** Apollo signs MoU with Marafon Group for setting up hospital in Uzbekistan

In phase I, the hospital at Fergana region will have 100 beds with scope for expansion in future

Apollo Hospitals entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Marafon Group for setting up a tertiary care hospital in Uzbekistan. 

Dinesh Madhavan, president of Group Oncology and International, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., said there was a huge gap in healthcare in Uzbekistan due to the lack of a tertiary care hospital and numerous patients travelled to India for treatmen

** Asia’s biggest tribal fair kicks-off in Telangana

An estimated four lakh devotees have already visited Medaram during the last few days ahead of the Jatara.

Also known as Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara, the fair got underway with the customary arrival of Sarakka’s image from Kannepally village which was placed on a platform in Medaram. The image idol covered in red cloth was brought in a vessel laden with vermilion and turmeric powder.

** Mahabharat’s ‘Bheem’ Praveen Sobti was India’s first and only hammer throw medallist in Commonwealth Games

He was a former BSF soldier and also won four medals, including two golds, in the Asian Games for India. And as they mourned his demise his former team-mates recalled the ‘caring, jolly man’ that Sobti was

** Indian-origin cop in short-list to be Scotland Yard chief

Neil Basu, an Indian-origin British police officer, is widely believed in political and media circles to be in a short-list of candidates who could become the next London Metropolitan Police Commissioner or chief of the hallowed Scotland Yard.

** Maharashtra’s first satellite tagged Olive Ridley turtle journeys 75 km south of the state coastline

Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun and the Mangrove Foundation, an autonomous body under the state government, tagged two female adult Olive Ridley turtles with a satellite device to monitor their path on January 25.

** New species found, ZSI to push for its inclusion in Wildlife Protection Act

A group of scientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has discovered a new species of primate, White Cheeked Macaque, from Arunachal Pradesh.

The mammal was first discovered by Chinese scientists from South Eastern Tibet in 2015. Till now, its existence was not confirmed in India. White Cheeked Macaques are distinct from other macaques found in the region having white cheeks, long and thick hair on the neck area and a longer tail. An NGO named Aranyak has made its photographic capture from Anjaw in Arunachal Pradesh in 2015 which was barely 200 km aerial distance from where it was first spotted in China

Arunachal Pradesh

** Kerala’s first caravan park to come up at Wagamon

Plan to implement project before the onset of monsoon

With the first caravan park in the State coming up at Wagamon in the district, the tourism sector in Idukki is expected to get a boost. 

The authorities plan to launch caravan tourism under the Keravan Kerala project before the start of the monsoon and it will be implemented by the Tourism department with private partnership. The beautiful locations in the State, including hills, forests, backwaters and rivers can be experienced while travelling in the caravan.