[wanabidii] News Digest: Services growth hits 19-month high in January: Survey

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, February 03, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Services growth hits 19-month high in January: Survey India's services sector activity touched a 19-month high in January driven by strengthening underlying demand and improved weather conditions, a monthly survey showed on Wednesday. The survey respondents were also bullish about the output growth. Sensex tanks over 250 points on global cues Market benchmark Sensex slumped by over 275 points and the NSE Nifty again broke below the 7,400-mark in early trade due to sustained capital outflows amid global sell-off on renewed concerns over slowing growth after oil prices again cracked USD 30 a barrel. Rupee down 28 paise against US dollar The rupee again broke below the 68-mark by depreciating 28 paise to trade at 68.26 against the dollar in early trade on Wednesday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange , due to increased demand for the American unit from importers and banks amid a lower opening in the domestic equity market. More Business News»

		Environment
		Check air pollution, WHO urges SE Asian region Noting that outdoor air pollution increases the risk of cancer, World Health Organization urged the governments of Southeast Asian region to tackle the issue with "urgency" as the area has 14 of the world's top 20 polluted cities. WHO said that every year 8.2 millions die from cancer in the world. Explore alternative cremation, NGT tells Centre The National Green Tribunal has directed the Union environment ministry and the Delhi government to initiate programmes to provide alternative modes of cremation of human remains, saying the traditional method of burning wood emitted hazardous pollutants in the environment. NGT direction to UP govt on Ganga pollution issue The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and its state pollution control board to apprise the public about pending proceedings as it may order shifting of polluting industrial units located on the banks of Ganga. More Environment News»

		World
		Court rules Australia can send asylum seekers to Nauru More than 260 asylum seekers face deportation from Australia to Nauru after Australia's highest court rejected a case against the country's refugee policy. A Bangladeshi woman moved the court challenging the legality of Canberra paying the tiny Pacific nation to detain asylum seekers. US state executes its oldest death-row inmate The US state of Georgia executed a 72-year-old man, the state's oldest death-row inmate for the killing of a convenience store manager during a robbery in 1979. Brandon Astor Jones was pronounced dead after being administered an injection of barbiturate pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson. Taliban kill 10-year-old militia hero in Afghanistan The former child soldier, Wasil Ahmad, was killed near his family's home less than six months after he had fought to end a Taliban siege and was publicly — and illegally — celebrated. Wasil Ahmad was 10 years old. More World News»

		Science
		CSIR launches first ayurvedic anti-diabetic drug The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Wednesday launched BGR-34 -- the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug designed for Type-2 diabetes mellitus, which has been scientifically validated for its efficacy and safety. Scientists to inject fuel in experimental fusion device Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Greifswald planned to inject a tiny amount of hydrogen and heat it until it becomes a super-hot gas known as plasma, mimicking conditions inside a sun. It's part of a world-wide effort to harness nuclear fusion. Found: Why women can't shed kilos Women find it harder to lose weight as compared to men because their brain is wired differently, a new study suggests. More Science News»

		Technology
		24 things you didn't know your iPhone could do Some of these features are buried in the Settings menu while others are hidden in plain sight. Plus, there are a few things Siri can do for you that you may not know about. Apple to launch 4-inch 'mini' iPhone 5se on March 15: Report Waiting for the next iPhone? Your wait may end as soon as on March 15. India beats US to become world's second largest smartphone market Apple rode the demand for smartphones and specifically for its iPhones, crossing 2 million units for the first time in a calendar year, Counterpoint Research said. More Technology News»

		Education
		Bangalore University revives plan to have Jindal School of Economics Bangalore University (BU) has yet again revived its proposal to establish Dr Sitaram Jindal School of Economics (SJSE) in partnership with the Jindal Group. Rewriting of Class XI textbooks not before year end: Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) has cleared that they will be in a position to complete the rewriting of textbooks for Class XI not before later in the year. This means that Class XI students will have to study old textbooks in the session 2016-17. Teachers completing Class X course with 'passbooks'  Even after large claims of quality improvement in government schools by the state government, teachers are preparing Class X students for board exams with the help of ‘passbooks’ or textbook guides and completing the course for upcoming final examinations. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		BMC budget for 2016-17 announced The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body, announced its budget for the year 2016-17 on Wednesday afternoon. SC allows Maharashtra to set up stage at Girgaum Chowpatty for Make in India event The state can go ahead and start its preparations for its Maharashtra Night as part of the Make in India week on February 14 at Girgaum Chowpatty. PCPNDT Act has adequate teeth, say experts If properly implemented, the existing Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act has adequate teeth to identify each errant family and doctor who indulge in illegal sex determination and selection of babies. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Arvind Kejriwal announces loan of Rs 551 crore to pay salaries of Delhi's municipal workers Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced a loan of Rs 550 crore to two municipal corporations and urged the agitating municipal workers to call off their strike. Delhi civic workers continue protest, block roads The strike called by civic employees in the national capital over non-payment of their salaries continued for the eighth day on Wednesday with thousands of workers blocking major roads and creating traffic jams, causing inconvenience to the commuters. MCD strike: Kejriwal to announce 'solution' today Earlier today, the angry protestors blocked National Highway-24 leading to disruption in traffic movement. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bengaluru ranks 2nd in terms of reading, after Delhi: Amazon report After Delhi, Bengaluru is one of the top cities to spearhead the country’s love for reading, for the third consecutive year, according to the Amazon.in’s Annual Reading Trends Report. Karnataka has potential to grow faster than India: Jaitley Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, on Wednesday said Karnataka has all the potential to grow faster than India's GDP. Murder accused spills the beans while dancing It was a replay of a sequence from Telugu action-comedy Gabbar Singh in which police officer Pavan Kalyan extracted information from rowdies when they danced. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Kapu stir: Kirlampudi tense over fear of Mudragada's arrest With two days left for the threatened indefinite hunger strike by Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham seeking BC status for his community , his native Kirlampudi village in East Godavari district continued to remain tense on Tuesday due to the presence of a large number of security personnel and rumours that Padmanabham could be arrested any time before he sits on his dharna. GHMC polls: Missing Nota button on EVMs stumps voters : Those landing up at the polling booths to cast their votes in favour of None of the Above (Nota) in the GHMC polls were in for a surprise when they found the button missing from the Electronic Voting Machine this time. Exit polls see big win for TRS The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) appears set to be daubed in pink with all exit polls giving the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti a majority in the civic polls held on Tuesday . More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Marakkanam violence: Six VCK cadres get jail term for murder of PMK man A court in Tindivanam on Wednesday sentenced six cadres of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) to life imprisonment for the murder of a PMK man in Marakkanam in 2013. Jaya expels 7 partymen including 2 from Madurai AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday expelled seven functionaries, including Madurai district deputy secretary of the trade union wing, Pandian, on charges of violating party principles. MP quota of seats in Kendriya Vidyalayas hiked to 10, rule effective from June 2016 Parliamentarians got an additional bonus this year with the Kendriya Vidyalayas Sangathan Board of Governors increasing from six to 10 the number of children (of their choice) that they could admit o KV schools across the country. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Sales executive sells off 310 iPhones, flees with Rs 1cr Vastrapur police on Tuesday registered a complaint against the sales executive of a mobile phone distributor for allegedly escaping with Rs 1.35 crore, which he and his co-workers had collected by selling 310 iPhones. Bungalow of ex-cop now head quarters for Ahmedabad cyber cell The 15 number bungalow located at Shahibaugh Dafnala will be buzzing with activities once again. After the arrest of retired IPS DG Vanzara the then SP, crime branch the bungalow mostly lay dormant with occasional visits of crime branch officials. Hardik Patel's sedition charges serious: Gujarat Police As the talks to withdraw cases registered during the Patidar quota stir are a buzz in the power galleries, the cops have opined that the charges are of serious nature and the high court too has refused to drop the sedition charges. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC turns down PIL for `up-lokayukta' The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking appointment of “up-lokayukta“ in the state, saying “up-lokayukta“ is appointed by Governor with consent of Lokayukta. Cops caught drinking with undertrial In yet another example of lax attitude of UP police personnel, two cops were found consuming liquor with the undertrial they were escorting in an AC coach of Padmavat Express Four liquor smugglers held Four members of a gang involved in liquor smuggling were arrested near Curzon Bridge on Monday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Encounter in Rayagada after landmine blast Security personnel belonging to Odisha Police escaped unhurt as Maoists exploded a landmine in a forested area of Rayagada district on Tuesday. Infighting plagues Cong state unit Infighting continues to plague Congress in the state with the party unit's president Prasad Harichandan and senior leader Bhakta Das reportedly indulging in a verbal war at a function organized to mark completion of 10 years of UPA's flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on Tuesday. BDA to create, extend jogging tracks in parks In keeping with the smart city project's priority on open spaces and public mobility, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is emphasizing creation of jogging tracks in city parks. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		BJP now promoting MGNREGA with new names: Congress The BJP-led NDA government initially criticised the flagship rural job scheme MGNREGA but now they are promoting it, and other UPA government's programme, by increasing the funds allocated to them and with new names, a senior Congress leader said here on Tuesday. Court sends arrested ISIS suspect to 2 days transit remand An ISIS suspect, who was arrested by NIA, was on Tuesday sent to two days' transit remand by a court here for his production before a special court in New Delhi. Vyapam under fire once again, this time for clerical error Madhya Pradesh's Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) has once again come under scanner after the infamous 'Vyapam scam', but this time due to a 'clerical error'. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Month after man duped at bank, cops register case Almost a month after an elderly man was duped of Rs 5 lakh at UCO Bank in Phase I, Mohali, the police registered a case on Tuesday. Mohali police planning to auction unclaimed impounded vehicles With nearly 30,000 unclaimed impounded vehicles going to waste at the 22 police stations in Mohali district, the force is now planning to auction the vehicles that have been in its custody for more than 10 years. Five Gurdaspur youths held with gun and drugs Five youths hailing from Dinanagar, Gurdaspur, were on Monday night arrested for allegedly coming to Mohali to sell heroin and a country-made pistol. More Chandigarh News»

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