News Digest: CBI raids PSU chief in Uttarakhand housing scam

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, December 08, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		CBI raids PSU chief in Uttarakhand housing scam CBI sources said several teams swung into action and carried out searches in New Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh including HSCL’s head office in Hastings, Kolkata and Bhaduri’s premises and recovered incriminating documents. Another year of dal crisis looms, govt takes stock Preparing to tide over another year of shortage in availability of pulses, particularly arhar dal that triggered a crisis, private importers have informed government of their intention to import nearly 5.5 million tonnes (MTs) of pulses next year in comparison to about 4.5 MTs in 2015. Congress tries to raise VK Singh issue in LS, Speaker says no Congress on Monday again tried to raise the V K Singh issue in Lok Sabha during zero hour but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to allow leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to read out a notice on the matter. More India News»

		Business
		India Inc joins hands to offer help in relief work in Chennai India Inc is pitching in to help out with relief effort for Chennai’s flood victims. Companies like TVS, Hyundai, SBI and others are getting directly involved in collecting and distributing relief material. Retail investors push equity MF assets to record 4L cr  For the first time in the history of Indian mutual fund industry, total equity assets managed by fund houses in the country crossed the Rs 4-lakh-crore mark, indicating the return of domestic investors to the stock market who are now taking the mutual fund route. 'India needs `60k cr to hit global average in insurance' The insurance industry will require Rs 50,000-60,000 crore to improve insurance penetration in the country from around 3% of gross domestic product to 6%, the world average, according to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). More Business News»

		Environment
		Global warming could cause fall in oxygen: Study Earth's oxygen could dramatically fall due to change in ocean temperature of just several degrees, which may likely result in the mass mortality of animals and humans, a new study has claimed. Beijing smog reaches over 25 times safe levels Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on Tuesday, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. Despite outcry, Japan to resume whaling Japan will dispatch a whaling fleet to the Antarctic after a one year suspension, the government said, defying international criticism and a UN legal ruling that the “research“ expedition is a commercial hunt in disguise. More Environment News»

		World
		Donald Trump calls for barring Muslims from entering US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on Monday called for a "total and complete" block on Muslims entering the United States, in the wake of last week's mass shooting in California by a Muslim couple believed to have been radicalized. White House slams Trump's plan to ban Muslims Senior White House officials lined up Monday to condemn Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, saying it was contrary to US values and interests. California shooters 'radicalized for quite some time' The husband and wife who killed 14 people in last week's shooting rampage in California were both radicalized and "for quite some time," the FBI official in charge of the investigation said Monday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ranveer accepts Deepika's 'prized' possession Well, this couple might not say it in so many words, but when one of them lovingly and proudly accepts an award on behalf of the other — it says a lot, right? Akshay Kumar's biggest blockbusters Akshay has given some huge hits, read on to know about the actor's blockbuster films over the years... Bahubali maker impressed with Shivaay's set He is a tough man to bowl over. After all, he is the one who made India sit up and rethink the term magnum opus when he gave cinegoers, Bahubali. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		World's first biologically powered chip created In a major breakthrough, researchers at Columbia Engineering have harnessed the molecular machinery of living systems to power an integrated circuit. Astrosat's first light image from UV telescope reaches Earth The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard India’s first multi-wavelength satellite Astrosat has sent the first light images. Doomsday Clock awaits outcome of Paris talks A board member gives Sunday Times an insider’s view into the working of the ominous dial that is watching climate change and nuclear arsenals closely More Science News»

		Sports
		4th Test: India overcome de Villiers marathon for 3-0 sweep AB de Villiers threatened to produce a famous draw, but once he was out for 43 from 297 balls the innings collapsed. Gavaskar surprised by India's clean sweep in Tests  India's 3-0 whitewash of South Africa in the four-match Test series has surprised Sunil Gavaskar even though he feels that the Proteas were incapable of playing on Indian pitches. 'Pathetic' India got lucky to win HWL bronze: Ajit Pal Singh World Cup-winning former captain Ajit Pal Singh feels India were "pathetic" in the group stage of the Hockey World League Final before they got "lucky" to notch up a bronze. More Sports News»

		Technology
		HTC One A9 review: The latest machinery and OS on a seen bezel In our HTC One A9 review, we found that HTC has done a good (not great) job with smartphone. We say that because on one side they have given it the latest OS with high dosage of RAM, but on the other side they have picked up an inspired design. 9 Google Chrome extensions that will boost your productivity Chrome's simplicity and easy-to-use interface has made it the browser of choice on many computers. Micromax may pip Sony in India soon, revenue crosses Rs 10,000 crore in 7 years Micromax has crossed Rs 10,000 crore in annual revenues during year to March 2015, and is now within striking distance of brand Sony in the Indian market. More Technology News»

		Education
		Cut syllabus for Tamil Nadu students, schools tell CBSE Postponing exams or students of Tamil Nadu cutting short the syllabus and setting a separate exam paper are some suggestions from CBSE schools in the state whose class schedules have been thrown haywire by the ncessant rain in November. Core, not cash, counts for IIT-Kharagpur students Bucking the trend followed by engineering graduates in the recent past, about 100 IIT-Kharagpur students have skipped placement for blue-chip companies this year to apply for jobs in core engineering sectors. Odisha assembly passes Birla Global University Bill, 2015 Amidst a walk out and protest by Congress and BJP members, the Odisha assembly on Monday passed the Birla Global University, Odisha, Bill - 2015. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		15-yr-old doing stunts on train grievously hurt A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured after he fell from a running local train between Dombivli and Kopar while doing stunts on Sunday night. The boy was travelling on the footboard of the coach when he fell down. Trying to save mother, youth also drowns in Dombivli pond A 45-year-old woman from Dombivli drowned after slipping into a pond where she had been washing clothes on Monday morning. Her 18-year-old son, who dived in to save her, also died. The deceased have been identified as Pramila Anjara and Nikhil.They were residents of Bhopar village. Panic grips vicinity, parents spend hours looking for schoolchildren Terrified students from at least two schools in Damu Nagar, Kandivli (East), ran helter-skelter for their lives after they heard a series of explosions in their neighbourhood on Monday afternoon. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Metro vulnerable, tighten security, says House panel A parliamentary panel has stressed the need to step up security at Delhi Metro stations. Parliamentary panel calls Delhi Police's efforts on women's safety 'disheartening' A parliamentary standing committee has expressed displeasure over steps taken by Delhi Police for the safety of women after the December 16, 2012 gang-rape case, saying there was a “disheartening” trend and the police needed to work on an effective and resilient strategy to combat crime against women instead of “shrugging off” its responsibility. She survived rape, 2 bullets and a night inside this well A pistol shot each to her chest and abdomen and 30-foot drop onto the stony bed of a dry well. The trio thought they were done with the girl. They had abducted her in a car from the end of the lane outside her West Delhi house on November 22. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Were Siddu's 10 budgets inclusive? NLSIU checks Since 1983, Siddaramaiah has formulated Karnataka's finances and economic growth 10 times -seven times as finance minister and thrice as CM -by presenting “all-inclusive“ budgets. But were these budgets really all-inclusive? Child abuse cases — Judges to get lessons on Pocso nuances With an increasing number of child abuse cases coming to light in Karnataka, there is an imperative need to understand the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, the law which comes to the aid of young survivors and their families. Rebellion brews over tickets for council elections Dissent is brewing in the three major parties over selection of candidates for election to 25 council seats from local authorities constituencies on December 27. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		TDP opens doors to leaders Telugu Desam party chief N Chandrababu Naidu finally gave his consent to admit YSR Congress MLA C Adinarayana Reddy and former Congress minister Konathala Ramakrishna into the party . Take tech route to counter ISIS, says scholar Islamic scholar Muhammad bin Yahya Ninowy on Monday said that the Muslim community and Islamic scholars must counter the Islamic State (ISIS) by technology and better methods of communication. Parties fear defections ahead of MLC elections Parties are in utter confusion over their respective strengths in local bodies ahead of the legislative council elections on December 27. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Chennai no more a safe haven for outstation students Considered a safe haven for thousands of students from across the country, Chennai became a 'no-safe zone'. With no electricity and phone network because of the incessant rain and flood, they could not establish any contact with their worried family members and friends. Rahul too coming, relief ops get political colour Close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's whirlwind visit to Chennai for an aerial survey of the flood disaster, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is slated to survey he affected areas in the city besides Cuddalore and Puducherry on Tuesday . Anna univ colleges not in flood-hit areas in a fix If colleges in Chennai and Cuddalore are facing erratic schedules, postponed exams and delay in curriculum completion due to the monsoon deluge, institutions in other parts of the state relatively unaffected by the rain too are facing similar problems because they are affiliated to Anna University . More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Centre makes waste segregation compulsory Waste segregation will now be compulsory when leaving doorsteps. The Union ministry of environment and forest (MOEF) has decided to make it compulsory for waste generators to segregate waste produced by them.In its draft solid waste management rules, the MOEF has state that state governments will form their own waste management policies for state-level implementation. CCTV at police stations: Contempt of court plea filed A contempt peti tion was filed in the Gujarat high court on Monday alleging inaction on the court's directive to install CCTV cameras at poli ce stations across the state. Of 562 police stations, cameras ha ve been installed at only 230 poli ce stations. Gujarat high court's order to the state government for installation of CCTV came ra in all police stations came af ter a complaint of custodial torture at city crime branch. AMC to table master plan for smart city On Tuesday , a roadmap for Ahmedabad towards becoming a smart city will be presented to the state government. In all, the master plan includes six major sections, which include a smart water supply system, an integrated travel platform for citizens, an efficient CCTV surveillance net across the city , and common payment gateway for all civic services. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Two priests killed as truck rams into temple Two priests were killed in a temple in Banda when an uncontrolled truck rammed through it on Saturday morning. Both the driver and the cleaner of the truck were also injured. Efforts on to boost religious tourism The Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Limited (UPTDCL) has decided to built aerial passenger ropeway system at the most visited Ashtabhuja and Kalikoh temples in Vindhyachal at Mirzapur and Lakshman Pahari at Chitrakoot. Panchayat polls: 69% cast vote in third phase At least 69% of the total voters exercised their franchise in the third phase of gram panchayat polls in Baharia, Mauaima, Soraon, Phulpur and Holagarh development blocks here on Saturday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		A prince dies a pauper Brajraj Mahapatra, the last living ‘king’ from British India, died last week. He was surrounded by nothing but the good wishes of the people of Tigiria ID cards issuance to be resumed The commissionerate of police on Sunday assured senior citizens of Bhubaneswar that issuing of identity cards for them would be resumed soon. Through these ID cards, senior citizens can get police help at any time and extra attention from their local police station. Special train from Chennai reaches Bhubaneswar A special train to evacuate passengers stranded at different railway stations in rain-battered Tamil Nadu reached Bhubaneswar early on Sunday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Congress demands criminal case against drug manufacturers over botched cataract surgery The drug named "eye wash", technically named as Ringer’s lactate solution, banned by the state government after botched cataract surgery in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh is being manufactured by was Beryl Drugs, a Indore-based pharma, which is believed to be handling maximum supplies of IV-fluid to the state government. MP CLP avoids paying homage to departed VHP leader Ashok Singhal Congress legislative party on Monday chose not to mention name of architect of the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement and VHP leader Ashok Singhal while Madhya Pradesh state assembly was paying homage to departed souls on the first day of winter session. Homage to late Ashok Singhal was listed in the day’s work schedule and both Speaker Sitasharan Sharma and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke on his contribution to society. MP Cong walkout over inaction on fertilizer companies Congress party on Monday staged a walk-out in the Madhya Pradesh state assembly dissatisfied with minister for farmer welfare Gauri Shankar Bisen’s reply on fertilizer testing and action taken. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		US Hindus protest against jhandi-burning in NY A group of Hindu Americans held a rally to condemn an incident of anti-Hindu arson in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens, New York, over the Thanksgiving weekend (weekend after November 26). Kharar woman, sarpanch held for extortion, fraud Police here on Sunday arrested a woman from Kharar and the sarpanch of a Moga village, and are on the lookout for her husband and his aide from Mohali, for allegedly extorting Rs 12 lakh from a contractor based in Rajguru Nagar. Casting a Sikh hero fold by fold British figurative sculptor Douglas Jennings tells how he went about creating World War II Ace Pilot Mohinder Singh Pujji's Award-Winning Sculpture More Chandigarh News»

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