News Digest: India gets ready to test ICBM that can hit northern China

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, December 14, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		India gets ready to test ICBM that can hit northern China India is getting ready to test its Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its final operational configuration from Wheeler Island off Odisha after two years. Defence sources said preparations were on in full swing to launch Agni-V towards December-end or early January. After Vardah: Chennai emerges from the woods With cyclone Vardah causing destruction on an unprecedented scale, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “urgently“ sanction Rs 1,000 crore from the national disaster response fund to the state for immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Jayalalithaa's relatives re-perform last rites as per Hindu customs for her 'moksha' J Jayalalithaa's relatives re-performed her last rites at Paschima Vahini on the banks of Cauvery River in the holy town of Srirangapatna on Tuesday. They expressed apprehension that her soul would not attain 'moksha' because she was buried instead of being cremated as per strict Hindu customs. More India News»

		Business
		80% of old notes, worth 12.4 lakh crore, back in banks The amount of demonetised currency that has been deposited in banks has crossed Rs 12.44 lakh crore on December 10, according to data released by Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday. The deposits represent nearly 80% of the value of high denomination notes. Cyrus Mistry removed as director of TCS Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shareholders voted on Tuesday on a resolution to remove Cyrus Mistry from the board, but Mistry threw in the towel even before the meeting, saying his expulsion was a “foregone” conclusion since the Tatas hold 73% stake in the software giant. Qatar, Kuwait to cut oil production from January Oil companies in Qatar and Kuwait on Tuesday announced that they will reduce production levels from the beginning of the year. The reduction- beginning on January 1- comes following the recent decisions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil-producing countries to cap output. More Business News»

		Environment
		Reduce methane from food production: Researchers A study has shown that possible solutions for reducing the polluting gas from food production can be breeding rice to require less flooding, altering feed for livestock to lessen intestinal processes that create methane, promoting less meat-intensive diets and deploying more farm bio-digesters. World's oldest seabird expecting again at 66 At around 66 years, the world's oldest known seabird is expecting again. Wisdom, spotted by biologists earlier this month, has successfully raised and fledged at least nine chicks since 2006. She has travelled an estimated three million miles in her lifetime. Reindeer are shrinking: warming threatens Xmas icon Over the past 16 years, the weight of adult reindeer in Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic has dropped by 12 percent, likely due to global warming, said study findings presented to a meeting at the British Ecological Society (BES) in Liverpool. More Environment News»

		World
		Trump names Exxon CEO Tillerson as secy of state President-elect Donald Trump officially selected Rex W. Tillerson, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, to be his secretary of state on Tuesday. Trump said that Tillerson will reverse policies that left America less safe. Executions reported as Aleppo battle nears end The UN said Tuesday it had credible reports of pro-government forces in Syria's Aleppo executing dozens of civilians - including women and children - as the battle for the city nears an end. The UN human rights office said at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children, had been killed in recent days. Mikhail Gorbachev says US was short-sighted on Soviets "The relations between us are so important and concern everyone else, so we must take the interests of others into account," 85-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev said the leader credited with helping to end the Cold War. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Reshma and Riyaz Gangji to design for 'Bhikari' Celebrity designers Reshma and Riyaz Gangji are all set to design for Ganesh Acharya’s Marathi movie Bhikari. In a quick chat, they tell us more about the project… Lights, camera, no cash: Little action in Delhi's shooting season After many winters full of picturesque film shoots in Delhi, this year, shoots have packed up before anyone could say ‘action’. Indian actors living the big American dream Here’s a low-down on Indians who have become household names in the US, thanks to their popularity on American TV. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Cobra venom can help surgeons spot cancer tumours What do lethal cobra venom, quantum dots and cancer diagnosis have in common? Nothing - till a team of Russian and Indian scientists put their heads to it and developed an innovative technique to take sharp images of cancer growths. Australian doctors reverse diabetes-linked nerve pain in mice Signs of two infant planets around young star detected Astronomers believe they have found compelling evidence of two newborn planets, each about the size of Saturn, orbiting around a young star known as HD 163296. It is located approximately 400 light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. More Science News»

		Sports
		Kohli gets career-best ranking, Ashwin consolidates top spot Virat Kohli, who hit 235 in India's only innings in Mumbai in the fourth Test, his highest score in the longest format, has earned him 53 points, which has lifted him by one position to a career-best second rank. ISL 2016: Kolkata in final after draw with Mumbai Atletico de Kolkata, reduced to ten men from the 43d minute, reached the final of the Indian Super League on goal aggregate after playing out a hard-tackling, goalless draw with Mumbai City FC in the second leg semi-final. Ronaldo says Ballon d'Or win clouded by fraud allegations Cristiano Ronaldo, who picked up his fourth footballer of the year award on Monday, told France Football magazine in an interview published in part by the sports daily L'Equipe that the allegations have been hard to bear for himself and his loved ones. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Pokemon GO officially launching in India on December 14 Pokémon GO, the Niantic-developed augmented reality mobile video game that took the world by storm earlier this year, is finally coming to India. The game will be launching in the country on December 14. Nokia's new feature phones to hit India market in 2017 The handsets will be rolled out in India around the same time at a price less than Rs 2,000. Apple AirPods finally go on sale after weeks of delay Apple also said delivery of AirPods would start next week along with sales at Apple Stores, Apple-authorized resellers and select carriers. More Technology News»

		Education
		Prakash Javadekar confident X Boards will be reintroduced from 2017-18 "This month there will be a CBSE Board meeting, in which there will be a resolution (for compulsory class X board exams). So, I am very sure from academic session 2017-18, Board examination will be mandatory for all students," Javadekar told PTI. Bihar CM writes to Sushma Swaraj, asks Centre to maintain autonomy of Nalanda University ​Hurt over George Yeo’s recent resignation as Nalanda University’s chancellor, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has written a strong-worded letter to the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, urging the NDA Government not to tamper with the essence behind the ‘idea of Nalanda’. Oxford University Press launches new integrated learning solution Aligned to the CBSE curriculum, “Oxford Advantage” includes content both in print and digital mediums. It also focuses heavily on the teacher community by helping them maintain an ascending learning curve of professional development and training workshops. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Tatas vote Mistry out as a director in TCS, LIC abstains Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shareholders voted on Tuesday on a resolution to remove Cyrus Mistry from the board, but Mistry threw in the towel even before the meeting saying his expulsion was a “foregone” conclusion since the Tatas hold 73% stake in the software giant. Three businessmen caught with Rs 1.04 crore in new currency notes in Thane In what could perhaps be one of the biggest seizures of new currency in the state after the government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the crime branch seized Rs 1.04 crore cash, all in new notes, and detained three businessmen on Tuesday evening from the Thane Civil Hospital locality. Nerul school rape: Kin of teacher held Two relatives of the teacher who had fled to Delhi after allegedly raping his student in a Nerul school and getting her pregnant have been detained. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		School van falls in drain, no one injured A school van fell with four children fell into a drain on Tuesday morning in Burari area after the driver lost control of the vehicle. Police said no one was injured in the accident. 'No funds info, only made to sign bills' Parents in the School Management Committee (SMC) of the government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Nangloi said, they’re tired of signing off on repair funds they were not otherwise informed about. Online portal for airport shopping launched Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Tuesday launched country’s first airport e-shopping platform — www.shopflydel.in — to improve the experience of shopping among domestic travellers. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Demolition of lakhs of illegal buildings will amount to national waste: Court Clears Path For Implementing The Scheme Petitioners may knock Supreme Court door over the Akrama Sakrama scheme The four major civic activist groups that opposed the Akrama Sakrama scheme say the high court's verdict will demoralize law-abiding citizens. Akrama Sakrama may now cover properties built after October 2013 While HC Verdict Is A Breather For Karnataka's Cash-Strapped Urban Local Bodies, Petitioners Say It Will Demoralize Law-Abiding Citizens More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate Indian Science Congress on January 3 PV Rajeshwar Rao dead Festive shock: Three youths electrocuted on Milad-un-Nabi More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		OPS visits Ripon Ripon Building, takes officials by surprise Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam took officials at the Ripon Building, the seat of the Chennai Corporation, by surprise when he visited the heritage structure along with senior bureaucrats, a first for him after being sworn in as CM. Fishermen hit, no biz for a week Though cyclone Vardah uprooted more than 4,000 trees across the city, North Chennai, which does not boast of a green cover, had its own problems. No power, no water and no cash Households across the city minimised water consumption as there was no power to pump water out of the sumps. Some residents went back to older ways, using buckets and pots to draw water from sumps and wells. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		12 held for roughing up CMO of Civil Hospital Con call centre: Key accused arrested HC stays NGT order to fine govt departments More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Father's ex-employee held for killing boy Demonetisation occurred even in the British times This Magh Mela, guides with multi-language skills for foreign tourists More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Two of family die in accident Two persons of a family died and two were injured when their vehicle hit a tree near Chancher village on NH-26, about 25 km from here, late on Sunday night. Note ban not to hit Toshali fair Demonetisation will have no effect on business at the 11th Toshali National Crafts Mela, said handlooms, textiles and handicrafts minister Snehangini Chhuria on Monday. Demonetisation new buzzword in cash-hit Bhubaneswar Forced to grapple with a concept that most did not know of until November 8, city folk from all walks of life have quickly learnt the ropes of currency bans, online transactions and the struggles of flushing out black money. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Not a single village is open defecation free in Sidhi, says BJP MLA Uma Bharti raises mining issue, praises Shivraj Singh Chouhan for Narmada Yatra Talks on Deendayal Upadhyay to observe 100th birth anniversary More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Poll rush: Harsimrat lays foundation stone sans mandatory nod SAD's Bathinda MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of an "ultramodern" inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) near Bathinda Cantonment even though the Army's mandatory security clearance is still awaited for the Rs 45-crore project. Another shocker for AAP: Executive member quits In fresh trouble for AAP in Punjab, its national executive member Yamini Gomar has resigned from her posts and the party membership. Resignations expose Kejriwal's claims: Capt Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal's propagandist claims on Dalits and Sikhs in Punjab have been blown to bits with three more party leaders, including a national executive member, quitting in protest More Chandigarh News»

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