[wanabidii] News Digest: Hydrocarbons sector: Russia, India talk on more projects

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, December 27, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Hydrocarbons sector: Russia, India talk on more projects India and Russia are negotiating on some more acquisitions and projects in the hydrocarbons sector. India's envoy PS Raghavan said Russia considers its huge oil and gas reserves as strategic resources and is allowing Indian firms "extensive exposure" to them in sync with close bilateral ties. Stocks fail investors' faith in 2015 In a double-whammy for investors, the two major asset classes — stocks and gold — failed to generate positive returns in 2015 as headwinds from the global markets wiped off the positive sentiments back home. Nestle eyes double digit growth for Maggi noodles In the aftermath of the Maggi crisis, Nestle India is aggressively trying to increase the consumption of its flagship instant noodles brand eying double digit growth, a top company executive said. More Business News»

		Environment
		Crows too know how to make and use tools! f you thought only humans or primates can forge and use tools, you are wrong. Crows can make, use, and even store for re-use certain tools while foraging for food, a new study shows. 'Bread, Wine, Chocolate' makes environmental issues tasty The lands, waters and atmosphere of our planet are under tremendous stress from the appetites and endeavors of more than 7 billion people, and such issues often make for grim reading. Amid smog crisis, China vows more liveable cities China vowed on Tuesday that it would make "liveable" cities a central goal of China's urban planning, amid persistent problems over choking smog that frequently blankets the populous east and north. More Environment News»

		World
		Eight killed as tornados strike Texas At least eight people were killed as tornados struck parts of northern Texas the region in the dark. A tornado touched down around 6.45pm (0045 GMT Sunday) in Garland, Texas, part of the vast Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The deaths are "believed to be related to vehicles struck by the tornado. Obama to deliver his last state of the union address US President Barack Obama would deliver his last state of the union address to the Congress on January 12. "I've got 12 months left to squeeze every ounce of change I can while I'm still in office. And that's what I intend to do," he wrote to his supporters. Obama was first elected president in 2008 and then in 2012. Pakistan army chief to visit Kabul on Sunday Pakistan army chief general Raheel Sharif would visit Kabul on Sunday for deliberations on resumption of the Afghan reconciliation process and instituting a border management mechanism. General Sharif's visit was initially planned for earlier this month — before the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad. More World News»

		Science
		Blocking single molecule may delay premature birth: Study Scientists have identified a molecule in the uterus that can be blocked to delay or even halt premature birth. The researchers focused on a molecule known as TRPV4, which helps control the flow of calcium into cells. Premature birth is the leading cause of death and disability in newborns worldwide. World's most obese man dies after weight-loss surgery A man believed to be the world's most obese passed away on Friday in Mexico, barely two months after undergoing a weight-loss surgery . 10 weird reasons why people fall in love According to research, your hormones, interests, and even your parents' looks could decide who you choose More Science News»

		Technology
		First 14 apps you should download on your iPhone Got a new iPhone? 7 things that defined Indian startup industry in 2015 Here are seven biggest events that defined Indian startup industry in the year 2015: 2015: When Flipkart, Snapdeal forced Ambanis, Birlas to join the etail race The newbies' gang of Flipkarts and Snapdeals are forcing Ambanis and Birlas of supermarket chains to join the burgeoning e-commerce landscape. More Technology News»

		Education
		Book's better than e-toy for language development: study An electronic toy that lights up or `talks’ may not be as good as traditional wooden toys for your child, said a new research. A book helps parents provide better mental stimulation for their young ones, it added. Left and Right acrimony in race for DU VC The race for the next Delhi University vice-chancellor has turned into a fight of political ideologies. UGC wants univs to have 70% uniform curriculum After introducing the choice based credit system (CBCS) for undergraduate courses, the University Grants Commission (UGC) now wants all universities to have 70% uniformity in curriculum for undergraduate courses. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Jumbo rail block carried out on WR, no day block on Sunday A jumbo rail block was carried out till wee hours of Sunday morning for maintenance of track, signalling and overhead equipment. Year's last weekend turns out to be best one for kids On Saturday afternoon, children from different schools of Mumbai visited the Times of India press in Kandivli to get a glimpse of processes involved in printing a newspaper as part of the Mumbai for Kids initiative. `Small towns log on to lap up sex products online' The demand for sex products is on the rise in cities as well as small towns, revealed a recent countrywide survey of sales trends of adult products. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Auto permits up for sale, govt suspends 3 Three officials of the transport department were suspended on Saturday for allegedly colluding with intermediaries over distribution of auto permits. DDA to put up 10,000 rejected flats for sale Nearly 10,000 DDA (Delhi Development Authority) flats will be available early in the new year, most of them one-bedroom accommodations surrendered by allottees of the 2014 housing scheme. Govt plans link roads to peripheral expressways to decongest Delhi The government is exploring possibilities of building about half a dozen roads that can provide direct connectivity between the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways (EPE & WPE) through the city. Certain sections of such links aimed at decongesting Delhi roads, would be elevated since these would pass through populated areas. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Sudanese boy comes under truck, killed A Sudanese student riding pillion on a speeding two-wheeler, was killed on the spot after coming under the wheels of a Canter, near Ramamurthy Nagar bus stop on Outer Ring Road on Saturday afternoon. Mohammed Moosa was a BSc student of Garden City College. The rider, Abdul Rehman, a fellow student from Sudan, escaped with minor injuries. The accident happened at 3.40pm when the duo, residents of TC Palya, were going to college from Kammanahalli. Caste or long innings: What will CM look at while selecting CS? With chief secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, who was given an extension in September, set to retire on December 31, there are speculations over whom chief minister Siddaramaiah will choose as the successor. Will he choose an official who will have a long tenure or go by seniority and pick someone who has a few months left for superannuation? Rebellion-hit Congress faces JD(S)-backed BJP in MLC polls The fate of 168 candidates contesting the legislative council elections for 25 seats from the local authorities' constituencies will be sealed on Sunday after one of the most expensive poll campaigns of recent years.Counting of votes will be on December 30. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Assembly, secretariat to come up at Rayapudi Except for a few minor changes in the location of key installations proposed in the initial draft plan, the capital city master plan prepared by the Singapore team looks the same as conceived in July. Vizag seeks RS 1,584 cr from Centre for smart city project How much does it cost to turn Visakhapatnam into a smart city? If the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation's project report is any indication, the port city needs Rs 1,584 crore to develop infrastructure and facilities that could catapult Visakhapatnam into a smart city. Corporate makeover in the pipeline for state hospitals? Taking a leaf out of corporate hospitals, the state health department has now decided to restrict the functions of superintendents in government teaching hospitals to “the clinical side of administration and service matters of health staff “. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		BJP confident of holding jallikattu On a day two Union ministers expressed confidence in holding jallikattu this year, PMK blamed Congress, BJP and the two Dravidian majors in the state for the prevailing ban on the sport. Tamil Nadu pays tribute to tsunami victims Abhinaya was just nine months old when the 2004 tsunami hit the coastal hamlets of Cuddalore district 11 years ago, killing more than 600 people including her parents in Killai village. Remarriage no ground for losing custody of child: HC Merely because a woman remarries after her husband's death, she would not be disentitled to the custody of her minor child, Madras high court has said, adding that solemnizing a second marriage is not an `illegal or improper' act. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Codes hold cure to civic ills You are walking down the street and see a heap of garbage near your residence. Board detects 1,600 `ghost' schools For nearly a decade, not a single student has appeared for class X or class XII board examinations from about 1,600 odd schools registered with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Board (GSHSEB). Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to prepare base map for city After the project being shelved for nearly six years, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has finally approached Isro's Space Application Centre (SAC) remote sensing department for preparing a base map for Ahmedabad. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Soon, CCTVs at Rly hospitals Railway administration has decided to install CCTV cameras in its hospitals. These CCTVs will be installed at the North Central Railway Central Hospital in Allahabad and divisional hospitals at Kanpur and Tundla. Seers threaten to launch stir A prominent seers’ body, Dandi Bada, on Saturday threatened to launch a demonstration against increasing level of pollution in the Ganga at its bank. The body has claimed that the river water is not suitable for bathing but the Magh mela administration and state government have not yet taken any action to maintain free flow of water. Ganga water unfit even for bathing in Allahabad Causing an alarm on the eve of Magh Mela here, the Ganga in Allahabad has been found unfit even for taking a dip leave aside its water being used for drinking. The Ganga water samples analysed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) were found to be containing disease causing total coliform organism (TCO) over 30 times more than the permissible limit. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		BJD targets NDA govt on its foundation day Huge rallies were organized across the state on BJD's 18th foundation day on Saturday despite a directive from party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik to celebrate it on a low key in the wake of the drought situation in the state. Naveen goes beyond 2019 elections, to prepare grand vision document for 2036 BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said his party would prepare a vision document for the state called "Odisha at 100", with sights set on 2036, the centenary year of Odisha. Party time at hotels to usher in New Year's Eve With just a few days left for New Year celebrations, city hotels have made grand plans for galas. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Traffic cops not taking action agains women drivers - RTO An innocent expression on face of a girl is enough to win over any situation, and this seems to be very much true in Bhopal when it comes to female drivers in city. No matter how many traffic rules they break, they are confident enough to escape the situation and this has led to lower number of females applying for driving license in city. Laxmikant: BJP is my mother & party won't desert dedicated son Eighteen months of time he spent in jail shut him out from state politics In Bhopal, gyms, wellness centres wink at FSSAI norms A horde of macho men associated with gyms and wellness centres in Bhopal go all out extolling power of protein powder energy drinks and supplements. And many do not bother registeration with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Satya Pal Jain flays Congress over criticism of PM's Lahore visit Additional Solicitor-General of India and Ex MP from Chandigarh Satya Pal Jain has said that criticism by the Congress Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lahore is very unfortunate and totally against the National Interest of India. Aryans Group announces new academic batch Aryans Group of Colleges, Chandigarh has launched January 2016 batch under IKG-PTU, Jalandhar and MRS-PTU, Bathinda. The old New Years Yep, it is New Year time again. Our beautiful planet has travelled 947 million kilometers around the sun since the same time last year. Some of us are new to New Year eves and some are veterans. Whatever may be the case, as we transit from "ho-ho-ho" to "Happy New Year" we experience a sort of déjà vu, that strange feeling that we have been through all this before. While New Year Eve has been now commercialized beyond recognition it was not always this way. Come let us travel to the "old new years". More Chandigarh News»

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