Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and reformist partners won a big vote of confidence in the elections that could speed up Iran\'s emergence from isolation.
The polls for parliament were seen by analysts as a potential turning point for Iran, where nearly 60 percent of its 80 million population is under 30 and eager to engage with the world following the lifting of most sanctions.
ISIS Launches Chemical Warfare in Iraq
The Islamic State group has launched a chemical warfare in Iraq, targeting the Kurds in the north of the country.
Several rockets believed to contain choking agent chlorine were fired at the Kurdish targets.
The Kurdish authorities are probing the suspected chemical attack by ISIS against fighters in northwestern Iraq.
The US-led coalition is helping with the investigation.
The Kurds had earlier claimed that they have evidence that ISIS had used chlorine against them on a number of occasions.
UltraTech Limited has agreed to acquire Jaypee Group’s 22.4 million tonnes of cement capacity assets for Rs. 16,500 crore, making it the largest deal in the Indian cement sector.
Kumar Mangalam Birla’s cement flagship firm entered into a binding agreement with Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., for the acquisition of its identified cement plants situated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The acquisition will augment UltraTech’s cement capacity to 90.7 mtpa from the current 68.3 mtpa.
Maruti Starts Export of Baleno to Europe
Indian automotive giant Maruti Suzuki India has started shipping its premium hatchback Baleno to Europe.
The Baleno, which is produced only in India, has already become the first model to be exported by Maruti to its parent Suzuki’s home market, Japan.
The model will go on sale in Europe in this spring.
The first consignment comprised of 1,800 units and was shipped from Mundra Port in Gujarat.
China will send its second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 into space in the third quarter of this year.
China also plans to launch the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts on board, in the fourth quarter of this year to dock with Tiangong-2.
China\'s multi-billion-dollar space programme aims to put a permanent manned space station into service around 2022.
China already launched its first space lab, Tiangong-1, in September 2011.
Former CAG Vinod Rai has been appointed the first Chairman of the Banks Board Bureau. The Banks Board Bureau will advise the government on top-level appointments at public sector lenders and ways to address the bad loans problem among other issues.
ICICI Bank\'s former Joint Managing Director H. N. Sinor, Bank of Baroda\'s former CMD Anil K. Khandelwal and rating agency CRISIL\'s former chief Rupa Kudwa have been appointed members.