News Digest: Satyarthi's plea to Taliban captors

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, December 17, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Satyarthi's plea to Taliban captors Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who shared this year’s peace prize with Khyber Pakhtunwa-born Malala Yousufzai, Pakistan’s province in which the terrorists struck, told a TV channel on Tuesday, “I beg the Taliban, take me and leave these children.” India has conveyed concern to Beijing over Chinese activities in PoK, govt tells Lok Sabha Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, recalled that China and Pakistan have termed bilateral defence cooperation as an important component of their strategic cooperation. India must develop a dozen critical technologies, suggests military panel A high-powered military committee has said India should get down to developing at least a dozen critical technologies to ensure that foreign powers cannot manipulate country’s aerospace capabilities in future. More India News»

		Business
		Sensex slides off Mt 27,000 A host of negative global cues, ranging from a brewing crisis in Russia to lower-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data and falling crude prices, led to market turmoil around the world on Tuesday that also affected sentiment on Dalal Street. Falling rupee a worry, says govt The government on Tuesday said that a further weakening of the rupee against the dollar, or persistence of the current levels for a considerable period, may be a cause of concern. Bombay HC says lawyers, law firms must pay service tax to biz clients The Bombay High Court has upheld the levy of service tax on services provided by lawyers and law firms, to their business clients. Thus, business entities who hire lawyers and law firms will have to continue to pay servkice tax and also deposit it with the government. More Business News»

		Environment
		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. Greenland ice loss may be worse than predicted: Study A warming planet may lead to swifter ice loss on Greenland's ice sheet, and faster sea level rise for the rest of the world than previously predicted, scientists said on Monday. Tourists in Jaipur face threat of zoonotic diseases Tourists are endangering their health and safety by interacting with elephants that are not screened for any zoonotic diseases, with no vaccination and treatment records with the mahouts, observed PETA. More Environment News»

		World
		Australian PM says new national security laws failed hostages Tough new national security laws failed to prevent a deadly hostage crisis in the heart of Sydney this week, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday, raising questions about the usefulness of such measures. Boston suspect to make first appearance in 17 months Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is due to make his first public appearance in 17 months when he steps into court on Thursday for final preparations for his January trial. Church of England to name first woman bishop The Church of England is to name its first ever female bishop, ending centuries of male leadership following a historic change to its rules, British media reported on Wednesday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Bipasha Basu: I am not dating Karan Bipasha Basu has been in the business for 14 years and one thing she cannot be accused of is being commitment-phobic, as she has had one of the longest relationships with John Abraham Pics: 8 Most romantic proposals by celebrities Shahid, Alia and Kareena Kapoor in the same film? Shahid Kapoor seems to have given his nod to 'Dedh Ishqiya' director Abhishek Chaubey for his next More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Ebola lasts for a long time in semen even after recovery: Scientists Male survivors of Ebola have been asked by scientists to wait at least three months after recovery to have unprotected sex. New development in forensic science for solving sex crimes Sex crimes can now be solved with a help of a new technique — the DNA of the hair belonging to a rapist. Voyager 1 buffeted by "tsunami wave", 19.5 billion kms away from Earth Messages received from Voyager 1, the Nasa spacecraft travelling 19.5 billion kms away from Earth, show that it is continuing to experience a “tsunami wave” as it penetrates the interstellar medium beyond the solar System. More Science News»

		Sports
		ISL: Kerala Blasters defeat Chennaiyin FC to reach final Kerala Blasters lost the second leg semifinal against Chennaiyin FC 1-3 but won 4-3 on aggregate in extra time to reach the final of the Indian Super League. France great Thierry Henry announces retirement Former World Cup winner and Arsenal's record goal-scorer Thierry Henry announced his retirement, bringing an end to his a glittering 20-year career. Jitu Rai claims 10m pistol gold at National Shooting C'ship Jitu Rai broke his own record to claim the 10m pistol title for men in the National Shooting Championship at the Balewadi shooting range on Tuesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Xiaomi India ban partially lifted by Delhi HC According to a tweet by PTI, Xiaomi is now allowed to sell smartphones powered by Qualcomm chipsets till January 8 in India. Nokia's Chennai plant to be sold off in parts The mothballed Sriperumbudur plant of Nokia, once the world's single largest mobile phone-making unit, may be sold in parts. 10 best gadgets of 2014 As the year comes to a close, we take a look at the 10 best gadgets launched this year… More Technology News»

		Education
		UGC rushes to set up teacher education centre in BHU Seemingly in a hurry to please the HRD ministry, UGC has decided to set up an Inter-University Centre (IUC) for teacher education at Banaras Hindu University. Dropout rate remains high among girls in Delhi Government schemes and programmes designed to help girls continue in school aren’t working. At the primary level, the number of girls per 1,000 boys has fallen from 881 in 2010-11 to 867 in 2013-14. SC nod for mid-session switch to Sanskrit The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the green signal for introduction of Sanskrit as the third language replacing German in Kendriya Vidyalayas from the current academic session. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Court orders demolition of 13 floors of 18-storey in Borivli A city civil court has ordered demolition of the top 13 floors of an 18-storey building on Chandavarkar Road in Borivli (West). Teacher test candidates get handwritten question paper in Urdu, find it illegible Candidates who recently took the state teacher eligibility test in Urdu complained that the paper was handwritten and not legible. Two men arrested in stalking case Two men from Ghaziabad were arrested for stalking an 18-year-old woman at a car show that was held at the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground from Thursday to Sunday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Nursery admission dates differ, parents worried Problems have arisen with nursery admissions as the schedule is not common in all schools. This has made parents a worried lot. Man misses target, shoots shopkeeper A 26-year-old shopkeeper died after a shot fired by a youth at another man missed its target and hit him on his head. The incident took place at east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar area on Tuesday evening. Get the taste of India at street food festival Food festivals promising regional flavours are far too common in Delhi nowadays. But what one gets are local caterers selling staple stuff much to the disappointment of food lovers. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		SpiceJet grounds 1,000 in Bengaluru Around 1,000 passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday after 17 incoming SpiceJet flights and 19 scheduled to take off from there were cancelled. Among those stranded were senior citizens, children and the physically challenged. Cabs to install alarm key as safety featur The alleged rape in an Uber cab in Delhi is pushing cab operators to devise innovative ways to address the issue of safety. They are planning to install alarm buttons in cabs, establish driver-training institutes, integrate driver details with Aadhaar and take measures for women travelling alone. Bengalurean director wins Oregon honour Blood Empires is a tale of pride, redemption and, above all, love. The director of this English movie, Peter Rajesh Joachim, an alumnus of Christ College, Bengaluru, hogged the limelig More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		New geographical map of Hyderabad released The Survey of India, the national survey and mapping organisation of the country, released a revised geographical map of Hyderabad on Tuesday, which showed an expansion from all sides compared to the last revised map released more than a decade ago, in 2002. Talasani gives up MLA post, TDP membership Two hours before his induction into the state cabinet, Sanathnagar legislator Talasani Srinivas Yadav resigned as MLA and also from his primary membership of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh to revamp police training manual In the wake of a police constable’s sudden death from heart-attack and dozens of incidents of policemen calling in sick while performing their duties, Andhra Pradesh officials are planning to revamp the police training manual. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		After thumbs down to flyover,RK Mutt Rd to be widened after corpn drops flyover plan They said no to a flyover and suggested road widening instead, and the Corporation in Chennai has now decided to go with residents' plans for RK Mutt Road in Mylapore. Man gets 10 years RI for abducting, raping minor girl after promising college admission A city court has sentenced a 37-year-old man to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and raping a minor girl. Separated after birth, twins smile Every time 10-month-old Adriana opened her eyes in the hospital, she seemed puzzled when she didn't see her twin sister in front. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Pirana mound adds to residents' woes The garbage mound at Pirana is becoming a huge problem for residents living within a five-km radius. The waste is smouldering on all days owing to a large amount of volatile gases trapped beneath the garbage and also because of the careless rag-pickers who burn waste at the site. Remittance scam swells to 200cr The scam involving illegal international remittances , carried out through a Mumbai bank, is now worth more than Rs 200 crore. The scam was unearthed by the Ahmedabad zonal unit of Enforcement Directorate (ED). Power tariff hikes proposed As many as 14 power and distribution companies, including Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) and Torrent Power Ltd (TPL), have proposed tariff hikes between 2.57% and 11% in 2015-16. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Poachers sell migratory birds in Bahraich Poachers are allegedly selling migratory birds for Rs 250 to Rs 400 in the Civil Lines area. A lalsar is available for Rs 300 to Rs 400. A Topidar Peelak and Chhota Pahadi is sold between Rs 300 and Rs 400. GPS soon to be mandatory for cabs plying on city roads The cabs of Sangam City will soon be equipped with GPS system. The district police have decided to make the system mandatory for all taxis plying in the city. The decision stems from the recent Delhi case, where in a woman working in a MNC was raped by a cab driver. BTC aspirants continue stir The BTC aspirants continued their protest on the fifth day on Tuesday and demanded proper heath facility for the agitating aspirants who are recuperating in the hospital. 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
		MLA patronizing goon, slain petrol pump owner's brother claims threat to life Shera Kirar, kingpin of a five-member gang into loot and extortion active in Gwalior-Chambal region for five years was shot dead in an encounter by crime branch officials on Gwalior city outskirts on Jhansi Road on Friday morning. Mourning lifts eerie silence at riot-scarred Shia colony From trauma to catharsis, at least 300 Shias marched through the dim-lit street, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain amid frenzied beating of chests. Tigers can't be asked to stand in row for count: Minister Madhya Pradesh has 288 tigers, with a maximum number of 78 big cats in Kanha national park and 72 in Bandhavgarh tiger reserve. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab to relocate village resource centres for special kids Even though the Right to Education mandates the provision of a school at a distance of less than one kilometre for each child, the Punjab government seems to find more than 90,000 differently-abled children tougher than others. Newborn's body found on railway track Body of a newborn girl was found abandoned near the Jind-Kurukshetra rail track on Tuesday morning.A line man noticed the body and informed the railways police.Police registered a case and a probe is on. Sirsa dera objects to Daduwal's event Another dera war has started in Haryana with Dera Sacha Sauda followers opposing a religious congregation to be organized by Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) member Baljit Singh Daduwal at Kalianwali in Sirsa district. More Chandigarh News»

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