[wanabidii] News Digest: RBI may cut rates by up to 50 bps next year: Report

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, December 08, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		RBI may cut rates by up to 50 bps next year: Report No service tax on card transactions up to Rs 2,000 Government will waive service tax on debit and credit card transactions of up to Rs 2,000 in a bid to promote digital transactions amid cash crunch following withdrawal of old Rs 500 and 1,000 banknotes. Sensex rebounds 300 points, Nifty above 8,200 More Business News»

		Environment
		Tequila plant may be key to fighting droughts Agave - the cactus-like plant used to make tequila - can survive the driest of conditions by 'breathing' at night, say scientists who hope to harness the plant's reverse 'body clock' to engineer drought-resistant crops that can adapt to changing climate. Giraffes suffer 'silent extinction' in Africa Giraffe numbers have declined by as much as 40 per cent since the 1980s in a "silent extinction" driven by illegal hunting and an expansion of farmland in Africa, the Red List of endangered species reported on Thursday. Sea ice in Arctic and Antarctic hit record lows  Warm temperatures have led to record decline in the extent of sea ice in the Arctic and off the coast of Antarctica in November this year, say scientists. The extent of Arctic sea ice averaged 9.08 million sq km for November, 1.95 million sq km below the 1981-2010 long-term average for the month. More Environment News»

		World
		Trump stacks top government posts with retired generals He's not yet finished picking, but President-elect Donald Trump already has named three retired generals to top posts, raising questions as to why there will be so much military brass in cabinet-level jobs. Manila says will not help US on patrols in South China Sea Probe launched into Pak plane crash that killed 48 Pakistan International Airlines on Thursday blamed engine failure for the horrific plane crash which claimed 48 lives, even as the country's top civil aviation body launched a probe into the tragic accident. More World News»

		Science
		Hot hydrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere found ISRO launches Remote-sensing satellite to aid farm sector The satellite, launched by ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota, will relay specific data on crop area and crop production estimation, drought monitoring, soil mapping and cropping system analysis to generate farm advisories. Is feminism killing off romance? More Science News»

		Technology
		Vodafone slashes 4G mobile broadband prices by 50% Following Reliance Jio's extension of free services till March, telecom operator Vodafone today started offering double 4G data usage under existing schemes priced above Rs 255, thereby reducing prices by 50 per cent. Fitbit acquires rival Pebble's software and IP assets Wearable device maker Fitbit Inc said it had bought smartwatch maker Pebble's software and intellectual property as it looks to strengthen its position in the wearables market. Google's India revenues jump 44% to touch Rs 5,904 in FY2016 Google India's annual revenues jumped 44% with business doubling in the past two years. Google India Pvt Ltd posted a turnover of Rs 5,904 crore during the year to March 2016, outstripping its last year's growth of 35% to Rs 4,108 crore. More Technology News»

		Education
		Delhi Government streamlines admission process for Class VI More firms but fewer offers at IITs this year At IIT-Bombay, the number of students picked by leading finance and consulting firms has reduced; it has shrunk from 16 to 13 as in the case with Goldman Sachs or nine to four from consulting firm BCG. Meanwhile, students across IITs have received more offers from the analytics sector. CAT flaws: Candidates point at complete mismanagement Though IIM-Bangalore said on Monday that the leaking of the toughest section of last Sunday’s Common Admission Test (CAT) for the Indian Institutes of Management and other prominent business schools on social media sites was an isolated incident that was being dealt with, some candidates have alleged “complete mismanagement” at the test centres. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		How to bring 500 kilograms woman to Mumbai for operation After getting a visa thanks to Sushma Swaraj, Egypt’s Eman Ahmed, said to be world’s heaviest woman, is struggling to find a plane willing to ferry her to Mumbai. No airline has so far agreed to charter a plane for her. Did anybody say Mumbai is safe for women? Two crimes committed against women in less than 24 hours have once again brought into question Mumbai’s fast diminishing reputation of being a city safe for women. This year, the Mumbai police have already registered around 4,311 cases of crimes against women.. 'Bhakt' guard relays 'Jai Modi!' greeting on Churchgate fast On December 5, Western Railway employee H Kumar greeted passengers with 'Jai Modi!' instead of more common 'Jai Hind' over the passenger announcement system on a Churchgate-bound fast train from Bhayander. Advoate S S Sayed got shocked and has filed a complaint. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi wakes up to foggy morning Dense fog engulfed the national capital on Thursday morning with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.7 degrees Celsius, season's average, officials at the weather office said. Delhi man chops off legs of a puppy A man allegedly severed two legs of a puppy after the canine gave him a minor scratch in southwest Delhi's Dwarka following which police has initiated action against the accused under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Meet Akhtar: An unlikely convert to the e-wallet way In the two hours TOI spent with him, four customers made e-wallet payments. Akhtar still requests some to pay cash. Here’s why. “I would have to stand in a bank queue to get money. So I prefer cash. When they say, they don’t have any, I use the Paytm option.’’ More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Surgical strike on Bengaluru surgeon is Khosla Ka Ghosla with a twist One late-night, about two weeks ago, Dr Kumar, a renowned heart surgeon in Bengaluru, was at home sleeping when he got an emergency call. A man named Mohd Ibrahim Pasha had suffered a heart attack and needed immediate angioplasty. The doctor was out of bed in a jiffy and on the way to the hospital to save a life. Forest ministry denies nod for 2 cement plants All-party delegation plans to meet PM Narendra Modi over drought relief More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		End strike, will resolve high taxation issue: CM tells granite factory owners President visit to Manuu runs into `exit' bump Maulana Azad National Urdu University , scheduled to hold its sixth convocation soon, needs to overcome a design challenge on its campus, and in a hurry . President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest for the convocation on December 26. But for the President to come, Manuu has to overcome its single entry and exit point to and from the campus. The presidential security protocol demands more than one point of entry and exit which the campus does not have. With Rs 200 crore private equity infusion, will Aliens project take off now? The `futuristic' Aliens Space Station ­ I residential project, which has been hanging on fire for the past 10 years, could finally be on its way to recovery . The group's managing director Hari Challa on Wednesday claimed that the company has recently received a 200 crore private equity (PE) fund. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		I-T raids on Chennai jewellery shops; Rs 90 crore of cash, 100kg gold seized I-T's investigation wing officials on Thursday raided several Chennai-based jewellers as well as others to recover black money in the form of cash as well as gold. So far a total of Rs 90 crore has been seized in the form of cash. Officials reportedly also seized 100 kg of gold worth Rs 30 crore. World of glamour: North Chennai upmarket for beauty care Retail giants reluctant to set up premium outlets in north Chennai More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Ahmedabad-Botad train locomotive catches fire near Dhandhuka Dhrangadhra widow performs rituals at daughter's wedding Daniben Makwana, a 50-year-old resident of Dhrangadhra, along with other widows and their families, were encouraged to come forward and discourage orthodox traditions that discriminate against women, through a series of discussions held by an NGO, as part of their campaign 'Khel Badal' to fight against patriarchy . Vijay Rupani to raise rehab with MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani shall -at the sidelines of the launch of the Government of India and MP government's 118-day “Namami Devi Narmade Yatra“ on December 11, at Amarkantak--raise the issue of the final resettlement and rehabilitation (R and R) of Sardar Sarovar Project's (SSP) project affected families (PAFs) with MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Small farmers yet to reap benefits of demonetisation Farmers are among the worst hit because of government's demonetisation move. Ready paddy is either dumped in their storehouses or they are selling it off at throwaway prices. Traditional kitchen for Kalpwasis at Magh Mela 'If BJP forms govt in UP, it will be end of caste-based politics' BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya said mafias would be sent behind the bars once BJP forms its government in the state. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		No-black-scarf diktat on women 'shocks' Naveen Patnaik Private firm salaries paid in junked notes Jayant Mohanty, who works in a media house and draws a monthly salary of Rs 20,000, was pleasantly surprised when he was paid Rs 60,000 cash on Monday. Eco-parks in state for e-waste recycling More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bike-borne looters rob three women of gold chains in 24 hours Madhya Pradesh board exams likely to start from March 2 Second year law student alleges sexual harassment, blackmail More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Moga rally today, select schools shut Parkash Singh Badal, country's oldest serving CM, turns 89 Born on December 8, 1927, at Abul Khurana village near Malout in southwest Punjab, Badal has been Chief Minister five times -- 1970-71, 1977-1980, 1997-2002, 2007-2012 and 2012 onwards. He has been in power in Punjab continuously since March 2007. 'Ultimate guide to humanity' A number of foreign and Indian scholars presented their reserach papers on Gita at the international seminar on Bhagavad Gita More Chandigarh News»

Raymond Sweaters – Best in quality & styleRaymond Sweaters Looking to exchange Forex? We can help!Thomas Cook Home is where your heart is. Secure it nowICICI Lombard Get up to 80% off | Top deals,coupons, offersDesiDime.com Help this poor farmer couple save their son!Milaap Recommended by Colombia

		Unsubscribe | To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here	Other Newsletters from TOI : Breaking News | Top Headlines | Tech | Entertainment | Movie Reviews | Life & Style