Turbulence in the Chinese market sent global investors, including those on the Dalal Street, scurrying for cover. On Thursday morning as the CSI 300 index in Shanghai tanked 7% and the authorities there halted trading for the day, the Sensex lost over 400 points and slipped below the psychologically important 25,000-mark. This was the second 7% fall in the benchmark index for the Chinese stock market this week, which was on the back of signs of further economic weakness in the world's second largest economy. The Sensex has lost over 1,000 points since its New Year day closing at 26,161.The broader Nifty also slipped below the 7,700 level on across-the-board selling.In addition, weakness in the rupee against the American currency too weighed on the sentiment. China's central bank again surprised markets by setting onshore yuan's value lower to the US dollar, sending the domestic stock markets tumbling.

Islamic State's threat to Asaduddin Owaisi - keep your mouth shut
Member of parliament and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has received threat from the Islamic State. The Muslim leader said  that he has been warned by the ISIS terror group on Twitter to keep his mouth shut. The AIMIM chief has in the recent past spoken against the ISIS and this is what is believed to have led to the threatening tweets. “Its better for you to shut your mouth on Islamic State if you don't know the truth, IslamicState will invade india soon (sic),” a Twitter handle in the name of @abotalout warned Owaisi. A second tweet read: “Your Disgrace for Muslims of India. Opposing islamicstate will lead you to hell only repent before end (sic).” The tweets are suspected to have originated from an ISIS managed account. Owaisi, meanwhile, responded to the tweets: @abotalout sir you are a bloody Takfiri if you want to debate on Evil ISIS I am ready you will not be able to counter my Theological Points. "@abotalout you can dream so keep dreaming Takfiri read @Shaykhabulhuda book on ISIS will bring y out of Darkness of ISIS Allah give Taufeeq."

Homeopathy, astrology are bogus, harmful and useless, says  Nobel laureate
Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has dubbed homeopathy and astrology as “bogus”. Ramakrishnan told Hindustan Times that the two fields are useless and harmful practices. The Nobel laureate further asked everyone to instead focus on real science. Ramakrishnan, a chemistry scientist, believes India should have a more rational outlook on such practices. “There is no scientific basis for how movement of planets and stars can influence our fate. There is no reason for time of birth to influence events years later. The predictions made are either obvious or shown to be random,” the daily quoted Ramakrishnan as saying. “Once beliefs take root, they are hard to eradicate. A culture based on superstitions will do worse than one based on scientific knowledge and rational thoughts,” he added, while slamming astrology. Speaking against homeopathy, Ramakrishnan debunked the popular belief that the practice originated in India. He clarified that Germans had started practising homeopathy first. “They (homeopaths) take arsenic compounds and dilute it to such an extent that just a molecule is left. It will not make any effect on you. Your tap water has more arsenic. No one in chemistry believes in homeopathy. It works because of placebo effect,” the Nobel winner said.

Donald Trump gives thumbs up to teary-eyed Obama, calls him 'sincere'
As President Barack Obama makes an aggressive push to curb gun violence, Donald Trump said he disagrees with the president on his gun control measures, but his tears were real. "I think he probably means well," the frontrunner Republican presidential candidate said on Fox News Wednesday when asked about an emotional Obama tearing up as he talked about the first graders massacred at a Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012. Obama Tuesday announced new executive actions on guns, including narrowing the so-called "gun-show loophole" on background checks. What the president gets wrong is "the concept" behind his efforts, not his emotion, said Trump reiterating his position that the answer to mass shootings is having more people with guns in the room, not fewer. "I actually think he was sincere, I'll probably go down about 5 points in the polls by saying that, but I think he was sincere," Trump said.

Microsoft launches Surface Pro 3 & Surface Pro 4 in India
Microsoft's Satya Nadella announced last month on his visit to India that their Surface line of personal computing devices will be launching in India soon. Keeping true to his word, Microsoft today launches both Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 in India. Microsoft only launched one version of the Surface Pro 3. Priced at Rs 73,990, it comes with Intel core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Other specifications include a 11.8-inch touchscreen display (2160x1440 pixels), microS

Microsoft only launched one version of the Surface Pro 3. Priced at Rs 73,990, it comes with Intel core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Other specifications include a 11.8-inch touchscreen display (2160x1440 pixels), microSD slot for storage expansion, 5MP rear and 5MP front camera.
Surface Pro 4 will be launched in two categories - consumer and Business. There will be 3 variants in the consumer category with option of Intel core i5/i7 processor, 4/8GB RAM and 128/256GB SSD sto.