News Digest: JD(U), RLD to merge in UP for 2017 battle

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, February 15, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		JD(U), RLD to merge in UP for 2017 battle The Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal (United) and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal will merge to form a new political entity - with a different name and symbol - to contest next year's Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, RLD national general secretary Jayant Chaudhary said on Sunday. Sex ratio worsens in small families, improves with 3 or more children When minister of women and child development Maneka Gandhi suggested registering the sex of every child in the womb to ensure the girl child is not killed, she probably did not understand the complex calculus that Indian would-be parents go through - when to have a child, how many, and boy or girl. Fire engulfs Modi's Make in India cultural show The Maharashtra government, which is hosting the ambitious Make in India Week, faced a major embarrassment when a massive fire destroyed the stage during a cultural show at Girgaum Chowpatty on Sunday evening. More India News»

		Business
		Govt to push PSU bank reforms, says Jaitley The government will soon initiate a series of reforms to improve governance in public sector banks (PSBs), which have reported losses in excess of Rs 10,000 crore in an effort to get rid of bad loans. PSB turmoil hits value of LIC stake Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the single largest owner of public sector bank (PSB) shares after the government, has seen the value of its holdings shrink over 30% since January 1, 2016. Ratan Tata invests in retail tech startup Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata has invested in retail-tech startup SnapBizz Cloudtech. The amount was not disclosed. SnapBizz, which devises technology for corner grocery stores, works with more than one thousand kirana stores across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. More Business News»

		Environment
		Spider kills snake in Australian outback duel A plucky little spider has once again proved that size doesn't matter by taking on -- and beating -- a much larger venomous snake, in a very Australian telling of the story of David and Goliath. China experts called to help pandas mate at Belgian zoo Two Chinese experts have been called in to an animal park in Belgium in a "delicate mission" to help two giant pandas reproduce, the park said in a statement. Zoo keepers had noted a change in the couple's behaviour in recent days, potentially signalling the start of a reproductive period. How climate change could slow transatlantic flights Researchers say global warming is likely to speed up jet stream winds - adding thousands of hours a year to journey times. Researchers from the University of Reading used climate models to simulate how a doubling of atmospheric CO2 would affect atmospheric winds. More Environment News»

		World
		'The Revenant' wins big in Britain's BAFTA awards Survival drama "The Revenant" was the top winner at Britain's biggest movie awards on Sunday, taking the best film prize and honours for leading actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Alejandro G. Inarritu. British rock band Viola Beach reported killed Britain's Foreign Office said five men, which Swedish media reported were the four members and manager of the rock band Viola Beach, were killed when their car crashed in Sweden early on Saturday morning. Swiss to represent Saudi Arabia in Iran Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says Switzerland has agreed to handle its diplomatic services in Iran so that Iranian pilgrims can continue to visit the oil-rich kingdom. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ranbir Kapoor buys a new car post break-up Ranbir Kapoor has found a new love in life and it comes on four wheels. When Priyanka cried inconsolably on film sets Bollywood mysteries that remain unsolved even today More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Chinese scientists achieve temperatures three times hotter than the sun A nuclear reactor in China has created plasma at a temperature of 50 million Kelvins (49.999 million degrees Celsius or 90 million Fahrenheit) for 102 seconds. New computer model to predict right-size heart valves Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have developed computer simulations to determine if a pulmonary valve will fit an individual's heart, even before the surgery takes place. Valentine's Day: 5 things you might not know about love and sex Underneath the gaudy red roses, stuffed teddy bears clutching tacky velvet hearts, and eye-wateringly expensive weekend getaways, Valentine's Day is a wonderful chance to celebrate love. More Science News»

		Sports
		Ashwin spins India to series victory over Sri Lanka India, who became the top-ranked team in Twenty20 internationals after whitewashing Australia 3-0 at Down Under last month, held on to their numero uno status with 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka. Consistency will give us confidence, says Dhoni Barely few days left for the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20, India captain MS Dhoni said "consistent" performances will give his side confidence going into big ticket tournaments. Sania-Hingis win St. Petersburg title, stretch winning run to 40 Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis triumphed in the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy to extend their winning streak to 40 matches, here on Sunday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple 'launching' new iPhone on March 15: 6 likely features Reports suggest Apple will debut iPhone 5SE smartphone in March, 2016. Something as simple as changing the date could brick your iPhone changing the date to January 1, 1970 will supposedly brick your device to the point that it cannot be recovered unless you manually disassemble the device and disconnect the logic board from the battery. Adding these 12 features will make any instant messenger perfect Keeping in mind how most messengers aren’t really doing a good job at updating themselves, we decided to make a list of features we would want to see in a perfect messenger. And yes, we hope the existing messengers pick up a few things from this list too. More Technology News»

		Education
		Enrolments in online courses may see surge from tier-2 cities Online education and skill enhancement is likely to see a significant uptrend this year and high number enrolments are expected from major tier-2 cities, a survey showed. It also identifies media/entertainment and IT/ITES as two industries that will constantly seek skill development in 2016. Applications invited for the 3D Design: Ceramics programme at Staffordshire University The Staffordshire University has invited applications for the 3D Design: Ceramics BA (honours) programme run by the School of Art and Design. A statement issued by the university said that the university has the most extensive ceramic facilities in the United Kingdom. Sikkim to have institute on organic farming The agriculture ministry on Wednesday approved setting up of National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) in Gangtok, Sikkim, to extend research and technological support to organic farming systems in the country. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Cine celebrities thank their lucky stars The much-hyped Maharashtra Night on Girgaum Chowpatty, packed with Bollywood gliteratti, went up in smoldering smoke as sparks below the stage led to a massive fire. Tragedy averted as massive fire razes stage of Make in India event to ashes Thousands Evacuated In Nick Of Time Unisex hair salons, wi-fi on manifesto hot up IIT-B student election today About 5,000 students from IIT-Bombay will vote for their representatives to various students’ bodies on the campus on Monday. With one student to be elected in each category — sports, academic affairs, hostel affairs, Mood-Indigo — there were interesting promises that students have made this year to garner votes. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Kejriwal lists ambitious plans for next year Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has set a few goals for the year ahead, including expediting Wi-Fi services and installation of CCTV cameras. AAP marks one year in office with civic poll call The Aam Aadmi Party government organised a phone-in on Sunday where chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues took questions from people for an hour over phone and Twitter. Kejriwal lists ambitious plans for next week Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has set a few goals for the year ahead, including expediting Wi-Fi services and installation of CCTV cameras. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		A little flirting, and a lot of shop talk on this Shatabdi Years of riding the Shatabdi between Bengaluru and Chennai can leave you with a particular fondness for it. The waiters are unfailingly polite, the seats cleaner than most trains and by the time you read a little and snooze a little, you’re at the other end. ZP/TP polls: Bengaluru rural beats Bengaluru urban Rural Bengaluru is more active when it comes to voting than urban Bengaluru. BJP to raise Karnataka CM's wrist watch issue in Parliament The controversy over chief minister Siddaramaiah's luxe wristwatch will now echo in the parliament. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Man forced lover's daughter into flesh trade, arrested A minor girl has been rescued from the clutches of her mother's paramour as she was repeated ly forced into flesh trade by him. Ba sed on the victim's state ment, the accused was arrested from NBT Nagar by the Banjara Hills police on Saturday. Cycle-borne assailants throw acid on girl Unidentified persons threw acid at a girl at Husnabad area of Hindupur town in Anantapur district on Saturday evening. AP may change its tourism policy Faced with cold response to its tourism ventures, the AP government has proposed to change its tourism policy to forgo its share of revenue under public-private partnership projects. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Two of a family commit suicide in Tamil Nadu temple lodge Police recovered the decomposed bodies of a man and a woman, belonging to a same family, from a lodge at Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Tamil Nadu election: Kirlosh Kumar appointed additional chief electoral officer Chief secretary K Gnanadesikan appointed Kirlosh Kumar as the additional chief electoral officer, as directed by the Election Commission. Estranged Congress leader Kannan joins AIADMK ahead of Puducherry assembly election Estranged Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP P Kannan joined AIADMK on Sunday.  He called on AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa in Chennai and formally joined the party.  More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Seventy HIV positive couples celebrate V-Day On the eve of Valentine's Day on Saturday, nearly seventy HIV positive couples celebrated life. More dinosaur fossils found in Kutch A team of Indo-German geologists and palaeontologists working in Lodai village, some 25km from Bhuj town of Kutch, are on to something big as they have found some more fossils of dinosaur including skull, jaws and teeth. Mammumiya seeks discharge in 1993 arms case After being acquitted in Porbandar arms landing case, Umarmiya Bukhari alias Mammumiya Panjumiya has requested a city sessions court to discharge him in connection with an arms case registered in Dariapur police station in 1993. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		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. Sonia springs surprise, comes to Allahabad on "private" visit Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived here this evening on a "private visit", taking local party leaders by surprise. Sandeep Pandey challenges expulsion from BHU; HC seeks reply The Allahabad High Court on Friday asked the BHU authorities to file a counter affidavit on a petition filed by Magsaysay Award-winning social activist Sandeep Pandey, who was recently sacked as a visiting faculty member for alleged "anti-national activities" More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		NSD says its not nudity but wardrobe malfunction A day after widespread criticism from various sectors on the alleged nudity on stage in a Polish play ‘Sonka’ as part of Bharat Rang Mahotsav in the city on Friday, organiser National School of Drama (NSD) said it was only a ‘wardrobe malfunction’. Ministers Rajyavardhan Rathore, Dharmendra Pradhan denounce politics over JNU event Two Union ministers, minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Sunday condemned politicization of anti-India events in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Rose prices soar in city Yong boys and girls in the city had to shell out extra money to buy red roses on the eve of Valentine's Day.Prices of roses were more than last year's price. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bhopal divisional railways to join in pulse polio drive Bhopal division of West Central Railway (WCR) will join hands in the mission to ensure that India remains free from polio. BJP leader shoots wife, kids and dogs before turning gun on himself A local BJP leader allegedly shot his wife, two children and a pair of German shepherd dogs before turning the gun on himself in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. 72% turnout for Maihar by-poll, result on Feb 16 Polling ended peacefully in Maihar assembly by-election in the state approximately 72% voters exercising their franchise on Saturday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		4th India-Pak peace calender released With paintings of schoolchildren and messages of peace activists from India and Pakistan, the fourth India-Pak Peace Calendar giving a message of love and peace was released by city mayor Arun Sood at Peoples Convention Centre on Sunday. Poor results spur UT dept to hold meet Not being able to digest the fact that students of Class X of Chandigarh government and government aided-schools performed not just below average in a national survey, but also lagged behind by 16 to 19 states in different subjects, Chandigarh education department has planned a meeting with State Council of Education Research and Training, SCERT on Monday. Girl students protest at PU As the entry to Panjab University campus was regulated through gate no 2 on Valentine's Day and the other two gates were closed from 9:30am to 3pm, a protest rally was organized by girl students led by Students For Society (SFS), on Sunday. More Chandigarh News»

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