[wanabidii] News Digest: Reliance set to lift Iran oil after 5-year hiatus, source says

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, February 18, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Reliance set to lift Iran oil after 5-year hiatus, source says Reliance Industries Ltd, owner of the world's biggest refining complex, is preparing to lift oil from Iran next month after a gap of about five years, said an industry source. Reliance had stopped Iranian oil imports in 2010, worried over the imapct of US sanctions. Moody's pegs India's GDP growth at 7.5% in 2016-17 Indian economy will grow at 7.5 per cent in 2016 and 2017 as it is relatively less exposed to external headwinds, like China slowdown, and will benefit from lower commodity prices, Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday. Monsanto India shares down 4 per cent; hit 52-week low Shares of agri-biotechnology major Monsanto India fell by 4 per cent on Thursday after fair trade regulator CCI ordered a detailed probe against its US-parent joint venture Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India Limited (MMBL). More Business News»

		Environment
		30-million-year-old fossil flowers found preserved in amber  Researchers have discovered the first ever fossil specimens of an "asterid" - a family of flowering plants that gave us everything from the potato to tomatoes, tobacco, petunias and our morning cup of coffee. Oil spills in Peruvian Amazon hit wildlife Two recent oil pipeline spills in Peru's part of the Amazon hit areas rich in wildlife and it will take them a year to recover, the government said. The spills released a total of 2,000 barrels of petroleum, energy and mining minister Rosa Maria Ortiz said. Students clean beach to facilitate mass turtle nesting Schoolchildren cleaned about 4km-long beach from Gokharakuda to Podampeta in Odisha - the famous mass nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. Over 100 students of six high schools of the nearby villages together with officials and activists picked up around three tonnes of debris. More Environment News»

		World
		North Korea preparing for attack on South Korea: Report South Korea's spy agency has told ruling party officials that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently ordered preparations for launching attacks on South Korea, in the latest sign of high tensions on the Korean peninsula after the North's recent nuclear test and missile launch. Pope decries global 'human tragedy' of forced migration Pope Francis has decried the "human tragedy" of what he described as "forced migration" worldwide during a huge mass at Mexico's border with the United States. Francis made a point of holding the service in Ciudad Juarez, which lies across from El Paso, Texas, to pray for migrants who risk their lives crossing the border between the two nations. Nikki Haley endorses presidential candidate Marco Rubio  Indian-American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has endorsed Marco Rubio which will give a major boost to the Florida Senator's presidential ambition ahead of the state's pivotal Republican primary. More World News»

		Science
		Anti-inflammatory properties of green tea can cure rheumatoid arthritis Good news for all green tea lovers, a new study has found that green tea can help curing debilitating autoimmune disorder rheumatoid arthritis. Isro orbiter to scan India's air for pollutants The Space Applications Centre (SAC) of Isro and Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies are collaborating on developing the `Next Generation Earth Monitoring and Observation and Aerosol Monitoring' (NEMO-AM) satellite. This is among Isro's most important high-performance nano-satellite missions for the country. Socialize after retirement to live long: Study Joining social groups such as book clubs or church groups after retirement is linked to a longer life, a new study has claimed. More Science News»

		Technology
		Uber may deliver latest blow to European parcel firms 5 reasons why air purifiers sales have failed to pick up With the rising levels of pollution in many urban cities in the country, companies are markeing air purifiers also called air filters as a 'must-have' appliance in the urban homes. Brands like Eureka Forbes, Philips, Blueair, Kent and others have lined up up their offerings to woo the consumers anxious about the growing air pollution. Here we look at five reasons why the demand for air purifiers has so far failed to catch up in the India. Apple to exit sub-Rs 20,000 category in India Apple has exited the fast-growing sub-Rs 20,000 smartphone category in India to boost its flagging average selling price and profitability which have been under strain in the country lately. The company has also withdrawn iPhone 4s and iPhone 5c models. More Technology News»

		Education
		Demand-supply gap explains lure of Russian medical degrees Every year, close to 1,500 students fly out of India to pursue a degree in medicine in 20 academies spread across Russia - with the the lure of a Russian degree stemming from the stymied growth in medical education at home, and an affordable option out there in Russia. JIPMER to open branch in Karaikal, Puducherry CM says The centrally-sponsored premier health institute JIPMER would set up its branch in Karaikal and the Union territory government of Puducherry has earmarked 80 acres of land for it, chief minister N Rangasamy said on Wednesday. Institute Chair launched at IIT Madras Department of Management Studies Prof Sridhar Tayur, an IIT Madras alumnus, who was on campus earlier this week to deliver a “Leadership Lecture”, launched an “Institute Chair” in the Department of Management Studies at IIT Madras. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Demand-supply gap explains lure of Russian medical degrees Every year, close to 1,500 students fly out of India to pursue a degree in medicine in 20 academies spread across Russia - with the the lure of a Russian degree stemming from the stymied growth in medical education at home, and an affordable option out there in Russia. 'Abducted' Virar road rage woman traced to Punjab with boyfriend The Virar road rage woman who was 'abducted' by a masked pedestrian early this month has been traced to Punjab along with her boyfriend. The two have been brought down to the city by the cops who spend sleepless nights to trace the woman. No train services between CST-Wadala on February 20 and 21 Central Railway has decided to operate a 72 hours traffic block on Up and Down Harbour lines in two phases from February 19 to 21 in connection with the extension of platform at CST to run 12 car local trains. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		SC quashes HC order for FIR against Gurgaon police commissioner Netizens find 'Final Solution' to problem: #ShutDownJNU The tag has been in use since the day of twenty-somethings speaking their minds among themselves at JNU last week When he clicked, they punched At least two journalists, Tarique Anwar from FirstPost and Meenakshi from Times Now, were thrashed by lawyers at Patiala House Courts on Wednesday More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Tech savvy city clinic to reduce miscarriages, abnormal pregnancies and chromosome disputes The maternal age couples need not worry about repeated miscarriages and chromosomal abnormalities as a Bengaluru based fertility centre has come up with a unit equipped with the technology of Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS), a procedure to examine embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before implantation. Girl sexually abused by PE teacher A Class IX girl was allegedly raped several times over six months by her Physical Education teacher who took the child to his house on various pretexts in north Bengaluru. NIMHANS to come up with 24-bed child and adolescent psychiatry ward National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (NIMHANS ) would soon see a 24 bed child and adolescence psychiatry ward that would cater to the special mental needs of children and teenagers under the care and supervision of efficient psychiatrists, announced Dr BN Gangadhar, the director. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Telangana government plans Rs 3,000 crore river corridor With twin objectives of improving economic activity along the Godavari and Pranahitha rivers and also to curb Maoist activity on the Chattisgarh border, the Telangana government has proposed to develop a corridor along the two major rivers in the state. Siachen martyr's kin want to join army CM KCR lays foundation for two irrigation projects in Khammam More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Fuel strike: 60% petrol bunks go dry on Day 3 Rabies deaths double in state, 41 died in 2015 Record placements at IIM-T, CTC up by 22% More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		6 teachers selected as Microsoft educators Microsoft India on Monday announced the selection of six Innovative Educators and two Showcase Schools from Guja rat in the 2015-2016 class of Educa tion Innovators. These educators and schools are among 168 Micro soft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts and 45 Microsoft Showca se Schools selected across India. Mega malls set to dot Ahmedabad's skyline Mega malls are set to dot the skyline of Ahmedabad. A club-cum-mall involving an investment of Rs 700 crore is coming up on SG Road, construction of which has already begun. It is likely to be completed in two years. Haven't got GCTOC bill or query from Centre: State govt Almost one month on, the Gujarat government has not received any communication from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), regarding the likely return of the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Bill, 2015 by President Pranab Mukherjee. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		High Court seeks reply from Centre, UP on petition filed by BJP worker named in Dadri lynching case The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government on a petition filed by a BJP worker from Noida who has alleged that he was being "falsely implicated" in the case relating to Dadri lynching over rumour of beef consunmption case and demanded that probe in the matter be handed over to CBI. Dharmendra Yadav faces protest from ABVP activists at Allahabad University Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Badaun, Dharmendra Yadav had to face stiff protest by the ABVP activists on the campus of Allahabad University on Monday. The MP was at Union Hall of AU to participate in a function organised to honour him by AU student union. Slain dacoit Dadua's statue unveiled at Fatehpur temple Nine years after his reign of terror ended in a police encounter, slain dacoit Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua has come back to haunt the state administration with the unveiling of his idol at a temple in a small hamlet of Fatehpur district on Sunday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Four SIMI operatives held in Odisha Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Odisha on February 21, the police on Wednesday arrested four suspected terrorists having links to the banned terror outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) at Rourkela of Sundargarh district. BJD drums support for Thursday rallies The ruling BJD might have clarified that the party meetings scheduled in Kalahandi and Balangir districts on February 18 have no political agenda, yet the party plans to mobilize a large number of workers in an apparent show of strength. Jessy arrested for abetting Raja suicide Putting week-long speculation on the mysterious death of television actor Ranjit Pattnaik to rest, Balasore police on Tuesday said the actor had committed suicide. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bhopal schools forced to shut down due to PM's Sehore rally PM Narendra Modi's Thursday rally in Sherpur, Sehore will sweeten BJP's Maihar by-poll victory but several city schools have to bear it with a grin, as they have either closed for the day, postponed internal exams or are making alternate arrangements for ferrying students. Reason: Administration has procured school buses to take people to 'Kisan Mahasammelan' venue. PM may woo farmers to combat Opposition attack Distressed farmers in Madhya Pradesh see a ray of hope to overcome the agrarian crisis that has agonised them for the past few years as Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his maiden visit to Sherpur in Sehore district to address a farnmers convention on Thursday. Brutally raped, 11-yr-old battles for life in Madhya Pradesh An 11-year-old girl is battling for life after she was brutally raped and left to die in a farm in Hoshangabad district on Tuesday night. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Book in the memory of Neerja released Cut Palm trees to size: Experts Kamini Mehta & Even as Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) continues to plant Palm trees on newly-built roads, experts feel this is a bad idea. 44 traffic marshals asked to quit in 2 years More Chandigarh News»

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