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Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 6 : BMW India presented the new generation of individual mobility by unveiling the BMW i8, the all-new BMW X5 and the all-new BMW M6 Gran Coupe at the 12th Auto Expo 2014. The all-new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo was also launched in India.

New Delhi, Feb 6 : Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Preneet Kaur has said India will collect biometric data of foreign nationals applying for visas to visit the country.

Kaur informed members of parliament in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday that the government has launched a pilot project in the Indian Consulates to collect the biometric data of all foreign nationals applying for visas to India.

Biometric procedures have been started in a phased manner in Indian missions and posts abroad.

Washington, Feb 6 : Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found the first evidence showing that smoking causes earlier signs of menopause - in the case of heavy smokers, up to nine years earlier than average - in white women with certain genetic variations.

Though previous studies have shown that smoking hastens menopause by approximately one to two years regardless of race or genetic background, this study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that genetic background is significantly associated with a further increased risk of menopause in some white women who smoke.

New Delhi, Feb 6 : External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said India is keeping an eye on China's involvement in infrastructure projects in the immediate neighbourhood.

In a statement in the Lok Sabha yesterday, Khurshid said: "Government is aware that China is involved in the construction of or assistance to infrastructure projects in our neighborhood, including in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar; hydroelectric and IT projects in Nepal; IT and housing construction projects in Maldives; hydroelectric and nuclear projects, highways, motorways, export processing zones and economic corridors in Pakistan."

It is believed that the Anglo Irish Bank gave out loans to a select group of people, who in return bought shares in the bank as its share price fell in 2008.

The bank gave loans to the family members of former billionaire Sean Quinn as it tried to build up stake in the bank. The bank lent money to 16 people including six Quinn family members in order to unwind Sean Quinn's 25 per cent share in Anglo.

The shares of RSA Insurance rose significantly after appointment of former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester as its new chief executive.

Mr Hester is joining the insurance major at a time when the company is required to clean up its Irish business. Barclays has also upgraded the shares of the company following the appointment of Mr. Hester as he is expected to revive the business of the company. Simon Lee had stepped down from the top job due to scandal involving the company's unit in Ireland.