers and the processors.

The bail application of Pune-based horse owner Hasan Ali Khan (56) was rejected by the Bhoiwada Metropolitian Magistrate R B Agarwal on Wednesday.

He was arrested by the Worli police under the Passport Act for possessing multiple passports and on charges of cheating. The court accepted plea of the prosecution that certain documents have to be seized and if he is released on bail, he might tamper with the evidence. Court has sent Khan to judicial custody till January 6.

The defence said that prima facie, no case under the Passports Act was made out against him.

Pune, Dec. 21 : Sharad Dandge of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State has developed a unique ability to generate 20 types of sounds of different musical instruments while playing various Tablas, the percussion instrument.

To the listener it feels as if Dandge is playing various types of musical instruments native to differing States or regions of the country. But he is in fact playing on a group of Tablas around him.

Sharad Dandge plays jugalbandi (fusion) of regional instruments like Pakhawaj and Dholaks (horizontal drums) of north India, Mridangam of south India and Daph of Maharashtra, and Bihu of Assam on the Tabla by his innovative style of creating sounds on Tabla.

A team of surgeons successfully removed a six feet iron rod from the stomach of a 21-year-old man. It is a miracle for Santosh Kumar, who is a construction worker and had a nightmarish experience when a six feet iron rod fell from the 10th floor of the building at the construction site and pierced his body through shoulder and abdomen before coming out through his left thigh. It had penetrated his intestines in multiple locations and made 16 holes.

Pune, Dec 17 : Wine lovers from across the country recently thronged Pune to attend Wine Tasting Festival where more than 50 varieties of wine from 12 leading Indian wineries were on display.

The festival was hosted for the second time by the Pune Gourmet Club. Besides showcasing the different varieties of wine, the event also emphasized that the consumption of wine has positive effects on health.

"The whole idea of wine tasting and wine drinking with meals is a beverage and it is a luxury drink. It is something to do with lifestyle choice. It also has some positive effect for your health," said Paul Bailey, a winemaker.

Winemakers and wine trainers were also conduct a special class for the visitors.

Pune, Dec. 7 : Fifty thousand people including one hundred international long distance runners participated in an International Marathon in Pune to express their solidarity and pay homage to the martyrs and the victims of the Mumbai attacks.

Organised by the Pune International Marathon Trust (PIMT) under the aegis of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), the event was flagged off by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

"All of us have gathered here to pay homage to our brave soldiers, Police officers and civilians, who lost their lives in the Mumbai attack. We want to convey a message to the entire world that nobody can insult our national flag and hurt our nation''s pride," Sharma said in his inaugural speech.