News Digest: Modi, Putin look to put shine back in ties

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, December 10, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Modi, Putin look to put shine back in ties Energy and diamonds promise to be the highlights of Thursday's meetings between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin. From Russia, with love, the diamond connect When Vladimir Putin arrives in India later this week he'll deal with a host of issues, ranging from strategic affairs to deepening engagement with India on diamond trade. Sushma slammed for plan to make Gita national book A section of minority leaders have slammed external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s remark that the Bhagvad Gita should be made the national book. More India News»

		Business
		Infosys co-founders sell shares worth Rs 6,484 cr The storied co-founders of Infosys sold shares worth $1.05 billion (Rs 6,484 crore), together offloading a 2.8% stake (3.26 crore shares) in the company. This is the largest promoter sellout in India’s technology sector. CCI clears Sun-Ranbaxy deal with riders The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Sun Pharmaceutical’s $3.2 billion acquisition of rival drug firm Ranbaxy Laboratories, provided the companies divest some overlapping brands within six months. Aadhaar details not mandatory for PF transactions: Govt Submission of Aadhaar card details by subscribers is not mandatory for any provident fund transaction, Parliament was informed on Monday. More Business News»

		Environment
		India to rich nations: Don't use disasters as tools to make profit "We in India are committed to protecting the interests of the poor. We did in it the WTO for ensuring food security of our people," Prakash Javadekar said. Climate talks: Nations split on green pledge review The developing countries including India and China are on the same page on both the key issues of adaptation and review. Lima COP20: Deep divides on key issues The division doesn't restrict itself at usual rich-poor (nations) divide but also sees a rich-rich divide where EU and US-led non-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages. More Environment News»

		World
		Pakistan eighth most dangerous country in the world: Report Pakistan is placed eighth in the list of the most dangerous countries in the world which is led by Iraq, according to a US-based intelligence think tank. US lawmakers agree on $1.1 trillion spending bill Republicans and Democrats agreed Tuesday on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and delay a politically-charged struggle over President Barack Obama's new immigration policy until the new year. Crusaders from India, Pakistan join forces at Oslo To pay tribute to the world’s youngest Nobel peace laureate, Malala, the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo on Tuesday unveiled Malala Yousafzai’s blood soaked school uniform which she wore when she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October 2012. More World News»

		Entertainment
		TV celebs who tied the knot in 2014 Here we put together a list of TV celebs who tied knot in 2014. Paris Hilton gets clicked with Salman Khan American socialite Paris Hilton is in Mumbai to deejay for a show 7 Bollywood films we wish had a different ending We look at seven Bollywood films we wish had a different ending. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Pill to curb obesity a step closer Scientists have made a significant start towards creating an obesity pill. A team of researchers from Imperial College London have discovered the exact brain mechanism that drives our appetite for foods rich in glucose and could lead to treatments for obesity. Isro to test GSLV Mk-III, crew module on December 18 India's manned space flight programme will move a step forward with the much-awaited launch of the advanced Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MIII) on December 18 between 9am and 12pm from Sriharikota. Curiosity rover finds evidence of large lakes on Mars The Curiosity rover has discovered evidence that billions of years ago a lake once filled the 154 km wide Gale crater in the Red Planet where the rover is presently exploring. More Science News»

		Sports
		India stun Netherlands 3-2, face Belgium in quarters After two successive defeats, India finally tasted their first success in the Champions Trophy after beating second-ranked Netherlands 3-1 in their last Pool B match on Tuesday. ISL: Kerala beat Pune City 1-0, book semifinal spot Iain Hume's 23rd minute goal proved the decisive winner as Kerala Blasters beat FC Pune City by a solitary goal and book a semifinal spot in the ISL. Bhupathi says Leander did not want to play in IPTL IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi has said his estranged doubles partner Leander Paes turned down invitation to play in the tournament's ongoing inaugural season. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Facebook offers IIT-Bombay girl Rs 2 crore package IIT-Bombay student Aastha Agarwal's Facebook job offer with Rs two crore package is perhaps the highest offered to an undergrad. First impressions: Acer Liquid E700 The Liquid E700 comes with a high capacity battery, a front-facing camera with LED flash and triple sim card support. 10 hottest topics on Facebook in 2014 The service analysed the year's posts to reveal these trends for Indian and global users. More Technology News»

		Education
		Modi govt using education to poison young minds: CPM CPM on Tuesday released a pamphlet alleging that Narendra Modi government is using education as "a tool to indoctrinate young minds with communal venom." Educational hubs for minorities in all districts in UP In a bid to promote education and provide better avenues to minorities in Uttar Pradesh, the Akhilesh Yadav government has decided to establish educational hubs in all the districts of the state. Nursery admissions: High Court order on Lt. Governor guidelines The Delhi High Court Tuesday said it will pass order Dec 10 on the pleas challenging a single judge bench's decision to quash the Lt. Governor's guidelines of last year on nursery admissions in the capital's unaided private schools. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'Cops filing cases must be more gender-sensitive' While 40% complainants of crimes against women said they had to wait for one to four hours to get a case registered at a police station, 43% said there was no action or a negative response from the police after the case was registered. HC acquits three after they spend nearly 10 years in jail in drugs case A couple of months before they were scheduled to complete their 10-year prison terms, the Bombay high court acquitted two Mumbai residents and a Sri Lankan in a 2005 drug bust case. Transport dept to meet private cab aggregators today, set rules The state transport commissioner’s office has called a meeting of all private cab rental aggregators in Mumbai region on Wednesday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Creativity goes alternate From drones and 3D printing to Rajasthani craft and a harp played to heartbeats, UnBox will showcase some quirky collaborations at IGNCA next weekend. Teen held for molesting girl from Manipur in southeast Delhi A 19-year-old youth has been arrested for molesting a 22-year-old DU student from Manipur in southeast Delhi’s Sunlight Colony on Monday night. Police said he was caught by the girl’s friend, who also raised an alarm. The boy was later handed over to police. Fog likely this weekend, wet & cold weather ahead Gear up for a wet and cold weekend as the season’s first westerly disturbance is expected to impact Delhi and other parts of northwestern plains starting Friday night. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		4,255 autorickshaw drivers booked for refusing to ply Traffic police on Tuesday cracked down on autorickshaw drivers for several violations. After a day-long crackdown, cops booked 4,255 drivers for refusing to ply to commuter's destination. City taxi permits a must for operators Police Verification For All Cabbies By Dec 31 Banning cabs won't stop rapes More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		EC's ban on candidates proves futile The delay in elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) seems to have come as a boon in disguise for 411 candidates, who have been debarred from contesting elections for three years for their failure to submit poll campaign expenditure details within the stipulated time. Youth stabs batchmate after online spat An online spat between two students of Deccan College of Engineering and Technology (DCET), Darussalaam, turned violent on Tuesday, with one ending up stabbing the other. New south zone Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation office remains on paper Though a proposal for moving the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s zonal office (south) was cleared more than a year ago, little or no progress has been made. As it turns out the project still finds itself in the tender stage. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Data shows TN fudged RTE numbers Tamil Nadu's claim that it has more children admitted in school under the Right to Education Act than any other state appears to be mere humbug and the result of some deft manipulation of numbers. Chennai court dismisses bail plea of four accused in narcotics case A court in Chennai has dismisses the bail plea of four people who had been arrested for allegedly possessing 50kg of ketamine More coaches to be added to trains running in Tamil Nadu Southern Railway will add more coaches to some trains to clear the extra rush of passengers. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat set to experience paragliding high Gujarat has been one state which is one course of overall development. However, one sector which is lacking behind relatively is the tourism sector. Hence, any activity in the state offering adventure will be welcomed by the Gujaratis. GSHSEB distributes one lakh per month as allowance An RTI query by a teacher reveals that the GSHSEB has paid Rs 15 lakh to its members for attending meeting of various committees Food festival to be held in January Officials expect at least 5,000 visitors every day to the food festival and International Kite festival. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		'Technology important for development' The 7th Science Conclave, organised by the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIIT-A), commenced on Monday. MHRD fails to initiate project, AU awaits Wi-Fi Despite tall claims that the entire Allahabad University campus and all the hostels would be given Wi-Fi facility, students and teachers are still waiting for it. Muslim family preserves the ancient art form The family of this 32-year-old Muslim from Dausa in Rajasthan is preserving the country's ancient folk art form of 'Bahurupiya'. They dress as Hindu mythological and other traditional characters. His family is engaged in it for five generations. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		5 kiosks for booking pink autos The commissionerate of police on Monday opened five kiosks, where women can book the three-wheeler over telephone. Low turnout: Govt in a bind over school closure move The state government is in a fix over closing down primary schools with less than 25 students as the number of such facilities is much more than expected. State to fix defunct minor irrigation projects in 5 yrs The state government has failed to provide irrigation facilities in over 1.3 lakh hectare of targeted cultivable land as several of these projects are lying defunct. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		MP assembly debates attack on Cong MLA After an application by Congress MLA Ram Niwas Rawat on Monday, MP assembly speaker Sitasharan Sharma admitted an immediate discussion on the alleged assault by BJP workers on Congress MLA Saurabh Singh during the urban civic polls in Katni on December 2. MP Congress stages walk-out on power transformers issue The Congress Opposition staged a walk-out in the state assembly on Tuesday after they were dissatisfied with minister for energy Rajendra Shukla's answer to a query on the shortage of power transformers in Rajgarh district. Congress MLA carried revolver near polling booth: MP home minister Madhya Pradesh home minister Babulal Gaur gave his statement on Katni urban civic poll violence which badly injured Congress MLA from Bahoriband seat Saurabh Singh. According to the home minister police received information at 5:20 pm on December 2 that a violent clash had broken out between Saurabh Singh and Manish Pathak of the BJP. Their supporters also clashed. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		"Free Anti-Obesity Camp" held in Chandigarh Obesity has become a major area of concern for the citizens of the tri-city and hence, as part of its commitment to help serve the people, Fortis Hospital, Mohali organized a "Free Anti-Obesity Camp" at Elante Mall. Power tariff raised by 17 paisa per unit Nearly a month after taking over reigns of the state, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government on Sunday gave electricity consumers a shock by increasing the tariff by 17 paisa, on account of fuel surcharge arrears (FSA). Khattar asks babus to be punctual, show results CM Manohar Lal Khattar has directed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police in Haryana to remain punctual and give maximum time in their offices to promptly redress the grievances of people. More Chandigarh News»

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