News Digest: Don't make common man pay for PM's pet schemes: Congress

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, December 05, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Don't make common man pay for PM's pet schemes: Congress Congress slammed the government on Friday for its plan to impose 2% cess for the Skill India mission, alleging that it takes the total additional tax burden to 5% for different schemes including Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. MP tables road safety bill, seeks hike in fines Faulty engineering and design at one spot on NH-60 (Balasore-Kolkata highway stretch) recorded 64 road crashes and 32 deaths in three years prompting the local MP to introduce a private members bill on road safety in the Lok Sabha on Friday. Gates stresses on fecal sludge management Bill Gates has asked the government to focus on the need to decentralize the processing of fecal matters while continuing its work on building more toilets. The co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also described involvement in the government’s Swachh Bharat scheme as “one of its best partnerships”. More India News»

		Business
		RCOM to sell towers in Rs 30k-cr deal Marquee private investment firms Tillman Global Holdings and Texas Pacific Group, or TPG, have signed a non-binding pact to buy the tower and optic fibre assets from Reliance Communications (RCOM) and other institutional investors in a deal estimated at Rs 30,000 crore. Gas row with ONGC may open another front for RIL Globally, oil and gas pools are known for not sticking to geographical or political boundaries. The eastern gas bowl off the Andhra coast in the Bay of Bengal has been the stage for intense rivalry among explorers to pump up volumes. Recharge mobile with a missed call HDFC Bank is taking on Paytm, an emerging challenger in the digital space, on its own turf — the recharge business. The new generation private bank is offering its customers prepaid mobile recharge service through a missed call. More Business News»

		Environment
		Global warming could cause fall in oxygen on Earth: 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
		Obama disturbed at rhetoric against Muslims President Barack Obama is deeply disturbed at some of the "political rhetoric" directed against the Muslim community in the US in the aftermath of the California mass shooting that killed 14 people, a presidential spokesman said today. Suicide blasts kill three in NE Nigeria: vigilantes At least three people were killed and six others injured in suicide attacks in Nigeria's northeast Borno state blamed on Boko Haram Islamists, vigilantes said. Rizwan Farook came from broken Pakistani family Pakistan’s reputation as a breeding ground for terrorism is again coming up for scrutiny after U.S authorities said (earlier that) the Pakistani-American assailant who carried out the carnage in San Bernardino with his Pakistani wife had been in contact with extremists who were on the FBI watchlist domestically and abroad. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Loveshhuda teaser: Girish-Navneet's story starts in the bed After the lukewarm response to his debut film, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, there was no clue as to what Girish Kumar was up to. When glamorous beauties went de-glam Glamour is the most important ingredient in most of the Bollywood films. However, some actresses dared to face the camera sans their vanity kit and surprised us by looking their best. Here are some of the glamorous actresses who pulled off the de-glam look in films. 5 cult Hindi films that flopped More Entertainment News»

		Science
		People who watch violent films more likely to lie, cheat Love watching movies with violent content? You may be more likely to lie, cheat or steal, according to a new study which found that exposure to violence could make people less ethical. Now, super strong dental fillings that don't corrode Graphene oxide could be used to make non-toxic, super strong dental fillings that do not corrode, researchers have found. Moratorium on human gene editing on cards? An international group of scientists meeting in Washington called on Thursday for what would, in effect, be a moratorium on making inheritable changes to the human genome. More Science News»

		Sports
		4th Test: South Africa flattened after Rahane, Jadeja heroics Virat Kohli chose not to enforce the follow-on after South Africa were dismissed for 121, with Ravindra Jadeja claiming 5/30. Talking points, 4th Test: Rahane 127, South Africa 121 TOI Sports looks back at the key passages of play from day two of the Delhi Test between India and South Africa on Friday. Ranji Trophy: Karnataka out, Assam sneak into QFs Bad light in Guwahati denied Bengal a chance to beat Assam outright, meaning that Delhi were knocked out of the competition. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Buying a smartphone? How much you should pay If you are not sure how much you should pay for a smartphone, read our breakdown of exactly what features to expect, depending on your budget. Micromax Canvas Xpress 4G review A new entrant to the sub 7K smartphone category is Micromax Canvas Xpress 4G, which is priced at Rs 6,599 and is the successor to Canvas Xpress 2. Apple, Chinese makers lead wearables market surge The global market for wearable tech surged in the third quarter, fueled by the Apple watch and gains from Chinese manufacturers, a market tracker said Thursday. More Technology News»

		Education
		Thampu calls Stephen's society meet for constitution amendment St Stephen's college principal Valson Thampu has now called a meeting of the Society to consider amendments of the constitution to change its name and empower it to establish Stephen's-like private institutions across India. IIT-B 29th in Times ranking IIT-Bombay was ranked 29th in the Times Higher Education BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and Emerging Economies Rankings, up from it’s last year’s position of 37. Pvt schools face nursery admission delay While the bills promising changes in the nursery admission system have cleared the assembly hurdle, they are still a few steps away from implementation. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Vehicles crawl on WEH due to emergency tar-laying work An urgent road repair work undertaken by the public works department at Santacruz east on Friday morning affected motorists on Western Express Highway. Desilting scam report seeks action against contractors Nearly six months after the June 19 flooding in the city this year, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta submitted his report on the desilting scam to the civic standing committee. Food, the link that binds immigrants to the culture they had left behind The struggle to assimilate and yet remain connected to the culture they left behind through food, understanding a family through the way it cooks and how a traditional dish eventually takes on a different identity in its new homeland--a talk titled `The Refugees' Recipe Book' at the Times Litfest highlighted the role of food in the immigrant community. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		AAP MLAs highest paid legislators after Assam With a 400% hike in salary, AAP MLAs have become among the highest paid legislators, second only to Assam. Assam MLAs receive Rs 60,000 as basic salary while AAP legislators will now receive Rs 50,000 putting them at par with Members of Parliament. Retired soldier held for alleged espionage The Delhi police have arrested a retired Army havildar for alleged espionage. Pollution check: Private vehicles in Delhi can run only on alternate days Taking a tough decision to improve the city’s toxic air quality, Delhi’s AAP government on Friday decided to restrict the number of private vehicles on the roads for a fortnight starting on New Year’s Day, allowing cars and bikes with odd and even numbered registration plates to run on alternate days. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Poor hygiene, lack of tabs on street food to blame for infections: Docs Dr Lawrence Peter, HoD and consultant gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospitals, said a majority of foodborne infection cases are due to poor water supply. “Our government is not interested in providing safe water, which should be a priority . If I see 60 patients a day in the outpatient unit, an average of 10 are suffering from food and water-borne infections,“ he said. BMTC hopes for a new dawn for its Bus Day Bus Days made commuting by public transport the in-thing in the city , with BMTC riding on endorsements by Sandalwood and sports celebrities. Einstein changed the way we look at the universe Azim Premji University and Bangalore Little Theatre are coming together to host the play Einstein ­ A Stage Portrait for the first time in India in Bengaluru at the St Joseph's College this weekend. In the play, written and directed by American playwright Willard Simms, actor Tom Schuch brings to life a brilliant, dedicated, and sometimes controversial theoretical physicist who TIME magazine called their “Man of the Century.“ Simms spoke to TOI about the interest in Einstein and giving scientists their due: More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Hyderabad doctor couple's harrowing journey home This couple from the city will never forget, in their lifetimes, the Chennai floods. Meet K Sushma Reddy and K Satyanarayana Reddy -- both doctors -- probably the first flood-hit victims to come out of the deluge by hitch-hiking on the highway. Police won't allow beef fest at OU, but students adamant Osmania University is being turned into a virtual fortress with dozens of policemen moving in to prevent students from organising a beef festival on December 10. Hyderabad airport to take off on growth runway With the Shamshabad airport witnessing a steady rise in footfall, the GMR Hyderabad International Authority Limited (GHIAL) has decided to expand its terminal capacity from the existing 12 million to 20 million per annum. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Heavy rain over for now, says Met The northern districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, will continue to receive intermittent showers for the next couple of days but there will be no heavy rain. Relief on war footing but miles to go Government agencies were in fire-fighting mode to rescue stranded peo ple, repair damaged roads and pump out stagnant water even as a fresh downpour around Friday noon damp ened the spirits of a city fight ing to get back on its feet. A candle for Rs 30, tomatoes at Rs 140 a kilo As the weatherman forecast more rain, albeit intermittent showers, people in the submerged city on Friday queued up to hoard essential commodities. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Abid arrest could reveal nationwide terror plans Arrest of two accused in the Bharuch double murder case, Abid Patel, a UK passport holder and Salim Ganchi, from Sonauli near Gorakhpur on Indo-Nepal border could well help central agencies to bust a nationwide terror network of under-world don Dawood Ibrahim. Cash, valuables stolen in Thaltej A gang of three thieves struck at three bungalows in a society in Thaltej and managed to decamp with valuables worth Rs 5 lakh from one of the bungalows early on Friday morning. Cash, valuables stolen in Thaltej A gang of three thieves struck at three bungalows in a society in Thaltej and managed to decamp with valuables worth Rs 5 lakh from one of the bungalows early on Friday morning. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		3 train robbers held Government Railway Police (GRP) nabbed three persons for stealing luggage of passengers travelling in trains. Equipments used in stealing, including pliers and screw drivers, were recovered from them. High Court quashes plea against SP pension yojana The Allahabad High Court on Thursday upheld the validity of Samajwadi Pension Yojna, a popular policy of the Uttar Pradesh government for the poor of rural and urban areas. This pension scheme was meant for economic and social uplift of such families by providing financial assistance to them. High Court asks govt to notify heritage norms The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government to notify ‘heritage guidelines’ for the entire state including Varanasi. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		ASI to repair rickety Jagamohan The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will start repairs on the rickety Jagamohan, facing the sanctum sanctorum of Jagannath Temple in Puri, from December 16. Dandapani walks out of jail after almost 3 years Dandapani Mohanty, convener of the Daman Pratirodha Manch, was released from the circle jail here on Thursday after the Orissa high court granted him conditional bail on December 2. Mohanty, who was imprisoned for about two years and 10 months, was arrested on the charge of having Maoist links. NIA takes over train torching case The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday took over the investigation of the recent burning of empty trains in Puri, Haridwar, Gaya and Kharagpur, confirmed a senior police officer here. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Ensure whistleblower's security: Court A special court hearing Vyapam cases in Gwalior has directed the state government to ensure whistleblower Ashish Chaturvedi records his statement after adequate security is provided to him . SpiceJet flight hits wild boar on runway at Jabalpur airport, passengers safe A major accident was averted at Dumna airport in Jabalpur when a weekly SpiceJet aircraft skided off the runway while landing, on Friday. All the 49 passengers and 4 crew members who were on board are safe. Close shave AI passengers after bird hit at Bhopal airport An Air India aircraft from Delhi to Bhopal with 116 passengers had a close shave when it suffered a bird hit while landing at the Raja Bhoj airport on Thursday morning, sending jitters among those on the board. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Teacher plays truant, kids lock up school Children studying in a small village school in Haryana may not have heard of Malala Yousafzai, but on Friday they did something that would make the Nobel Peace Prize winner proud. Workshop on 'Elimination of Corporal Punishment in schools' held in Chandigarh As part of the two day campaign Chandigarh Commission for the Protection of Child Rights organized a workshop for principals of government and private schools to sensitize them about corporal punishment. Don't support anti-national elements, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma tells Punjabi NRIs When Shiromani Akali Dal has facing tough opposition from Punjabi NRIs, especially Sikhs, who have played major role in 2014 parliament elections both in terms of votes and notes (funds), its alliance partner BJP has urged them to ensure that those vitiating atmosphere in Punjab should not get support their support. More Chandigarh News»

		Unsubscribe | To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here	Other Newsletters from TOI : Breaking News | Top Headlines | Tech | Entertainment | Movie Reviews | Life & Style