[wanabidii] News Digest: Domestic car sales rise 12.87% in December

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, January 11, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Domestic car sales rise 12.87% in December Domestic passenger car sales rose 12.87 per cent to 1,72,671 units in December from 1,52,986 units in the same month a year ago. However, vehicle sales across categories registered a marginal decline in December. Total two-wheeler sales in December declined 3.10 per cent to 11,67,633 units. Sensex crashes to 19-month low, sinks 335 points  The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged over 335 points to hit a fresh 19-month low and the NSE Nifty crashed below the 7,500-mark in early trade on Monday. Brokers said sentiment dampened following other Asian markets amid unabated China fears which led to massive losses on global markets last week. Markets to face slowing company profits after China tumult Tumult in China triggered the worst opening week for U.S. stocks in history, and this week investors could get plenty more to worry about. More Business News»

		Environment
		Moonlight drives marine creatures in Arctic winter In the absence of any sunlight, it is the moonlight that drives the migrations of tiny marine animals through the permanently dark and frigid Arctic winter, a study says. Researchers say, zooplankton — tiny animals found near the surface in aquatic environments — keep moving during the Arctic winter. Higher temp during winter can hit wheat crop: Experts Comparatively higher temperatures during the ongoing winters have become a cause of concern for the wheat-growers in Punjab and Haryana with experts fearing productivity loss if mercury continues to remain this way. Mozambique park sees wildlife numbers grow after war Lions are getting pregnant and the waterbuck population is soaring at one of Mozambique's main national parks, once the scene of fighting during a civil war which virtually wiped out the park's lions, elephants and many other species. More Environment News»

		World
		Effort to revive Afghanistan peace talks begins in Pak Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States sat down on Monday for talks to resurrect a stalled Afghan peace process. Senior officials from the four countries are meeting in Islamabad to launch an effort they hope will lead to negotiations with the Taliban. Mexico starts process to extradite Guzman to US Mexican officials formally launched the process to extradite re-captured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States, starting what could be a lengthy road full of legal appeals and maneuvering. Spain's Catalonia elects fiercely secessionist leader A fiercely secessionist leader was elected president of the wealthy region of Catalonia on Sunday thanks to a last-minute show of unity, giving fresh impetus to attempts to break away from Spain after months of infighting. More World News»

		Science
		SpaceX to retry ocean rocket landing after success on land Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX will attempt to land its next Falcon 9 rocket on a barge in the Pacific Ocean. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Nasa ocean-monitoring satellite, is slated to blast off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on January 17. SpaceX has tried ocean landings twice without success. 'Moon villages' could be a reality by 2030 Villages on the Moon, constructed through coopera ion between astronauts and robotic systems on the lunar surface, may become a reality as early as 2030, scientists say. Found: A healthy way to make coffee Scientists have developed a new method of roasting green coffee beans that could enhance the health benefits of the brew. More Science News»

		Technology
		8 ways smartphones in India will change in 2016 2015 was a good year for smartphones. It is expected that 2016 will see a bigger shift: (a lot) better features for low- to mid-range smartphones, and better design & faster-than-ever performance for high-end models.Here's a look at the 8 ways smartphones in the Indian market are likely to change this year. Xiaomi Redmi 3 with metal body, 4,100mAh battery launched Xiaomi Redmi 3 also sports a 5-inch HD screen, octa-core Snapdragon 616 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and Android Lollipop-based MIUI 7 software. Flipkart names new CEO in management reshuffle India’s largest e-tailer Flipkart has reshuffled its top-deck. Sachin Bansal, CEO and co-founder of Flipkart, has been appointed as the executive chairman and its other co-founder & COO Binny Bansal as the new CEO of the company. More Technology News»

		Education
		Study material for higher education will be soon available free on app, Smriti Irani says Union HRD minister Smriti Irani announced that higher education course material will soon be made available free to students through mobile app. She said that 1,200 additional educational modules would be prepared and efforts would be made to provide free access to all books through the app. Mumbai-born girl, 11, gets top Mensa score A 11-year-old Indian-origin girl in the UK has achieved the top possible score of 162 on a IQ test of Mensa, becoming one of the youngest brainiest students in the country Mumbai-born Kashmea Wahi achieved 162 out of 162, which put her in the top one per cent of the country's brightest. 10 lakh youths to get engineering skill training in 3 years Over the next three years, 10 lakh youths will be trained in engineering skills in AICTE-approved engineering colleges and polytechnics. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Quick analysis: Government organizes National Industry Conclave on Skills Government of India will be organising a "National Industry Conclave on Skills" on 12th January, 2016 at Trident Hotel, Nariman Point, Mumbai. Schools must have CCTV: Bombay HC Schools must have closed circuit televisions, said Bombay High Court on Monday while reacting to the molestation of a nine year old girl in a Dadar school. Can change work hours on trial basis to decongest Mumbai locals : Maharashtra govt tells HC Maharashtra government told Bombay High Court on Monday that it is possible for it to change its office timings by at least 30 minutes in order to decongest Mumbai's locals. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Odd-even rule in Delhi to continue till January 15, says high court The odd-even car rule in Delhi will continue as per schedule till January 15 after the high court on Monday refused to interfere with the Aam Aadmi Party government's experiment to check alarming levels of pollution in the national capital. Freeing seats, not interfering in activities of schools: CM Scrapping of management quota for nursery admissions in private schools has thrown open 50% extra seats for the common man, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday at an interaction with parents seeking admission for their wards. However, he asserted that the government had no intention of “interfering“ into the daily affairs of schools. Metro may get 2,100 more CISF personnel The Centre is mulling to enhance the CISF manpower by over 2,100 personnel keeping in view the increasing load of passengers and consequently emerging security challenges in the Delhi Metro network running across the National Capital Region. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Prevent cultural monopoly: Thinktank Anticipating promotion of 'monocultures' in future, the Technology Vision-2035 prepared by a thinktank constituted by the Centre warns against one culture dominating others. Accept different beliefs: Bhagwat In the wake of campaigns against rising intolerance in the country , RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said everyone should accept people of different beliefs and ideologies to achieve the organisation's motto of serving the nation selflessly to make India a superpower. Camp offers artificial limbs to amputees Three years ago, when Viswanath N from Bengaluru was knocked down by a truck while crossing a road, he had to give his academics and dream of becoming a dancer.As he lost his right leg in the accident, his future looked bleak. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Parties make moves to finalize candidates With the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the schedule for the GHMC elections, political parties have stepped up the pace of finalizing their candidates. Colleges jittery as deadline for NAAC accreditation inches closer With the deadline for National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) fast approaching, more than 85 per cent of the 1,378 colleges in Telangana are set to face a cut in grants as they are yet to submit documents required for accreditation. Chinna Mulkanur villagers not 'shelter-less', says govt The APHRC earlier, sought an explanation from the administration on the plight of families who lost their houses following a complaint lodged with it by former Lok Sabha member from Congress Ponnam Prabhakar and others. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Crown-It partners with Oyo Rooms Merchant discovery and privileges platform Crown-It has partnered with OYO Rooms. The strategic alliance is aimed at providing the finest budget stays and cashbacks to Crown-It users by adding OYO Rooms’ selection to its ‘Hotel’ category. Madras high court stays dress code at Tamil Nadu temples The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Monday granted an interim stay on its own order which specified a dress code for devotees visiting temples run by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments department in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu floods: Chief Minister's Relief Fund receives Rs 303.90 crore The Chief Minister's Relief Fund has received Rs 303.90 crore towards flood relief work in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		90-year-old Gujarati man looks for a wife After completing nine decades of his life, Ahmedabad-based retired banker Mansukhlal (name changed) is now looking for a partner. Music records community's struggles, says Aruna Roy Magsaysay award winner and RTI activist d RTI activist Aruna Roy said that at its core the country's Constitution is based on the ideals of tolerance and compassion. Fungus in laddu: Court takes sweet-maker to task A consumer court has ordered city-based Gwalia Sweets Pvt Ltd to return a customer's money , with compensation, because strains of fungus and yeast were found in sweets sold to him. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		9.5L to take TET exam on Feb 2 Uttar Pradesh Teachers Eligibility Test (UP-TET)– 2015 would be conducted by Examination Regulatory Authority at 1,200 examination centres on February 2. Around 9.5 lakh candidates have applied for the exam that would test teaching capability of applicants for government schools across the state. Shastri Bridge to be illuminated with LED lights The Magh Mela this year will boast of several firsts. The Shastri Bridge would be illuminated with LED lights and the mela campus would have a huge idol of ‘Maa Ganga’ and also a reception desk for the visitors. Magh Mela draws near but work still incomplete Only four days are left for the start of the Magh Mela, which would span over 868 acres. Though the administration on Sunday claimed that majority of preparations were near completion, the ground reality presented a different picture altogether. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Op saves cobra's life after it swallows fairness cream tube A rare one-and-a-half hour surgery was performed to save the life of a cobra at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in the city on Sunday. MAMATA fails to reach many women in state The MAMATA scheme has failed to provide benefits to a section of the beneficiaries even after five years of its launch in 2011. NIA reconstructs Puri train arson The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a simulation exercise at Puri Railway Station on Sunday as part of its probe into the serial burning of three empty trains there November 12 last year. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Drivers, owners should get vehicle pollution checked regularly: Madhya Pradesh CM Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged drivers and owners of vehicles to get vehicle pollution level checked regularly and take a pledge to keep state clean and green. Ragging cases down in MP, states UGC helpline data There has been a decline in ragging cases in Madhya Pradesh in recent past. Going by data provided by anti-ragging helpline of University Grants Commission (UGC), ragging cases in last three years witnessed a sharp an d steady decline. Labourer dies after falling from ninth floor of building A 35-year-old labourer died after falling from the ninth floor of under-construction Kilandev Towers here on Sunday. Kilandev Towers is an ambitious housing project on posh Link Road Number 1. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		You too lost, are you deadwood? Kamboj asks Capt Reacting to Capt Amarinder Singh's charge that AAP had turned into junkyard of deawood of the Congress, AAP leader Col C D Singh Kamboj on Sunday reminded the former Punjab CM that he too had changed party a number of times and lost multiple elections. Saudis shared intel after Pathankot attack In the hours after the terror attack on Pathankot air base, the Indian establishment dialed Riyadh for assistance and cooperation.Saudi Arabia did not disappoint. Australia looking to promote dairy development in Punjab A two-member Australian business development delegation came to the 8th National Livestock Championship in Muktsar on Saturday to explore ways to promote dairy development in Punjab and exchange of farmers between the state and their country. More Chandigarh News»

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