News Digest: Govt sets up expert group to tackle cyber crime

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, December 25, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Govt sets up expert group to tackle cyber crime Concerned over cyber attacks as well as misuse of social media for terror indoctrination, the home ministry on Wednesday constituted an expert study group to draw up a comprehensive roadmap to tackle cyber crimes in the country. '90% of political fundings in 2013-14 came from India Inc' Who funds political parties? Corporates do. According to an analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 90% of political funds have been contributed by corporates or business houses. CPM writes to President, Cong protests 'ordinance raj' CPM leader Sitaram Yechury has asked President Pranab Mukherjee not to sanction any ordinance bypassing parliamentary procedures even as Congress slammed the move as subversion and weakening of institutions. More India News»

		Business
		Airtel hikes charges of voice calls over net It’s bad news for hundreds and thousands of people who use popular internet services like Skype, Viber, Facebook messenger and Google hangouts to make voice calls to family and friends abroad. FDI norms eased for medical devices In a bid to encourage investments in domestic manufacturing, the government on Wednesday allowed 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route in the medical devices sector. Coal block auction process starts today The process of auctioning coal blocks, the allotments of which were cancelled by the Supreme Court, will begin on Thursday with the registration of bidders. More Business News»

		Environment
		Chennai beaches set for Olive Ridley nesting season Olive Ridley turtles are finding it tougher to nest on the city’s beaches with each passing year, having to elude fishing nets, find their way through piles of garbage and past illegal constructions along the shore. Odisha to prepare master plan for ecotourism The Odisha government has decided to prepare a master plan for promotion and development of ecotourism destinations involving various communities, tour operators and other stakeholders. Climate, clearance process dominated environment scene in 2014 The MoEF has accorded environment clearances to 241 projects during the tenure of the present government. More Environment News»

		World
		Not clear if Jordanian jet was shot down: US official The coalition is investigating what caused the F-16 to go down over Syria and is concerned about the pilot's well-being Sony's 'The Interview' made available on digital platforms "The Interview" will be available for rental on a variety of digital platforms including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a separate Sony website beginning on Wednesday. Abe's pick for defence minister may rile China Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, who was re-elected on Wednesday, is expected to appoint lawmaker Gen Nakatani as the new defence minister. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Sonam Kapoor celebrates Anil Kapoor's 58th birthday in Dubai Sonam Kapoor brought in her dad Anil Kapoor’s 58th birthday in Dubai Rishi Kapoor's Santa beard draws attention Rishi Kapoor, looking like Santa Claus with a white beard and an infectious smile, walked into a recent art exhibition Bollywood's popular patch-ups More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Ancient rock shows signs of water on Mars A new analysis of the oldest meteorite from Mars suggests that early Martian landscape had water, but instead of vast oceans the Red Planet probably held smaller seas. World's first hybrid flight takes off The first ever hybrid aircraft to be able to recharge its batteries took off on Wednesday— potentially signalling the beginning of a new form of low-carbon, green flight. Cusat scientists isolate algae capable of producing biofuel The algae, prymnesium parvum, which has high content of phosphates and nitrates, is found in the backwaters, off Mattanchery harbour. More Science News»

		Sports
		I am looking to win more titles in 2015, says Saina Nehwal A successful 2014 behind her, Saina Nehwal is now looking for an "even better" outing in the coming year with her eyes trained on the Rio Olympics in 2016. Sarita Devi's suspension: HC seeks Boxing India's response The Delhi High Court sought a response from Boxing India on a plea challenging AIBA decision to suspend Sarita Devi for refusing to accept the Asiad medal. Mario Balotelli not suited to Liverpool's style, says Rodgers Mario Balotelli will return to Liverpool's squad for the festive programme but manager Brendan Rodgers was hardly effusive in his praise of striker's credentials. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Airtel to charge more for internet calls Airtel has changed its terms and conditions for 3G and 2G data plans following which the telco will exclude Voice over IP services (VoIP) from these. Samsung Galaxy Note Edge launched at Rs 64,900 The phone's display curves on the right edge and looks like a stripe that can display additional information. 10 best Android smartphones of 2014 With so many smartphones, which ones can be called the best in the business? Take a look at our list of favourite Android smartphones of 2014 to find out… More Technology News»

		Education
		DAV basks in glory of its illustrious student Students and teachers of Dayanand Anglo Vedic College broke into impromptu celebrations on Wednesday following the announcement of Bharat Ratna being conferred upon their most famous student and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Fadnavis gifts Nagpur Maharashtra's 1st IIM The Devendra Fadnavis government on Wednesday gave Maharashtra and Nagpur an early New Year gift by announcing an IIM in the city that could start as early as the next academic session. SSC exam may soon be made online The examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) may soon be made online, if a recommendation of the expert group set up to review the SSC examination system is accepted. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Court lets ayurvedic doctors prescribe drugs The Bombay high court on Wednesday refused to stay an amendment to laws on medical practice in the state that permits integrated ayurved practitioners to prescribe allopathic medicines to a limited extent. It's cold out there, and your pets too feel the chill As the winter sets in, it’s not just you who feels the chills, pet animals too get affected. RBI cell claims it is out of RTI purview The Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR) cell of the Reserve Bank of India has refused to answer queries under the Right to Information (RTI) on the grounds that it is not a public authority. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Water supply to resume today Water supply to the affected areas of north, west, south Delhi, NDMC areas and Walled City is expected to resume gradually from Thursday morning, two days after water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal were shut down on Tuesday due to high levels of ammonia in raw water coming from Haryana. Delhi Metro rides high, keeps 3.9 lakh vehicles off roads The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), that celebrated 12 years of its operation on Wednesday, claimed to have kept nearly 3.9 lakh vehicles off roads in 2014. Camp on 'Good Governance Day' at BJP's Delhi unit As part of the Centre’s initiative to mark ‘Good Governance Day’ on the birthday of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP’s local unit in Trans-Yamuna area is organizing a camp to address public grievances. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		This season Royal hockey players have a reason to give Club’s Mentor Devaraj, Laid Low By Brain Tumour And Stroke, Could Do With More Merry Tidings BBMP yet to recognize unique property IDs for transactions Officials Say PID Numbers Will Be Used Only After Validating All Properties In City First attempt scheduled by univ, not student: HC More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Tirumala to burst at the seams on New Year The cold wave sweeping the country has not dampened the enthusiasm of the devotees of Lord Venkateshwara from seeking his darshan on January 1 and 2 on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi respectively. Man arrested for sending abusive emails to ex-boss Cyber crime sleuths arrested a former employee of an infrastructure development company for allegedly harassing his ex-boss through emails containing abusive content. Hyderabad tops in tuberculosis cases in Telangana state Both Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts have the highest number of cases with 6,612 and 5,791 TB patients respectively, according to TB India 2014. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Highways dept opens bids for 2 flyover projects The state highways department on Wednesday took a step closer to starting work on two key flyovers in the city by opening bid documents for a two-tier flyover in Velachery and one in Pallavaram. Air traffic controllers get simulator to hone skills Until now, they had been learning on the job after training at an Airports Authority of India (AAI) institute in Allahabad. Mystery over kidnap, rape claim of engg student The intrigue over an engineering student’s alleged rape on ECR continued on Wednesday with a constable being questioned, but doctors who examined the woman could not confirm rape. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Residents unite to fight civic apathy Residential societies in the New West Zone are grouping up to form informal residents welfare associations (RWA) – a step towards a civic renaissance — to the give voice to their civic woes. 50 CEOs confirm Vibrant participation Gujarat Government is awaiting confirmation from a number of other CEOs and political heads. Biting robber, dogged braveheart A 52-year-old man, Navin Thakkar, working at a petrol pump, battled a robber who tried to snatch a bag containing Rs 2.93 lakh in Khadia on Wednesday morning. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Malviya's house gathers dust at his birth anniv The House Number 357 Ahiyapur (now 510 Malviya Nagar) where the freedom fighter and social reformer Madan Mohan Malviya lived for around five decades was proposed to be developed as a ‘National Museum’ akin to that of ‘Nehru Memorial’ (Anand Bhawan) three years ago but the files related to it is gathering dust since then. Diplomas of institutes not affiliated with AICTE not at par with regular one: CAT The Allahabad Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stated that engineering diplomas awarded by institutes not affiliated with All India Council of Technical Education (AICTU) cannot be treated at par with regular degree/diploma for the purpose of promotion/employment in defence units. VHP to organize ghar wapsi in Bahraich in January Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organizations have announced to organize a ‘sahbhoj’ (community feast) followed by ‘ghar wapsi’ (homecoming) in January for families that had converted to Christianity. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		UGC team visits Khallikote College A University Grants Commission (UGC) team on Tuesday visited government-run Khallikote College here to assess the infrastructure facilities for restoration of its autonomous status. Mercury plummets, sales soar at Tibetan market for winter wear Temperatures have dipped and concurrently, the sale of winter garments is soaring at the Tibetan woolens market in Saheed Nagar.Jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, mufflers and monkey caps are fast flying off the shelves. Govt gives up OPGC-OHPCjoint venture proposal Legal impediments have stalled the state government's plan for a joint venture (JV) between two state-run agencies to participate in the e-auction of coal blocks . More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		PR minister Shukla at workshop on Good Governance Day Energy, mineral resources development and public relations minister Rajendra Shukla said the good governance will be meaningful only when desired services are delivered to common people within time-limit. 39 government servants of GAD selected for Excellence Awards General administration department’s 39 government servants have been selected for Excellence Awards on Good Governance Day. The awards are being given for performance during year 2012-13. CM Chouhan welcomes conferment of Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee and Pt. Malviya Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed happiness over conferment of Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously). More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Fog in Delhi grounds Shimla airport's dream to fly The plan to start air service to Shimla in December has been grounded once again, this time due to fog in Delhi. Raikot tense after clash between cops and protestors Panic gripped Raikot, about 40 kilometres from here, after police fired in the air to control protestors sitting on a hunger strike over possession of temple land on Wednesday. MLAs bring working of private universities in Punjab under focus The state of affairs in 22 private universities came under the scanner in Punjab assembly when a bill to set up Sant Baba Bhag Singh University in Jalandhar was put up before the house on Wednesday. More Chandigarh News»

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