[wanabidii] News Digest: 'World Bank may revise India's growth projection'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, December 26, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		'World Bank may revise India's growth projection' World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu on Saturday indicated that the bank may revise its GDP growth projection for India after it goes for a stock-taking in a few months. India gets oil deals as Russia opens doors India returned to Russia after six years for a bouquet of oil deals, potentially worth $2-3 billion, as Moscow actively seeks partners for meeting capital needs of new fields, amid low crude prices and western sanctions. Rel Jio's 4G entry not a threat: Idea Idea Cellular, the country's third-biggest mobile operator with over 170 million subscribers, has joined the 4G bandwagon ahead of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio launch. Reliance Jio is expected to be launched commercially in March-April, while a soft launch for employees will take place on Sunday. 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
		Paris attacks ringleader Abaaoud visited UK in 2015 Abaaoud, who is of Moroccan descent, grew up in the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek, which is blighted by high unemployment and has a large migrant population. Australia counts cost of Christmas bushfires, flames rage on Emergency officials in Victoria state said rain overnight helped slow the path of fires that destroyed at least 53 homes on Friday along the picturesque Great Ocean Road, and forced residents to abandon Christmas celebrations to flee for their lives. Zimbabwe to adopt Chinese yuan as its main currency Zimbabwe has announced it will soon adopt the Chinese yuan as the main currency for use. Zimbabwe is the first country apart from China to use the yuan as its currency in the domestic market; it has been the legal tender along with the US dollar and South African Rand for the last couple of years. More World News»

		Science
		New polymer could purify water in seconds Researchers have used the same material found in air fresheners, cyclodextrin, to develop a technique that could revolutionize the water-purification industry. British astronaut dials wrong number from space Britain's first astronaut on a space mission, Major Tim Peake, accidentally called the wrong number when trying to call home from space. Pollution making bacteria antibiotic resistant? Environmental contaminants may be part ly to blame for the rise in anti biotic-resistant bacteria, a new US study suggests. J Vaun McArthur from the Universi ty of Georgia tested his hypot hesis in streams on the US de partment of energy's Savan nah River Site (SRS). More Science News»

		Technology
		7 things that defined Indian startup industry in 2015 Here are seven biggest events that defined Indian startup industry in the year 2015: 5 sub-Rs 2,000 add-ons to make your smartphone smarter Check out 5 apps and accessories under Rs 2,000 that will make your smartphone smarter... 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
		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. CBSE launches mobile app for e-learning material for students, teachers The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today rolled out its latest mobile application E-CBSE for providing e-learning material for students and teachers. 90% of government degree colleges in Karnataka headless According to the department of collegiate education, 376 — or, some 91% — of the 411 GFGCs in the state don't have a permanent principal. In Bengaluru, only three of the 20-plus GFGCs have permanent principals. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Sena neta ambushed and hacked to death A Shiv Sena corporator, Ramesh Gunjal (40), was hacked to death on a road in Ambernath on Friday . Police sources said, before dying, Gunjal named 13 people, and police are now searching for them. Chaos at Chowpatty over unattended bag There was chaos at Girgaum Chowpatty fol lowing the discovery of an unattended bag on Friday Panic ensued among the crowds thronging Chowpat ty after Eid-e-Milad and Christmas celebrations. Blast at school fete: 5 injured students yet to regain vision Twenty-four hours after the balloon cylinder blast at Arya Gurukul school, in which one person was killed and 13 were injured, five students continue to be under observation in hospital as their eyes are swollen and their vision is affected. Priyanka More (16), who lost vision in her right eye, is out the ICU and now recuperating in the general ward of Mumbai's JJ Hospital. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Robert Vadra criticizes exemptions granted to VIPs in even-odd scheme Vadra, had earlier taken a swipe at civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju's comments on special privileges for "VIPs" at airports, calling it "hypocrisy of the highest limits." Neha Kakkar and her brother Tony perform at Kinbuck 2 in Delhi It was sibling love in the house when Neha Kakkar and her brother Tony, also a musician, performed at a dinner hosted by owner Anshul Garg at Kinbuck 2 recently. Parliamentary panel wants more teeth for NCR board Unhappy with the shrinking of natural conservation zones (NCZs) such as forests, water bodies and wasteland in Delhi-NCR, a parliamentary panel wants the government to empower the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) to directly monitor the region. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Floods to farmers, Xmas sermons weave social message Amid the elegant Roman arches and floral decorations, stood four candles in the 199-year-old St Mark's Cathedral in the heart of Bengaluru. We live in interesting times, but is that a good thing? It was a mixed year for artists and designers, what with bans and controversies adding to a charged political scene. But with the rise of new performance venues, renewed interest in heritage and opportunities to express better using multimedia, there's a lot to look forward to, in 2016 Naga insurgent arrested The National Investigation Agency on Friday arrested a 27-year-old Naga insurgent from a lodge here for the attack on Assam Rifles per sonnel in Kohi ma in March this year. This is the third ar rest in connec tion with the firing on Assam Rifles personnel at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima.One person was killed and three others were wounded. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Enrollment in institutes lower than SCs, STs, OBCs: Report The enrollment of Muslim students in institutions of higher learning affiliated to both the state and Centre is lower than Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), a provisional report of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) indicates. Haj panel to take forms from Jan 14, draw of lots in March The Telangana State Haj Committee on Friday announced that it would begin accepting forms for Haj 2016 from January 14. 'Muslims lag behind in higher education' The enrollment of Muslim students in institutions of higher learning affiliated to both the state and Centre is lower than Scheduled Castes ( More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Waste from 3 Chennai slaughterhouses to generate power City residents could soon be free from the sight and stench of discarded animal waste. After a rap from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench over inefficient disposal of such waste, the corporation has decided to set up bio-methanation plants to treat waste from three slaughterhouses in the city top generate power and organic manure . Tsunami 2004: Courage in face of disaster The flight over the dark brown sea off Car Nicobar 11 years ago is as clear to Nitin Sathe as if it was yesterday. The air commodore and his men had taken off from Tambaram on January 2, 2005, on a mission to make the IAF base at Car Nicobar, ravaged by a tsunami a week earlier, functional. HC refuses to allow temple car festival Courts should not normally interfere with matters relating to law and order, which is primarily the domain of administrative authorities, the Madras high court has said, adding, “The officials are best to assess and handle situations depending upon their needs and necessities within their special knowledge.“ More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Hold Dahod meeting in state capital: HC The Gujarat high court on Friday directed that a meeting be held in Gandhinagar on Saturday to elect the president and vice-president of Dahod district panchayat. The court gave this order on a petition filed by 25 out of the 26 elected members of the panchayat who belong to the Congress. These members had said they apprehended ruckus by BJP members. Patidar youth shot during quota riots dies Mehsana city, which was epicentre of Patidar quota stir, became tense on Friday evening as news of Mayur Patel's death spread like wild fire. Mayur (26) was shot in the neck on August 26, when paramilitary troops fired at a mob of over 5,000 Patidars, who were agitating at Modhera crossroads in Mehsana demanding OBC reservation. 400 lose India Post jobs in state on single day Over 100 employees of India Post gathered at Gujarat University on Friday to protest against the department's sacking of around 400 employees in the state on December 23 -allegedly without giving any reason. Sacked employees said that each of them was asked to sign a paper by superiors accepting his termination from job with immediate effect with claim to a month's salary. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		First DMU from Atal's Bateshwar on Dec 24 Bateshwar, the ancestral village of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be on railway map with diesel multiple unit (DMU) train. Allahabad high court quashes 50 AMU appointments The Allahabad high court has quashed over 50 appointments of administration assistants (upper division clerks) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), delivering a blow to the selection committee. 19 Pakistani women seek Indian citizenship As many as 26 Pakistani nationals from Sangam city are seeking Indian citizenship, following two women from the neighbouring nation being recommended for the same by state government as they prepare to marry residents of Kanpur. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Chief secy-led OKCL not govt company Questions over release of funds, share holdingAshok. 'Rehman did not visit secretariat' Police on Friday denied suspected al-Qaida operative Abdul Rehman visited the heavily fortified state secretariat on October 7. DGCA gives final nod to Air Odisha The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given the air operator permit to local carrier Air Odisha to fly intra-state commercial flights after on-board airworthiness tests conducted a week ago. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Five persons of a family die of food poisoning Five persons of a family died of food poisoning in Damoh on Saturday. Five others are serious and battling for life in the district hospital. Police said the family had eaten bhajiya before all the family persons fell ill leading to death of half of the family members. Laxmikant's return to party can't be lone decision: MP BJP chief Madhya Pradesh state BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan on Friday broke his silence over bail release of former higher education minister Laxmikant Sharma. MP BJP chief elections pepped up after Kulaste entry With former Union minister of state and MP from Mandla constituency Faggan Singh Kulaste declaring his desire and candidature for post of Madhya Pradesh state BJP president before senior leaders on Wednesday, the organisational elections may no longer be as smooth as it was in December 2012. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Cop among 3 create ruckus near PU A liquor contractor, his associate and one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Chandigarh police were arrested for allegedly creating nuisance in an inebriated state near Panjab University (PU) on Thursday night. 50-year-old conwoman arrested; 2 accomplices flee A 50-year-old conwoman, Dhani Devi, of Aligarh in UP, was arrested on Friday near the PGI gate, for duping local residents by selling brass ornaments, claiming them to be gold. Housing body told to pay 3.7cr to 150 allottees The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, dismissed 150 appeals filed by Central Government Employees Welfare Housing Organization (CGEWHO) against the orders of the Mohali district forum which had held it guilty of delaying effective possession of flats in Kendriya Vihar, Mohali, and directed it to pay Rs 2.25 lakh as compensation and Rs 22,000 as litigation costs to each of the complainants. More Chandigarh News»

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