News Digest: As polls close in, Mayawati to have low-key birthday

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, January 15, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		As polls close in, Mayawati to have low-key birthday Trademark cake weighing as much as her age and gigantic garlands would not be part of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati's 60th birthday celebrations on Friday. NIA sniffs Dinanagar-Pathankot link The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found similarities in the Pathankot terror attack and last year’s July 27 Dinanagar attack in which militants had attacked a police st-ation. To probe it further, the agency has asked the Punjab police to provide details of the Dinanagar case. 'New ethanol policy to boost production' In its bid to increase use of ethanol and other alternate fuel for transportation, government will come out with a new ethanol policy focusing on producing more ethanol within a month. More India News»

		Business
		The GLE 450 AMG Coupe Mercedes Benz India has launched the GLE 450 AMG Coupe, priced at Rs 86.40 lakh (ex showroom Mumbai), the company announced in a statement. Govt may increase service tax threshold  The finance ministry is contemplating several reforms in the indirect tax space, even as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been caught in a political tussle. Sebi asks MFs to come clean on illegal dividend payments In an unconventional move, market regulator Sebi on Wednesday gave mutual fund houses just 24 hours to confirm if they had ever resorted to "dividend stripping", an illegal way of enriching large investors using smart accounting and tax loopholes. More Business News»

		Environment
		World's largest canyon may lie under Antarctic: Study Move over, Grand Canyon! The world's largest canyon - over 1,000 kilometre long and up to one kilometre deep - may lie under the Antarctic ice sheet, scientists including those from India have claimed. Global warming could delay next ice age for 100,000 yrs Global warming is likely to disrupt a natural cycle of ice ages and contribute to delaying the onset of the next big freeze until about 100,000 years from now, scientists said. In the past million years, the world has had about 10 ice ages before swinging back to warmer conditions like the present. Over 8.58 lakh migratory birds throng Chilika this year Over 8.58 lakh migratory birds have thronged Odisha's Chilika lake this winter, as per the bird census released. Last year, over 7.61 lakh migratory birds were sighted in Chilika lake, Asia's largest brackish water lake and the largest winter resort for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent. More Environment News»

		World
		Charlie Hebdo cartoon of drowned Syrian boy causes outcry A drawing in French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo suggesting Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy found dead on a Turkish beach last year, would have grown up to be a sex attacker caused outrage online on Thursday. Turkish artillery hit ISIS positions in Iraq, Syria: PM Turkish tanks and artillery attacked the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 tourists, Turkey's prime minister said Thursday - the country's first significant strike against the Islamic extremists in months. Assaults mark re-emergence of radical Islam The terrorists who struck in Jakarta on Thursday mark the re-emergence of radical Islam inspired by the Islamic State in the populous archipelago, spelling a new and tougher challenge to President Joko Widodo’s efforts to spur economic growth and project Indonesia as a stable maritime power. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Everything is sanskari about Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3' Tusshar and Aftab — the porn stars who will tease, tickle and make your funny bone moan with their madness. PIC:Amitabh's grand-daughter in a bikini You just can't miss this picture of Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter, Navya Naveli looking extremely dope in a bikini. Shahid Kapoor sends a gift to Malaika Arora More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Report: Internet yields uneven dividends, widens inequality According to a report issued on Wednesday by the World Bank, the vast changes wrought by technology have not expanded economic opportunities or improved access to basic public services in ways that many had expected. Nasa's Jupiter probe breaks distance record Nasa’s Juno mission to Jupiter on Wednesday broke the record to become humanity’s most distant solar-powered emissary, when the spacecraft reached about 793 million kilometres from the Sun. 'Spermbots' to aid fertility treatments Scientists have developed motorised ‘spermbots’ by attaching tiny metal helices to sperm cells that can aid poor swimmers to reach an egg, an advance that could improve fertility treatments. More Science News»

		Sports
		2nd ODI: Bowling the worry for smarting India How to consistently take wickets is the Indian team's biggest challenge as they aim to draw level in the series on Friday. Sardar Singh seeks apology from Pakistan hockey players  Indian hockey team skipper Sardar Singh asked the Pakistan players to apologise for their "unacceptable" behaviour during the Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar in December 2014. Let's play ODI cricket with pink ball, says Gavaskar Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar says pink ball should be used in ODI cricket to make it more competitive since white ball leaves nothing for the bowlers. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Virtual Reality is going to be the next big thing in 2016 Virtual Reality is here to stay and the uses of this tech are immense. Private and government agencies will use this tool to train their employees as it cuts down on the costs by a large margin. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 budget phablet coming to India Xiaomi is looking for 100 explorers who will try out the smartphone before it hits the market. Those who are interested in the programme can sign up by January 31. 9 hot budget smartphones coming to India in 2016 2015 saw the launch of many good smartphones. Starting from OnePlus 2 to Google Nexus 5X and 6P, Huawei Honor 7 and Lenovo K3 Note, there were a plethora of phones that became a super buy. So, here is the list of upcoming smartphones you need to keep an eye out for in the coming months. More Technology News»

		Education
		Testing authority planned on lines of SAT, GRE HRD ministry is going to the Cabinet with its proposal to set up National Authority for Testing (NAT). To be established as a society, NTA will be a lean body and conduct aptitude test for class IX, X, XI, XII students. Indian student numbers at UK universities fall further The number of Indian students enrolling to study at UK universities continued its downward trend last year, apparently due to scrapping of the post - study work visas, according to new statistics released on Thursday. Ramjas celebrates 100 yrs, inaugurates 'Future' centre The function of the Centre for Future Studies will be, as Ramjas College principal Rajendra Prasad puts it, to divine “what the future of everything will be.” More Education News»

		Mumbai
		ATS, NIA to quiz men carrying foreign currency at Kurla station The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have been informed by officials from the Government Railway Police (GRP) after they found four men carrying foreign currencies worth Rs 69 lakh at Kurla station recently. Man sustains high voltage electric shock atop train engine A man in his mid-twenties sustained serious burns after he climbed atop an engine at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) on Wednesday. CM prepares to score big in Make in India home match Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to project Maharashtra as the favoured destination for investors, manufacturers and skill development during the Make in India week beginning from February 13 in the Bandra-Kurla Complex. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		SC refers Arunachal political crisis to five-judge constitution bench The Supreme Court on Thursday decided to set up a five-judge constitution bench to scrutinize the legality of the month-long political manoeuvers in Arunachal Pradesh which has plunged the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government into a crisis. E-visa a hit: 1,040% jump in tourist inflow Over 4.45 lakh tourists arrived in India last year through the online visa scheme registering a growth of 1040.4%. The highest number of tourists came from the UK followed by the United States and Russia. Why DTC needs to mind its bus-iness More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Kundapur mosque hopes to become a peace beacon The Badriya Jum'a Masjid, a landmark on Kodi beach in Kundapur, holds out a new hope. Let IAS officers oversee infra work in B'luru: CS Facing a barrage of criticism over poor handling of gar bage, traffic and road infra structure, the new chief secretary Arvind Jadhav has mooted a proposal to appoint senior IAS officers to monitor Bengaluru's developmental works. Bail denied to man who robbed on cop's advice The high court has rejected the bail plea of a man who robbed a lone woman on the instructions of a police constable. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Residents bear the brunt of water politics Water in India has not been spared from politics. This is the root cause of the problem that BWSSB is facing. Bengaluru is staring at a water crisis and citizens still have to bear the brunt of the politics. Two killed in road accident Two persons were killed in a road accident at Neeladripeta in Gandepalli mandal on the National Highway 16 when a lorry hit their bike on Thursday. 15 passengers hurt in bus mishap Fifteen passengers travelling in an RTC bus were injured when their bus ploughed into a wayside drain at Ventapragada village of Peddaparupudi mandal in Krishna district on Thursday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Sri Lanka releases 55 TN fishermen Tamil Nadu government announced that 55 out of 104 fishermen from the state, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan army in recent months, were released by the island nation on Thursday. Centre nod for 800MW power plant The Union environment ministry has given permission for a new thermal power project in Chennai. Fishers oppose sea cucumber ban, illegal trade thrives There has been a spurt in seizure of sea cu cumbers ­ protected species that are poached for their high-value in far-east ­ in Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		DRI detects Rs 10 crore fraud by exporters The Ahmedabad zonal unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has detected a fraud of Rs 10 crore by several statebased exporters who had taken undue benefits under Vishesh Krishi Gram Upaj Yojana (VKGUY). 'No Babri tragedy, had Ram's birth site been proved' A prominent nuclear physicist from Islamabad Professor Parvez Hudbhoy said on Wednesday that science and reasoning should truimph over religion and said that if Lord Ram's birth had been proved scientifically, there would not have been any Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya. Businessman, family attacked with swords A CCTV grab of a sword fight involving a woman on a thoroughfare has put a question mark on the law and order situation in eastern parts of the city. The incident took place on December 20 in full public view. The accused are seen assaulting the complainant and his family members with swords, bringing the traffic to a standstill. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Tent City turns into fortress for Makar Sankranti Snan The entire Magh Mela area has been turned into a fortress on the eve of Makar Sankranti snan on Wednesday on Sangam. HC notice to UPPSC officials The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday issued notice to officiating chairman of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Sunil Kumar Jain and a member of UPPSC Syed Farman Ali on a PIL which has challenged their appointment to the said posts. HC orders Allahabad DM to look into Meergunj flesh trade The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the district magistrate of Allahabad to look into the issue of commercial flesh trade allegedly going on in the Meerganj area here and relocate it to the outskirts of the city, if possible, as has been suggested by the petitioner. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		HC issues notice to SEC and state on CMC mayor's election controversy Taking cognizance of a petition challenging the decision of State Election Commission(SEC) to hold the Cuttack Municipal Corporation mayor's election on January 22 without conducting bypoll to ward 21, Orissa high court on Thursday issued notices to SEC and state government. Basanta Panda elected BJP Odisha president Basanta Panda was unanimously elected the BJP Odisha president here on Thursday. Slow work on bridge over Hansua river angers villagers The 100 ft bridge over crocodile-infested Hansua river at Tantiapala village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district is hanging fire due to alleged slipshod attitude of the authorities concerned. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		'Only two villagers developed blurred vision' Government admits "posterior capsule opacity" developed only in two patients leading to blurred vision nearing blindness after the cataract operation in an eye camp in Sheopur. Under observation, the two patients may be sent to Gwalior for laser treatment after January 23. CM in Singapore: MP signs four MoUs with Singapore cos, Chouhan to return today Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will return to Bhopal on Friday after his four-day visit to Singapore. Muslims fly kites on Patang Utsav, bring 'til laddoos' for Hindus BHOPAL: Spreading the message of unity at “Patang Utsav” in Bhopal on Makar Sankranti, 90% of participants are Muslims. Nasir Khan, Bablu Khan and Allu were the winners of the kite flying competition in the 19th edition of the same organized this year on Thursday at Mandakini ground on Kolar Road. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab sinking in Pak drugs worth Rs 7,500 crore per year: AIIMS At a time when the nexus between terrorists and drug smugglers in Pakistan has come under a harsh spotlight after the Pathankot airbase attack, a new study by AIIMS has found that opioids worth Rs 7,500 crore are consumed in Punjab every year. Two killed in two road accidents Two persons including an 8-year old child and one 21-year old computer engineer have been killed in two road accidents in the last 24 hours in Chandigarh. SpiceJet told to give Rs 10,000 compensation for deficient service Panchkula District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed airliner SpiceJet Limited to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a resident of Sector 6 for not giving a refund on his cancelled ticket. More Chandigarh News»

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