News Digest: Consumer departments facing neglect, says Paswan

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, December 25, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Consumer departments facing neglect, says Paswan Despite successive governments paying lip service to the motto ‘consumer is king’, consumer affairs departments in both Centre and states are the “most neglected” wings, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Saturday. Govt mulls law for harsher punishment in cheque bounce cases In view of demonetisation and the move towards cashless transactions, the Centre is mulling changes in law to make for harsher punishment for ‘cheque bounce’ cases, sources said. Amid rush for white money, Pune business converts cash into black While several businessmen with hoards of black money have come under the lens for exchanging illegal tenders with legitimate currency notes using intermediaries, here is a case of a Pune-based industrialist who has been caught converting his legitimate income into black money—the transaction is over Rs 200 crore. More India News»

		Business
		Sensex descend for second week, slide 449 points The BSE benchmark Sensex marked biggest loss not seen since five weeks, dropping 448.86 points to finish at 26,040.70, while the broader Nifty dipped below the psychological 8,000-level. Arun Jaitley faces hurdles for biggest tax reform launch Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who aims to push the tax reform to replace various central and state levies with one tax, is facing resistance from states after his surprise decision last month to scrap high-value currency notes. Nike's poor India run continues, loss widens Nike’s sales have fallen to Rs 764 crore in FY16 compared to Rs 803 crore in FY15, data from Registrar of Companies (RoC) showed. Its loss widened to Rs 170 crore in 2015-16 compared to a loss of Rs 101 crore in 2-014-15. More Business News»

		Environment
		New species of ant-like desert bees found World's last wild frankincense forests are under threat Last intact wild frankincense forests on Earth are under threat as prices have shot up in recent years with the global appetite for essential oils. Overharvesting has led to the trees dying off faster than they can replenish, putting the ancient resin trade at risk. Arctic heatwave could break records this Christmas Temperatures at the North Pole could be up to 20 degrees higher than average this Christmas Eve, in what scientists say is a record-breaking heatwave, a media report said on Saturday. Forecasting models show that there is about a two per cent chance of a heatwave event occurring every year. More Environment News»

		World
		Egypt's prez says military accounts for 1.5-2% of economy "It has been said that the military's economy is worth 20 or even 50 per cent of the economy. I wish. We have nothing to hide; the military accounts for between 1.5 to 2 per cent of the economy," Sisi said, adding that the military is subject to regulations and auditing. Philippines evacuates thousands ahead of Christmas typhoon Nock-Ten is expected to be packing winds between 203- 250 kilometres per hour when it crosses over Catanduanes, a remote island of 250,000 people in the Bicol region late on Sunday. It is then expected to hit the country's main island of Luzon, including the capital Manila, on Monday. What was the Berlin attack suspect doing in Milan? Nobody comes to Sesto San Giovanni by chance, say the residents of this dreary working-class Milan suburb where police caught up with Berlin market attack suspect Anis Amri. So why, Italy wonders, did Europe's most wanted man end up here? More World News»

		Entertainment
		Govinda says he knew that he'll never work with Salman Khan again Govinda stated that the reason for his long haul was because of the presence of ‘camps’ within the industry that decide which actor stays and which gets left behind in the cold. Akshay Kumar's 'Jolly LLB 2' in a legal soup A popular shoe brand has sent a legal notice to the 'Jolly LLB 2' team for defamation and commercial disparagement after the brand was run down in a dialogue in the film's trailer for its cheap quality products. Sussanne Khan comes out in support of Hrithik Roshan If you want to know how to remain friends with your former partner, take notes from Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan. The two may have parted ways in 2013, but it’s commendable how they continue to look out for each other. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Farm residue can fire your cars, cut fuel import bill The red patches in Nasa photos, indicating small fires dotting the plains of Punjab in early October, were plain enough. By early November, the patches got more intense, as blazing crop stubble and billowing smoke became a common sight in Punjab and even west UP. India successfully tests smart anti-airfield weapon system India on Saturday successfully tested the smart anti-airfield weapon system, capable of engaging ground targets in a range of 100kms from a fighter aircraft, at the integrated test range in Chandipur. ISRO to launch world's first rocket with 3 rovers to moon in 2017 More Science News»

		Sports
		Ranji Trophy: TN beat star-studded Karnataka to enter semis Tamil Nadu held their nerves, survived the deluge of dismissals to register a seven-wicket win over Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals and become the first team to book a place in the semifinals. Viswanathan Anand looks to end year on a high Viswanathan Anand will look to end the year on a high as he prepares for the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, which will be held in Doha from Monday. Brushing aside apathy, Advani continues to pot titles Advani has won a staggering eight world titles in the last three years and he continues to go about his business unassumingly. It is as if he is expected to lap up the trophies every season. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Two biggest 'enemies' of PM Modi's cashless economy push When it comes to cybercrime, India ranks 6th in the world. The incidence of cybercrime in the country has doubled in just one year. RJio's free services may end on Dec 31, here's why Bharti Airtel today moved telecom dispute tribunal TDSAT against TRAI allowing Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio to continue free promotional offer beyond stipulated 90 days, charging the regulator of being a "mute spectator" to violations. Reliance Jio user base to shrink once services become paid: Fitch Ratings Riding on the free voice and data offers, Reliance Jio Infocomm's subscriber base may touch 100 million by March 2017 end said Nitin Soni, Director at Fitch Ratings. However, it may even shrink once the telecom operator starts charging its customers, he added. More Technology News»

		Education
		IIT-Kharagpur to slash fee hike by half Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur looked poised to slash the proposed hike in registration fees for MTech and PhD scholars by half following unprecedented protests at the institute for over a week. ​New IITs have better faculty-student ratio Despite their more comfortable situation at the moment, the newer IITs are not slackening pace. IITs seek review of fee concessions for special category students The cost incurred on such students is "adversely affecting the financial viability of the institutions and eroding their corpus funds", IITs said in a report. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		24-year-old girl from Bhendi Bazaar tops dental exam, prepares to fight BMC polls Cardinal holds out hope amid despair At a Mulund church, ATM means `Any Time Mercy' on Christmas More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		'US woman giving conflicting versions' Anti-CM stir leads to hiring of more guest teachers Instead of jingle bells, it's alarm bells for them More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		60-day payment deadline leaves Kempegowda allottees in a fix Centre freezes Rs 35 cr police funds for K'taka Bus terminus at Kalasipalya could see 8,000 birds lose their home More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Midday meal tragedy: Boy falls in sambar vessel, dies Three women who were employed as cooks and also served the meals now face the prospect of being prosecuted as per the IPC's provisions for causing death by negligence. The Nakrekarl rural police have registered a case against the three following a complaint from the boy's grandfather. Jagannath's parents are farm labourers. Nalsar digitises land records in six villages Three-tier security cover for temple town Yadadri More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Colleges move early to train students for job market Sasikala family will ruin AIADMK: Sasikala Pushpa Sasikala Pushpa says she would go all out to prevent former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's aide V K Sasikala from becoming the party general secretary.Excerpts from an interview with Pushpa by . Political upheavals and uncertainties await 2017 More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Case registered after PMO directive CM Vijay Rupani to inaugurate Kankaria Carnival The week-long Kankaria Carnival will be inaugurated by chief minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday wherein projects worth Rs46.72 crore will be dedicated to the citizens. The entry to the carnival is free. Body found from creek area More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Government begins process to give school bags Government can take shrine land for public use: High Court The Allahabad high court held on Friday that the government can acquire land where religious prayers are held and convert it for the "benefit of the public at large". Hectic buying for Christmas in market At a time when Allahabadies are making last minute preparations for making their Christmas celebrations special, markets of the Sangam city are buzzing with hectic activities. Among various items, Santa gown and accessories that goes with the dress, are the most sought item. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Naveen Patnaik requests Suresh Prabhu for re-commissioning of Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar stations Two days after seeking a whopping Rs 5870 crore railway package for Odisha in the upcoming budget, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday demanded the Centre for re-commissioning of railway stations at Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar. Cabinet nod to name irrigation scheme after Parbati Giri To appease the agitating peasants of western Odisha, the state government on Saturday announced to name Rs 6600 crore mega lift irrigation scheme after popular freedom fighter Parbati Giri. Odisha: Eight get life term for chopping 2 labourers' palms More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Gwalior farmers pay kids' school fees in paddy Bhitarwar region of Gwalior is known as the rice bowl of Madhya Pradesh, and paddy is the main crop of the kharif season. Villages here have run out of cash, like in most rural parts of MP. TOI had earlier reported how demonetisation has revived barter economy in villages as a means for bare survival. Going cashless at one go is impossible, says Madhya Pradesh FM The concept of cashless society in Madhya Pradesh is facing administrative hiccups with officials getting less time to train people for a cashless or online transaction. Dental students to hold protest rally A day after locking main gate of their colleges, the dental students have decided to organise a protest rally from Raj Bhawan to CM House on Monday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Dushyant Chautala demands 'Dangal' movie to be tax free in Haryana Sex ratio inHaryana improving: Anil Vij No relief for Mullana from HC More Chandigarh News»

Wear your attitude on your wristFastrack Make Audi A4 yours at an EMI of 1670/lakhVolkswagen Finance Watch Sultan only on Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video Men casual shoes at Rs. 399 for the cool youReliance Footprint Virat’s 'Hatke' ideas about new beginningsManyavar Recommended by Colombia

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