News Digest: Can't blindly follow other nations' laws: SC

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, January 12, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Can't blindly follow other nations' laws: SC Seeking chemical castration for child rapists, the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association told the apex court that there had been a surge in child sexual abuse cases in recent years, going up from 38,172 in 2012 to 89,423 in 2014. Plan for chemical castration of rapists regressive: Maneka Gandhi Should child rapists be tattooed? Not quite endorsing the move, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said punishment where a child rapist was tattooed with a number or something that denoted his criminal past could be debated. SC wants harsher penalty for 'atrocious' child rapes in the country Calling child rape cases “atrocious, inconceivable and cruel crimes”, the Supreme Court on Monday favoured tougher punishment for offenders but said it was for Parliament to consider harsher measures, including chemical castration. More India News»

		Business
		Unitech bosses granted interim bail in cheating case A Delhi court on Monday granted three days' interim bail to top Unitech officials in the alleged cheating case. Earlier in the day, Unitech Ltd Chairman and its two managing directors were sent to 14-day judicial custody. The case was filed by two investors. RBS India revises maternity, paternity policies Organizations have been enhancing employee benefits like maternity and paternity leaves and the latest to join the club is The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) India, a subsidiary of the RBS Group. GoAir to launch direct Mumbai-Leh flights this summer Low-cost airline GoAir will launch direct non-stop flights between Mumbai and Leh in the summer schedule, which will begin on March 27. Other than this, the summer schedule will introduce a Bangalore-Port Blair flight as well. More Business News»

		Environment
		Moonlight drives marine creatures in Arctic winter In the absence of any sunlight, it is the moonlight that drives the migrations of tiny marine animals through the permanently dark and frigid Arctic winter, a study says. Researchers say, zooplankton — tiny animals found near the surface in aquatic environments — keep moving during the Arctic winter. Higher temp during winter can hit wheat crop: Experts Comparatively higher temperatures during the ongoing winters have become a cause of concern for the wheat-growers in Punjab and Haryana with experts fearing productivity loss if mercury continues to remain this way. Mozambique park sees wildlife numbers grow after war Lions are getting pregnant and the waterbuck population is soaring at one of Mozambique's main national parks, once the scene of fighting during a civil war which virtually wiped out the park's lions, elephants and many other species. More Environment News»

		World
		Canadian tourist detained in Afghanistan since 2010 released A Canadian who was held by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2010 has been released. Al-Qaida threatens Saudis, US over militants' execution The expert bomb-maker from al-Qaida's Yemeni branch has threatened Saudi Arabia and the United States, vowing revenge for the Saudi execution of several militants earlier this month. Pak opposes preconditions for Afghan-Taliban peace talks Pakistan on Monday said that no precondition should be attached for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, as a key meeting of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US began here to revive the stalled peace process and encourage the militants to end 15 years of violence. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Hrithik Roshan gifts himself a Rolls Royce Hrithik Roshan had a rocking birthday this year. Abhishek Bachchan scolds photographers? Farah Khan threw a birthday brunch at her Andheri pad on January 9, 2016. The event was a star-studded affair. Censor Board orders 150 cuts in KKHH 3? Ever since the promos of Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 hit the internet, it was obvious that the film would have a nightmare while securing a certificate from the Censor Board. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		SpaceX to retry ocean rocket landing after success on land Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX will attempt to land its next Falcon 9 rocket on a barge in the Pacific Ocean. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Nasa ocean-monitoring satellite, is slated to blast off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on January 17. SpaceX has tried ocean landings twice without success. 'Moon villages' could be a reality by 2030 Villages on the Moon, constructed through coopera ion between astronauts and robotic systems on the lunar surface, may become a reality as early as 2030, scientists say. Found: A healthy way to make coffee Scientists have developed a new method of roasting green coffee beans that could enhance the health benefits of the brew. More Science News»

		Sports
		Lionel Messi wins record fifth FIFA Ballon d'Or Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi won an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or award in Zurich on Monday reclaiming the prize from three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Transitional India meet depleted Australia in series opener While Australia have confirmed their XI for the first game at the WACA, there is still conjecture about what team India will field. Australia v India ODIs: Five talking points As India head into the five-match series with the World Cup winners, a look at some of the subtexts to the contest. More Sports News»

		Technology
		8 ways smartphones in India will change in 2016 2015 was a good year for smartphones. It is expected that 2016 will see a bigger shift: (a lot) better features for low- to mid-range smartphones, and better design & faster-than-ever performance for high-end models.Here's a look at the 8 ways smartphones in the Indian market are likely to change this year. Xiaomi Redmi 3 with metal body, 4,100mAh battery launched Xiaomi Redmi 3 also sports a 5-inch HD screen, octa-core Snapdragon 616 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and Android Lollipop-based MIUI 7 software. Flipkart names new CEO in management reshuffle India’s largest e-tailer Flipkart has reshuffled its top-deck. Sachin Bansal, CEO and co-founder of Flipkart, has been appointed as the executive chairman and its other co-founder & COO Binny Bansal as the new CEO of the company. More Technology News»

		Education
		Kerala becomes 1st state in country to achieve 100% primary education Vice-President Hamid Ansari will officially declare the 100% primary education status achieved by Kerala here on Wednesday. 17 of 1.8 lakh candidates ace CAT 2015, highest in 5 years Seventeen of the 1.8 lakh candidates who appeared for the Common Admission Test 2015 bagged the perfect score, the highest in the last five years. Government shifts stand, against minority tag for Aligarh Muslim University The BJP-led NDA government appeared to ruffle fresh feathers by taking a stand in the Supreme Court on Monday that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) could not be categorized as a ‘minority’ institution. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		17 of 1.8 lakh candidates ace CAT 2015, highest in 5 years Seventeen of the 1.8 lakh candidates who appeared for the Common Admission Test 2015 bagged the perfect score, the highest in the last five years. Housewife head of Shani shrine trust A 40-year-old housewife has broken a five-century-old glass ceiling with her appointment as the first woman chairperson of Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust in Ahmednagar district. A culinary date with the sun on Sankranti An NGO that promotes the use of solar power will inaugurate an energy park at Bhayander after Makar Sankranti. The authorities will demonstrate the use of solar devices like cookers and dryers to schoolchildren. They have also installed a biogas plant and charcoal unit in order to limit the use of modern fuels. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		'Cops can certify electronic proof in Kobad case' A trial court has allowed Delhi police to place on record additional evidence comprising certificates of electronic evidence in a case in which Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy is facing trial for allegedly trying to set up a base for the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Double role': AIIMS plaint goes in circles The inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged scam in procurement at All India Institute of Medical Sciences has led to a comic situation of an official writing to himself and then seeking action from his boss, against whom too the CBI has passed strictures. The official concerned is Manoj Jhalani, chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the union health ministry, and the boss is AIIMS director M C Mishra. Call drop: Telcos term Trai regulation 'arbitrary' Everyone wants a mobile phone but no one wants a mobile tower, cellular operators told Delhi high court on Monday, calling Telecom Regular Authority of India's call drop compensation rule is a "knee-jerk reaction". More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Speaker to refer Justice Adi's case to Chief Justice within a week In a U-turn, legislative assembly speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on Monday said he would soon refer the motion moved by the Congress legislators seeking Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi's removal to Karnataka high court Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee for necessary action. Invitation to Rahul Gandhi for Invest Karnataka meet sparks row The Congress government's invitation to AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to be the chief guest at the Invest Karnataka meet to be held from February 3 to 5 has sparked a controversy. Fill vacant posts of KAT panel members in 4 months: Karnataka HC The Karnataka high court has directed both the state as well as the union government to take steps to fill up within four months the vacant posts of judicial as well as administrative members in the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) . More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Krishnakriti wraps up in Hyderabad Krishnakriti wraps up in Hyderabad Parties make moves to finalize candidates With the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the schedule for the GHMC elections, political parties have stepped up the pace of finalizing their candidates. Colleges jittery as deadline for NAAC accreditation inches closer With the deadline for National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) fast approaching, more than 85 per cent of the 1,378 colleges in Telangana are set to face a cut in grants as they are yet to submit documents required for accreditation. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Tamil Nadu court awards 5-yr jail to crew, guards of US ship A Tuticorin court on Monday awarded five-year jail terms to 10 crew members and 25 security guards - 23 of them foreigners - of a ship that illegally sailed into Indian waters three years ago loaded with arms and ammunition. Brain dead student's organs donated in city The organs of a 20-year-old student were harvested and given to those in need on Monday. Now, affordable voice prosthesis for throat cancer patients In less than two months, throat cancer patients who have lost their voice boxes to surgeries can regain their voice, thanks to a new and cost-effective voice prosthesis. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Air fares to Dubai at a high If you are planning to visit Dubai over next few days, be ready to shell out extra for air tickets. Heavy traffic on the Ahmedabad-Dubai route, following the movement of NRGs in large numbers and the Dubai Shopping Festival has led to a spike in air fares. 90-year-old Gujarati man looks for a wife After completing nine decades of his life, Ahmedabad-based retired banker Mansukhlal (name changed) is now looking for a partner. Music records community's struggles, says Aruna Roy Magsaysay award winner and RTI activist d RTI activist Aruna Roy said that at its core the country's Constitution is based on the ideals of tolerance and compassion. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		9.5L to take TET exam on Feb 2 Uttar Pradesh Teachers Eligibility Test (UP-TET)– 2015 would be conducted by Examination Regulatory Authority at 1,200 examination centres on February 2. Around 9.5 lakh candidates have applied for the exam that would test teaching capability of applicants for government schools across the state. Shastri Bridge to be illuminated with LED lights The Magh Mela this year will boast of several firsts. The Shastri Bridge would be illuminated with LED lights and the mela campus would have a huge idol of ‘Maa Ganga’ and also a reception desk for the visitors. Magh Mela draws near but work still incomplete Only four days are left for the start of the Magh Mela, which would span over 868 acres. Though the administration on Sunday claimed that majority of preparations were near completion, the ground reality presented a different picture altogether. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		CBI grills Odisha Cricket Association secretary in Ponzi scam CBI, probing the mega chit fund scam, on Monday grilled Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbada Behera to probe suspected diversion of crores of public deposits into Odisha Premier League (OPL), a state version of Indian Premier League. Op saves cobra's life after it swallows fairness cream tube A rare one-and-a-half hour surgery was performed to save the life of a cobra at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in the city on Sunday. BJP postpones party election in Jagatsinghpur Wary of possible factionalism in the party ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the state on February 6 and 7, BJP has decided to postpone its organizational election in Jagatsinghpur. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Two dalit IAS officers protest Madhya Pradesh govt's bias Two Madhya Pradesh cadre dalit IAS officers on Monday accused the state government of caste bias besides “oppression and harassment” at the hands of officials close to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 17 villagers complain of blurred vision or blindness after an eye camp in Sheopur Forty-five days after cataract surgery in an eye camp held in distant district of Sheopur , 17 villagers have lodged complaint of “ blurred vision or blindness.” Eye specialists from Gwalior will carry out their eye check -up again on Tuesday. Action against corrupt officials as per norms not caste, Lok Ayukta Navlekar says Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta P P Navlekar has said that officials prosecuted under anti-corruption laws were not based on caste or creed but on the violations they have committed during the service. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Kejriwal to meet families of Gurdaspur martyrs A day before attending the Maghi Rally in Muktsar on January 14, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will meet families of the two defense personnel martyred in the Gurdaspur attack in the Pathankot attack. New traffic lights begin functioning The recently installed traffic lights at Madhya Marg have started functioning replacing the manual management of traffic rush during odd hours in Chandigarh. 'Yoga helps in enhancing immunity' Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convocation address at the PGI last year in September that emphasized integration of yoga with medical science, Dr Meenu Singh, a paediatrician at the PGI, has initiated the holistic system. More Chandigarh News»

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