Juba, Jan 29 (AP): A small plane crashed in a remote part of South Sudan, killing at least 18 people on Wednesday, an official said.

The flight, chartered by Chinese oil firm Greater Pioneer Operating Co., had 21 people on board, including two pilots, said Gatwech Bipal, the minister of information in the oil-rich Unity state, where the crash happened earlier on Wednesday.

The plane crashed while it was taking off near an oil field to head to the international airport in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, he said.

Local media reported that the plane was carrying oil workers.

The UN-affiliated Radio Miraya, citing the flight manifest, reported that the victims included mostly South Sudanese, one Indian and two Chinese nationals.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash, and authorities had not yet revealed the identities of the victims.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is a major oil producer in the region. The East African nation has been trying to ramp up oil production and exports amid persistent cash flow issues for the government.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



(Press Release) - LIC’s Smart Pension Plan was launched at the hands of Mr. M. Nagaraju, Secretary, DFS, Ministry of Finance in the presence of Dr. M.P. Tangirala A.S.,DFS and Shri Parshant Kumar Goyal, JS, DFS alongwith Shri Siddhartha Mohanty, CEO&MD of LIC and other MDs of LIC at New Delhi on 18.02.2025. The LIC’s Smart Pension plan is a Non-Par, Non Linked, Individual/Group, Savings, and Immediate Annuity Plan that offers a range of annuity options for Single Life as well as Joint Life type of annuities.

Key Features:

 Single Premium, Immediate Annuity Plan

 Wide range of annuity options available to suit customers needs

 Minimum age at entry is 18 years and maximum age at entry varies from 65 to 100 years depending upon the Annuity Option

 Flexibility to choose from Single Life Annuity and Joint Life Annuity Options

 Incentive for existing Policyholder and Nominee/Beneficiary of the deceased Policyholder by way of enhanced annuity rate

 Several liquidity options available for partial / full withdrawal as per terms of policy

 Minimum Purchase Price is Rs. 1,00,000/- with incentives for higher purchase price

 Modes of Annuity Payments allowable are yearly, half yearly, quarterly or monthly. Annuity instalment as per chosen mode of annuity payment shall be calculated.

 There is an option to take immediate annuity by NPS subscriber is a special feature

 The option to take the plan for the benefit of dependant person with disability (Divyangjan) life is available under this plan

 The Plan can be purchased online at www.licindia.in

 The Policy loan shall be allowed at any time after three months from the completion of policy (i.e. 3 months from the date of issuance of policy) or after expiry of the free look period whichever is later under specified annuity options.

Benefits

On Survival of the annuitant: - The options available on Survival of the annuitant varies as per the Annuity option chosen by him at inception.

On death of annuitant (Primary /Secondary- as the case may be):- The amount payable after death of annuitant will be as per Option chosen by the Annuitant at the time of proposal. Options chosen for payment of death benefit may be Lumpsum or Annuitisation of Death Benefit or In Instalments or Liquidity option or Advanced Annuity option or Annuity Accumulation option.

This Plan can be purchased Offline through Agent / Other Intermediaries including Point of Sales Persons-Life Insurance (POSP-LI)/ Common Public Service Centers (CPSC-SPV) as well as Online directly through website www.licindia.in.

Dated at Mumbai on February 18th, 2025.

For Further Information please contact: Executive Director (CC), LIC of India, Central Office, Mumbai.

Email id: ed_cc@licindia.com

Visit us at www.licindia.in