News Digest: Intel agencies wary over AQIS threat to target cities

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, December 29, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Intel agencies wary over AQIS threat to target cities The Indian security establishment is taking the threat issued by the al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in a recent video very seriously as the outfit asks ‘jihadi’ fighters to target the Army outside its “small, secure area of Kashmir” by striking cities like Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Triple talaq: Penal law in sync with past ones on social evils The Centre's bill to make instant triple talaq a criminal offence may have attracted criticism that marriage is a civil contract and breaches therein should not invite penal consequences, but the legislation appears in sync with the Supreme Court's August 22 ruling declaring instant oral talaq to be "manifestly arbitrary". Trinamool's silence in House comes as surprise Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress sprung a surprise with party MPs in Lok Sabha conspicuous in their silence during an animated discussion on the bill to ban instant triple talaq. More India News»

		Business
		Cut sales tax or VAT on fuel: Centre to states Anil Ambani's RCom to sell assets to Mukesh's Jio Jio, which is controlled by his brother and the country's richest man Mukesh Ambani, emerged as the highest bidder in a transparent process conducted under the supervision of "a high-powered committee" comprising experts from banking, telecom and law. Jaitley to chair pre-Budget meet with financial sector regulators More Business News»

		Environment
		Bali declares 'garbage emergency' amid sea of waste The problem has grown so bad that officials in Bali last month declared a "garbage emergency" across a six-kilometre (3.7-mile) stretch of coast that included popular beaches Jimbaran, Kuta and Seminyak. Aravallis turning into land of poaching: Activists With the authorities turning a blind eye to the ongoing depredation, the Aravalli forest region is fast becoming a land of poaching and illegal construction as well as garbage dumping, wildlife activists said on Wednesday. Starfish making comeback after syndrome killed millions Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them. From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars from British Columbia to Mexico. The starfish would develop lesions and then disintegrate, their arms turning into blobs of goo. More Environment News»

		World
		Pak anti-graft body gives nod for case against Sharifs Pakistan's anti-graft body has given the nod for launching a corruption case against ousted premier Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif. 'St Petersburg supermarket bombing was terrorism' Putin was speaking on Thursday at an awards ceremony in the Kremlin for Russian personnel who served in Syria. Gay Singaporean loses bid to adopt surrogate son The man, a doctor in a long-term relationship, initially approached authorities about adopting in the city-state but was told a homosexual couple were unlikely to get permission, according to court documents. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kriti Sanon holidays with Sushant Singh Rajput and friends With New Year round the corner, the B-town celebs are flocking to distant locations to ring in 2018 on exotic vacations with their near and dear ones. Milind Soman and ladylove Ankita Konwar to run 130 kms together Milind Soman and his ladylove Ankita Konwar undoubtedly make up for one special couple and they are all set to prove it. Inside Surveen Chawla's fairytale wedding in Italy Surveen Chawla took everyone by surprise when announced that she got hitched in a hush-hush ceremony in Italy. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		When artificial intelligence outsmarted humans in 2017 The year 2017 saw artificial intelligence bringing the stuff of science fiction closer to reality by not only gaining a foothold in all spheres of life but also getting the better of humans in many fields. Air pollution affects birth weight, study finds Air pollution may be harming babies even before they are born, adversely affecting their birth weight, Chennai-based researchers have found. NASA's new telescope to see big picture of universe NASA is planning to launch a next-generation space telescope that will provide the largest picture of the universe ever seen, with the same depth and clarity as the Hubble Space Telescope. More Science News»

		Sports
		Ashwin-Jadeja need to change their style in South Africa: Rahane "I feel Ashwin and Jadeja, they both have it in them to deliver abroad and not only in India. See when you play in India you have to bowl in a certain way and if you see the likes of Moeen Ali, Nathan Lyon if they are playing in England, Australia they have to bowl in a different style," Rahane said. Djokovic to face Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi comeback Djokovic hasn't played since retiring from his quarter-final at Wimbledon against Tomas Berdych in July with an elbow injury. The 30-year-old will make his comeback on Friday before launching his competitive campaign as top seed at the Qatar Open next week. Bumrah can be good choice for first Test: Nehra "Jasprit Bumrah can be a good choice for the first Test in Cape Town. I don't know what's there in the team management's mind but he is the kind of bowler, who can be an asset on the Newlands track during the first Test," Ashish Nehra said. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple's iPhone slowdown: 8 things you must know Airtel to offer 1GB data, unlimited calling for Rs 93 It seems that the telecom data war is not going to end anytime soon. Leading telecom operator Airtel has now rolled out a new plan for its prepaid users. LG starts rolling out Android Oreo update for LG G6 users South Korean tech giant LG has started rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo update for its flagship smartphone LG G6 in China. More Technology News»

		Education
		Board exams: Date sheet in Ist week of Jan, confirms CBSE Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the date sheets for the Class 10 and 12 board exams in the first week of January, controller exams, CBSE K K Choudhary told TOI. The date sheets can be accessed from the CBSE website — cbse.nic.in. Apply for PSTET 2017-18 Exam: Last date for application extended till December 31 UGC NET 2017 November exam results to be announced next month More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Palghar college that charged Rs 14 lakh now under fee regulator Move to bring slum rehab schemes under RTI ambit Western Railway doubles women security personnel More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		McD's: Outlets in east, north risky McDonald's on Thursday warned its customers that they face potential health hazard while eating at its outlets run by CPRL in north and east India. CBI nabs cop while taking bribe of Rs 1.2 lakh RTR project in slow lane, hurdles tripping infra More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Jayadeva flyover will bite the dust in 4 months Shah will face farmers' ire if he doesn't resolve row: JD(S) MLA Two years after asking schools for transparency in fee structure, govt loses its way More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Spurt in booze & drive cases at noon, 1900 fined RTI plea on Metro approvals hits wall, CRS cites strategic interest Tollywood star Samantha can't weave JV dream? Director of Handlooms and Textiles and Apparel Export Parks Shailaja Ramaiyer said no decision has been taken on the proposal."Nothing has been decided. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Liquor in PET bottles: Government issued notice Drinking liquor may be injurious to a person's health, but allowing people to guzzle it out of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles hurts the environment, a PIL plea on Thursday. Sasikala on 'maun vrath' to bring down AIADMK government "I visited my aunt to get her blessings after I won the R K Nagar byelection, but I got to know that she has been observing penance by choosing not to speak since Amma's death anniversary," said Dhinakaran. Four held for kidnapping businessman, friend More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		AEPC opens office at GCCI to boost exports Bank NPAs drop in Gujarat 'Architecture played key role in winning World Heritage tag' More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Panda of Sangam goes online Book on Pakistan's former Prez's life Allahabad Museum director Sunil Gupta said, "He served in various diplomatic positions in Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and the Permanent Mission to the UN at Geneva before being appointed as consul general, Dubai, in 1994. Merrymaking with friends Anuragini Singh threw a Christmas party for her buddies at her house, recently. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Vishva Hindu Parishad wants commission reports on Kandhamal riots to make public Security firm agreement cancelled after rape bid on minor girl Eight held for Sundargarh murder attempt According to police, the reason for the crime was land dispute, and the prime accused had hired three sharpshooters to kill Mundari.According to police sources, two out of the eight arrested are the prime accused. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Two MP ministers oppose New Year celebrations My govt to focus on welfare of farmers and women: CM Shivraj Man stalks school friend, threatens to throw acid Accused Is Still At Large More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		BJP councillors meet to decide upon mayoral candidate Tutor robbed of cash and mobile phone at knife-point Couple's kin come to blows in Sec 17 More Chandigarh News»

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