News Digest: Leaders pay homage to Saifuddin

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, December 18, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Leaders pay homage to Saifuddin Leaders cutting across political parties remembered the legacy of former CPM MP Saifuddin Choudhury at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Wednesday. Why Russia's defence industry can bank on Indian money Cash-strapped Moscow wants India to quickly stitch up deals worth billions of dollars for helicopters, transport aircraft, and another nuclear submarine. Schoolchildren across the country mourn Peshawar deaths Schoolchildren across the country on Wednesday observed a two-minute silence and offered prayers for the young victims of Taliban’s barbaric attack at a school in Peshawar. More India News»

		Business
		Cabinet approves GST Constitutional Amendment Bill The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Goods & Services Tax (GST), inching closer to the rollout of an ambitious indirect tax reform expected to raise revenues and boost growth. Sahara gives Rs 1,885 crore post-dated cheques The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant interim bail to Sahara group head Subrata Roy minutes after the company deposited 21 post-dated cheques with Sebi promising Rs 1,885 crore by June-end next year. Aviation ministry readies sops for crisis-hit airline industry The demise of Kingfisher along with the virtual collapse of SpiceJet may prove to be a boon for other Indian carriers as the aviation ministry looks at a series of sops — ranging from a tax holiday to cheaper loans — that read like an industry wish-list. More Business News»

		Environment
		Government to strengthen laws to combat plastic hazard: Javadekar Linking the drive against plastic to 'clean-India' campaign, environment minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government will take a number of steps like tightening legal provisions and increasing the quantum of fine to deal with the menace of plastic. Coral reefs facing heat of thermal, chemical impact: Experts Coral reefs which are home to over 25 per cent of marine life, are facing a double blow across the globe in the form of thermal and chemical impact, a senior scientist said. Tigress drowns in farm well near Tadoba A full-grown tigress met with a tragic end when it fell into a farm well and drowned, apparently while pursuing a prey in Shivni range under Tadoba buffer zone some times during Monday night. More Environment News»

		World
		Mass grave of 230 killed by jihadists found in Syria: monitor The bodies of 230 people killed by the Islamic State group have been found in a mass grave uncovered by their relatives in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, a monitoring group said Wednesday. Sony cancels 'The Interview' amid terror hack threats Under the threat of terrorist attacks from hackers and with the nation's largest multiplex chains pulling the film from their screens, Sony Pictures Entertainment took the unprecedented step of canceling the Dec. 25 release of the Seth Rogen comedy ``The Interview.'' Cuba releases American Alan Gross after 5 years Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana that the United States said on Wednesday heralds an overhaul of US policy towards Cuba. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Long running shows that bombed in 2014 We list out some long running shows that went off air this year. Bipasha: I love to talk about all my flaws No, it’s not that Bipasha likes men to make a pass at her, but it doesn’t bother her as she can hardly Nivriti Issar: The tweet is shameful Karishma Tanna-Puneet Issar’s war spills outside the Bigg Boss house More Entertainment News»

		Science
		NASA finds methane in Mars Nasa on Tuesday announced that the Mars Curiosity rover has detected methane on the red planet. Paralyzed woman controls robotic arm mentally A paralyzed woman has made history by controlling a robotic arm using just her thoughts. Global TB report estimation on Multi Drug Resistant TB in India According to Global TB Report 2013, the estimated proportion of new notified TB cases under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India that have Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) is 2.2 percent (21,000 in numbers) whereas that estimated proportion of re-treatment TB cases in India that have MDR-TB is 15 percent (43,000 in numbers). More Science News»

		Sports
		ISL: Atletico de Kolkata defeat FC Goa to reach final Atletico de Kolkata got their act right in the nick of time to humble crowd favourites FC Goa 4-2 in tie-breaker and advance to the final of the inaugural ISL. Saina stuns Shixian Wang in World Super Series Finals Saina Nehwal beat reigning Asian Games champion Shixian Wang of China 21-17, 21-18 to win the first match of Group A of the World Super Series Finals. Wrote letter to AIBA to save Sarita's career: Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar said the whole idea behind his writing a letter to AIBA was to save L Sarita Devi's career from ending abruptly after Asiad controversy. More Sports News»

		Technology
		OnePlus may challenge smartphone sales ban in India The court order did not come as a shock to OnePlus which had been negotiating with Cyanogen even as it fought the case slapped by Indian rival Micromax in the high court. Why Xiaomi won't launch sub-Rs 5,000 smartphone Hugo Barra said that the current conditions don’t facilitate the production of a sub-Rs 5,000 smartphone that delivers a good consumer experience. 10 ways to make your home 'smarter' If you enjoy technology, you've probably drooled over high tech homes you see in the movies or magazines. What if we were to tell you that at least some of that is easily doable? Here’s how you can make your existing home smarter… More Technology News»

		Education
		Schools flout quota norms, but HRD ministry has no clue HRD ministry also said in the RTI reply that it does not bother to take suo motu action if it reads any news reports about discrimination against EWS children. Varsity staff retirement age raised to 62 in AP The Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to increase the retirement age of teaching and non-teaching staff of all universities in the state from the present 60 to 62 years. Manipal varsity designs course to eliminate forensic blunders Aarushi, 14, who was found dead in her apartment in Noida on May 15, 2008, is a case that was botched up due to mishandling of forensic evidence. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Mumbai needs inclusive, ambitious cultural policy The local response to the announcement that the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum plans to expand its facilities with the addition of a new building highlights the need for a dialogue with the community, the authorities and various stakeholders on the urgent need for a cultural policy to realise Mumbai’s economic potential through its enormous soft power. Ebola trailer: Hopefully the film is not for release Deriving its name from a river in Congo, Ebola today has become the leading medical terrorist. As African as it can get, though Ebola is endemic to Guinea, Liberia, etc in western Africa, its tentacles have spread into Spain and USA as it threatens to invade the world, which is a global basket with quick connections. Bandra stretch joins global club of traffic-free roads Linking Road and SV Road are in good company. They can now count Manhattan’s arterial road Broadway and Barcelona’s La Rambla among their concrete peers. By allowing a 6.5-km-long part of them to remain closed to traffic for four hours every Sunday, they have entered this esteemed club of roads that dared to say no to cars. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Schools mourn Pakistan deaths Schools in Delhi observed two minutes of silence on Wednesday to pay homage to the children killed in the Peshawar terror attack. Sarita Vihar underpass to open on Friday After missing five deadlines, the much awaited Sarita Vihar underpass is finally scheduled to be opened on Friday. Man on the run for 9 years held A man, on the run for past nine years, named among ten notorious criminals and a proclaimed offender, was nabbed by crime branch on Wednesday. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Cops mull digital eyes for safer Bengaluru Bengaluru may soon be doing a Hyderabad, in terms of terror preparedness. Bengaluru City police commissioner MN Reddi and his department have mooted a Public Security Act - already in place in the Andhra capital - that entails having digital eyes all over the city. To up diversity, Doon woos South Doon, one of India’s oldest boarding schools and alma mater of stalwarts like Rajiv Gandhi and Amitav Ghosh, is on a mission to get more students from South India. To enrich its diversity, the school is conducting extensive outreach programmes in the South. FB page aims to dispel adoption myths Adopting a child comes with a lot of psychological uncertainties and apprehensions. And these two adoptive mothers only know it too well. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Head constable found beheaded A head constable was beheaded allegedly by unidentified persons at Bandi Atmakur village near Nandyal town in Kurnool district. His body was found on Wednesday. Railway passenger thrashed by cops, dies A 28-year-old migrant worker died after he was allegedly beaten up by five policemen at Dhone railway station in the early hours of Wednesday. Division of minority bodies in final stages, says Dy CM Deputy chief minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali on Wednesday said that the government would soon fill all vacant posts in the minorities welfare department (MWD) and its agencies apart from expediting their bifurcation. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Schoolboy held for rape, murder of girl in Vellore Police arrested a Class 10 boy on Wednesday on charges of raping and murdering a 11-year-old girl studying in his school in Vellore district. Daughter-in-law of senior judge says tortured for dowry The daughter-in-law of a senior judge of the Madras high court has moved the court to register a criminal case against the judge's son and wife for attempt to murder, abetment to suicide and dowry harassment. Schools told to follow safety drill as shield from terror In the wake of the terror attack on a school in Pakistan's Peshawar, the centre on Wednesday asked the state police to step up surveillance and security in all vital installations, including schools, across Tamil Nadu. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Bapu power to bust sex slavery in West Africa Lawson Awudi Gadri, 31, is seeking to rescue women in his native Ghana from sexual servitude, using an emancipatory tool that was honed in Gujarat — Gandhian philosophy. Gadri believes that Bapu’s potent codes of social action bring harmony in communities and help the downtrodden change their plight. US quick-serve restaurants line up to bite Ahmedabad market Fast food lovers in Ahmedabad will soon be spoilt for choice as American quick serving restaurants (QSRs) are queuing up to set up shop in the city. Advance tax collections grow by 38.7% in Gujarat In what could be seen as the sign of revival of economy, the advance tax collections in the state recorded 38.7% growth in 2014-15 till December 15. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Foggy weather slows down trains With no improvement in weather conditions, movement of several trains running on the New Delhi- Howrah route has been effected. Youth injured in bid to nab thieves Ashutosh Chaurasia (24) of Rani Mandi suffered serious injuries in a bid to nab thieves trying to target his father’s grocery shop in the wee hours of Tuesday. No arrangement of bonfires by AMC, poor shiver in extreme cold conditions Despite fall in mercury and blowing of chilly winds, Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has not made arrangements of bonfires in the city. People are making their own arrangements by burning logs of wood to keep themselves warm. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		'Procurement policy faulty' The BJP on Monday alleged that a nexus between the government and the millers was working against the interest of farmers, even as food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma reviewed the paddy procurement process. Biggies took benefits from me, says ex-MD of micro finance firm A day after his arrest, former managing director of Micro Finance Limited Durga Prasad Mishra here on Monday said several influential people would land in trouble if he opens his mouth before the CBI. Generation shift: Prasad OPCC chief After trying a host of veterans in the last 15 years, the Congress on Monday decided on a generation shift by appointing Prasad Harichandan as Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president to revive the party's sagging fortunes in the state. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		ASI at loggerheads with Madhya Pradesh over flying choppers on heritage sites Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has locked horns with the Madhya Pradesh government over flying choppers over two of its two most protected world heritage sites -- Khajuraho's western group temples and Sanchi Stupa of Raisen. PM Modi's acche-din moves washed-out in MP What Modi proposes, Shivraj disposes. The Narendra Modi Union government recently accepted recommendations to ban the sale of unpacked, loose cigarettes to restrain smoking and therefore arrest tobacco-related cancer diseases. 135 litres of water daily per person in two years: MP minister One of the main targets for the urban administration department would be to double the earnings of the civic bodies. "Our department is never involved in the governance of municipal corporations but facilitate the governance. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		House meeting on Dec 20, Cong councilors call off protest After the announcement of date of House meeting by mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, municipal corporation Congress councilors called off the protest. House meeting on Dec 20, Cong councilors call off protest After the announcement of date of House meeting by mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, municipal corporation Congress councilors called off the protest. Justice Vazifdar takes over as Acting CJ of the Punjab & Haryana HC Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar has taken over as new Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court. More Chandigarh News»

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