News Digest: 2004 Tsunami triggered a wave of dubious NGOs

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, January 09, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		2004 Tsunami triggered a wave of dubious NGOs The 2004 tsunami resulted in many voluntary organizations from across the globe setting up base in Tamil Nadu. Law panel for changes in maintenance provision The law commission has recommended amendments in the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. Governor's rule imminent in J&K J&K governor N N Vohra has sent a report to the Centre conveying a “political deadlock” in the state in the wake of failure of any party or political formation to cobble the numbers to form the next govt. More India News»

		Business
		Auction shocker: Mobile tariffs may go up on aggressive bids Mobile and data tariffs may get dearer in the coming months as a high-pitched bidding war among debt-laden telecom operators —expected in the upcoming spectrum auctions in February— will force a revision of rates to make up for the fresh investments. Growth deceleration has bottomed out: Arun Jaitley Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday that emerging trends indicated that the growth deceleration in India has bottomed-out. Developing countries to benefit from oil price slump: World Bank Gains from low oil prices can be substantial for developing-country importers if supported by stronger global growth, a World Bank Group analysis of the oil price decline showed on Thursday. More Business News»

		Environment
		After 21 years of SC monitoring, Yamuna still stinks like a sewer Central Pollution Control Board on Thursday told the Supreme Court why the Yamuna in its 22-km course through Delhi mostly stinks like a sewer drain – as against the norm of 5,000 MPN coliform per 100 ml of water, Yamuna water in Delhi had between 4 lakh to 16 crore coliform per 100 ml. Don't pollute Ganga: PM Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday made a public appeal to not pollute the Ganga river while calling for a "time-bound, swift action and single-minded focus to ensure it is made pollution-free". Gadkari promises digitalized, eco-friendly roadways Union minister for road transport and highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari has promised the digitalization of the roadways and to make it more eco-friendly for the citizens. More Environment News»

		World
		Egypt sets parliamentary poll dates as Sisi cements grip Egypt said Thursday it is to hold parliamentary elections from March 21 but analysts said the new legislature will offer no meaningful opposition to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's iron-fisted rule. Polling in Sri Lanka peaceful, voter turnout may cross 70% Sri Lanka’s presidential election on January 8 was largely peaceful, barring minor incidents of violence and malpractices. The election commission is yet to release the official data of polled votes, but senior officials say the polling percentage could cross 70%. Bangla opposition vows to go on with protests, 3 dead Bangladesh opposition vowed to continue its nationwide blockade as three more people were killed in the violence after the first anniversary of the controversial polls, raising uncertainty over the annual Muslim congregation, said to be the second largest after Haj, scheduled to begin on Friday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Mohit Raina and Mouni Roy are very much together Grapevine had it that all was not well between TV actors Mohit Raina and Mouni Roy, who have been dating each other. 7 Bollywood films we wish had a different ending We look at seven Bollywood films we wish had a different ending. Arjun Kapoor-Sonakshi Sinha set to show their Tevar The year’s line-up of big-ticket films kicks off with Boney Kapoor’s Tevar, which has the novel pairing of Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		New nanowire clothes can help keep you warm Scientists have developed a novel nanowire coating for clothes that can both generate heat and trap the heat from our bodies better than regular clothes. It's official: Music does bind mankind The 19th century writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called music the “universal language of mankind” and now there may be scientific proof he was right. Anger may indicate good health in a few cultures Anger may actually be linked with better, not worse, health in certain cultures — contrary to the popular belief of West, a study suggests. More Science News»

		Sports
		Novak Djokovic shocked by Ivo Karlovic in Qatar Open World number one Novak Djokovic was buried by 21 aces as big-serving Ivo Karlovic clinched a 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 victory to reach Qatar Open semifinals. Australia strike early, India 407/7 at lunch on Day 4 India lost skipper Virat Kohli (147) in the morning session before reaching 407/7 at lunch on the Day 4 of the fourth and final Test against Australia at SCG. Rusty Roger Federer scrapes through to win season debut Roger Federer avoided an embarrassing start to the season when he dug himself out of trouble to beat John Millman 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at Brisbane International. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung expects first annual profit fall in 3 years Samsung has said its fourth-quarter profit likely fell 37.4%, confirming expectations for its first year of profit decline since 2011. Wipro wins $450 million deal from ABB Wipro and HCL Technologies have rung in the New Year with multi-million dollar deals. 15 top gadgets launched this week CES 2015 is already underway and as always, it's the most exciting platform for new product announcements, innovations and tech startups. Here are some of the most exciting new launches and announments from the world's largest tech show. More Technology News»

		Education
		Announcement of IIM at Bodh Gaya ends uncertainty  State education minister Brishen Patel’s announcement on Wednesday that an IIM will come up in Gaya has ended the seven-month-long uncertainty and brought cheers to Gayaites.  IIM gets going but law school, IIIT for Nagpur still on paper Even though union and state government acted with alacrity to clear IIM in Nagpur, two other national level institutes already sanctioned for the city continue to languish, thanks to the apathy of Maharashtra government, city-based academicians said. UGC asks varisities to expedite semesterisation UGC has asked all universities to take "quick action" towards semesterisation of course curricula and grading system against the backdrop of states agreeing to adopt choice based credit programme in colleges and universities from the coming academic session. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Ex-Mhada babu's Rs 143cr assets attached hief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cleared the anti-corruption bureau's (ACB) proposal to attach properties of eight public servants facing corruption charges. Fire kills mentally ill woman locked at home in Mumbai A 26-year-old me8n8tally challenged woman was burned alive in a fire that broke out in her second-floor home in Undiriya Street, Bhendi Ba8zar, on Thursday. HC allows RInfra to double fares of Mumbai Metro The Bombay high court on Thursday gave its go-ahead to Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) to charge fares in the range of Rs10-40 for Mumbai Metro’s Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		List of trains delayed, cancelled due to fog Temperatures in Delhi have plummeted to new lows, bringing normal life to a halt and disrupting travel with 119 passenger trains cancelled on Friday. Delhi to be free of diesel generator sets in 2 years: Piyush Goyal Power and coal minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said consumers in Delhi would be able to get rid of diesel generator sets as the national capital would have surplus power in two years. After 21 years of SC monitoring, Yamuna still stinks like a sewer Central Pollution Control Board on Thursday told the Supreme Court why the Yamuna in its 22-km course through Delhi mostly stinks like a sewer drain – as against the norm of 5,000 MPN coliform per 100 ml of water, Yamuna water in Delhi had between 4 lakh to 16 crore coliform per 100 ml. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Guv: Allow Lokayukta to prosecute on its own Expressing concern over the Lokayukta being reduced to an administrative machinery, governor Vajubhai Vala on Thursday said it should be given the power to prosecute the corrupt on its own rather than waiting for the government's sanction to proceed against corrupt public servants. SCs want confidentiality during caste census Many communities coming under the SC category have sought confidentiality during the socio-economic caste census to be undertaken by the government from April 11-30. Karnataka sees dip in farmer suicides in five years Farmer suicides have been on the rise in neighbouring Maharashtra and Telangana. But Karnataka appears to be bucking the trend, with the number of cases showing a sharp decline over the past five years. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		TRS MP Kavitha down with swine flu Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao daughter and MP, K Kavitha, has reportedly tested positive for swine flu. 16 rogue engineering colleges booked Intensifying its crackdown on rogue engineering colleges, the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) has lodged police complaints against 16 institutions for cheating students and parents. Two Inter students killed in mishap A fun car ride by eight intermediate students in Old City ended in a tragedy when two of them lost their lives in a mishap that took place in the wee hours of Thursday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Now, sign language gets an illustrated dictionary Of all the languages around, it is perhaps 'signing' that is the greatest leveller. For even though sign languages vary across countries and cultures (there are reportedly over 400 of them), there are certain gestures that have currency across linguistic domains. Signs for question, love, children for examples are similar across sign languages. '300 missing kids traced in Kanchi in 10 yrs' The Kancheepuram police on Thursday claimed to have traced more than 300 missing children and united them with their parents in the last 10 years. BJP breaches AIADMK citadel, 200 join party After BJP president Amit Shah breached the Dravidian citadel on December 21 by welcoming senior DMK leader D Napolean into the party, the saffron party appears to be gaining more traction by luring ruling AIADMK cadres. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		He used broom to clean up his native Unjha Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave the example of Ramji Patel as a model of what a nonresident Indian can do for the welfare of his place of origin. 'UK to set up trade centre in Ahmedabad' The UK will soon set up a trade centre in Ahmedabad to strengthen business relations between Gujarat and the UK. NRI Canadian MP to get global visionary award A Punjabi Hindu as he describes himself, Gujaratispeaking Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai is in Ahmedabad after 50 years. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		TGT, revenue inspector exams on same day irks aspirants Aspirants preparing for competitive exams on Wednesday demanded rescheduling of TGT exam date as it was clashing with revenue inspector exam. Thousands of students have applied for both exams scheduled for January 25. They also decided to fax a letter to governor and chief minister it their demands were not met. Now, get your photo on postal stamp The Department of Post is all set to allow people to have their photograph on postage stamp meant for official use. This facility will be available at the upcoming two-day Allahabad Philatelic Exhibition (Allaphilex-2015) starting this Friday. Khadi shop in every village soon: Rai Khadi and Village Industries Board minister Narad Rai on Wednesday said that research was underway on designer Khadi to make it popular among youngsters. Inaugurating board’s exhibition on Magh Mela campus, he announced that a range of economical khadi products would be launched soon to popularize the fabric among masses. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Minor molested by Sambalpur University prof The head of the post-graduate Department of History of the Sambalpur University, Dr K N Sethi had allegedly molested the girl when she was alone in her house on January 4. Three day festival at Chilika from January 11 The state government will organize Chilika Mahotsav at Satapada from January 11 with an aim to promote Chilika as a major tourist destination and highlight its unique flora and fauna. Technical courses in 30 schools from next year The state has decided to introduce vocational education at the secondary school level from the next academic session. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Domestic help plunges knife in employer, victim battles for life In a first incident in the city, a woman domestic help threw chili powder in eyes of her middle-aged woman employer, plunged a knife into her back, leaving lungs and kidney severely damaged and asked her to part with valuables, on Thursday morning. Keep the colleges campus clean or face action Students, teachers and other staff of government colleges will be punished if they do not keep the campus clean. Go kart competition from January 9 in Bhopal Third edition of Go Karting competition ‘Beat the clock’ will be organised at Go Kart track, Ratibad from Friday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Man alleges wife, her lover set him ablaze; cops differ A man from Ambala Cantonment alleged his wife and her paramour set him on fire while police booked him for attempt to suicide on Wednesday saying he tried to immolate himself over some arguments with his spouse. Karnal dera head asks Haryana CM to shift additional deputy commissioner indicted in inquiry Head of Dera Baba Bhagwan Dass Giri in Nigdhu Pastana near Karnal has asked government that officials named in the special investigation team report as "required to be arrested" were still in key positions in the district and were hampering investigation. Shimla's Nikita is Winter Queen-2015 Suresh Sharma | Aiming for Miss India and Miss World titles, Nikita Sharma from Shimla won the Winter Queen-2015 title during the winter carnival being held in Manali. More Chandigarh News»

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