News Digest: CBI probes Saradha payouts to Sudipta mentor

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, January 25, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		CBI probes Saradha payouts to Sudipta mentor Silicon group boss Shib Narayan Das was not on the Saradha Realty director's list, nor was a fulltime employee. But he was paid a hefty amount (Rs 42 lakh identified so far) by Saradha boss Sudipta Sen, say central agencies. Did Madan Mitra meet `Ponzi' chiefs at 5-star hotel? Did state transport minister Madan Mitra meet the bosses of two alleged Ponzi firms at a five-star hotel near the EM Bypass? Mitra, who is in judicial custody now, was interrogated by CBI officials who tried to find out the details of the meetings. Barack Obama India visit: Leaders' personal equation may balance relations As Barack Obama lands in New Delhi, much is being made of the personal "chemistry" between him and Narendra Modi. More India News»

		Business
		India-US trade deals: Framework on transfer pricing ready India and the US have agreed on a "broad framework" for resolving transfer pricing disputes involving America companies, paving the way for increasing business ties between the two countries. IPR and the great drug pricing dilemma The Obama visit could prove crucial for India's healthcare system. Intellectual property rights is listed as a priority area for discussion between the two nations, officials said. Maharashtra to be most attractive business destination in India: Fadnavis Looking to attract foreign investors to Maharashtra, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised them easier business environment and faster clearances as he works towards making his state the most preferred destination within India for investors. More Business News»

		Environment
		Panel to find ways to gauge pollution level The Central Pollution Control Board — country’s main pollution watchdog — has set up a panel to develop easy to understand "standard operating procedures" for evaluation of the impact of polluted air, water and land/soil on human health, flora and fauna in the "severely" polluted areas. Forest department plans to domesticate wild elephants in Kolhapur The territorial forest department of Kolhapur region has planned the domestication of wild elephants in Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Australia orders waste dumping ban on Great Barrier Reef Australia has ordered a ban on dumping dredge waste on most of the Great Barrier Reef, the environment minister said on Saturday, as part of a push to stop the UN declaring the site in danger. More Environment News»

		World
		Fighter jets escort US airliners after bomb threat A pair of F-16 fighter jets escorted two US commercial airliners to their landing in Atlanta on Saturday following a bomb threat online, an aviation spokesman said. Greek voters consider a turn to the Left Katerina Georgiou, 64, who used to own a private school, says that she will probably act out of fear when she decides who to vote for in Sunday’s general election. Rocket fire kills 21 in Ukrainian city Indiscriminate rocket fire that hit a market, schools and homes on Saturday in Ukraine’s strategically important coastal city of Mariupol killed at least 21 people, authorities said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		KRK calls Malaika Khan an 'old lady' Kamaal R Khan calls the film, Dolly Ki Doli, a complete waste of time and money. Bollywood celebs kiss in public #ThisWorldCupPoonamPandeyWill trends on Twitter More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Mega study on ayurveda's healing powers Perhaps for the first time leading research and medical institutions in the US-Harvard University, Scripps Clinic, University of California San Diego, Mt Sinai University , University of California San Francisco and Duke University -are collaborating on a project to study ayurveda's healing powers. Final attempt to hunt for missing comet lander In its final attempt to find the missing comet lander, scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) are deliberating to send Rosetta spacecraft, which is still orbiting the comet, to swoop down just six kilometres over the patch where the lander is thought to be. Soon, autonomous helicopter drone for Martian exploration NASA has revealed that it is working on a small helicopter that could fly ahead of future Mars rovers to improve surveillance and navigation abilities on the alien planet. More Science News»

		Sports
		Shock defeats for Chelsea and Manchester City in FA Cup Chelsea surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at home to third tier Bradford City while Manchester City lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough on a day of FA Cup shocks. Oz player Daniel hit on head, survives after unconsciousness An Australian cricketer Daniel Hughes was left unconscious briefly after being hit by a bouncer on his neck during a first grade match but fortunately escaped unscathed. HIL: Middleton brace inspires Ranchi to 2-1 win over Mumbai Veteran English playmaker Barry Middleton's brace inspired Ranchi Rays to a 2-1 victory over Dabang Mumbai in Hockey India League match on Saturday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Uber drivers can earn at least Rs 90,000 per month Uber starts paying drivers Rs 3,000 per day -- that is Rs 90,000 per month -- for just logging on to app for 12 hours a day. Ex-Googler on where Android phones lose to iPhones "If you give an employee the option to have an iPhone or Android phone, the first-order problem is that most of them are going to select iPhones," says former Android employee Tom Moss. 5 things 'WhatsApp on desktop' can't do After a long wait, WhatsApp has finally introduced a way to access the service on a PC. However, there are several limitations attached to it as the interface is limited to a web browser. More Technology News»

		Education
		Education middle path for middle-class President Obama's India visit highlights a paradigm shift in the new government's engagement with the US on issues relating to education. IIT-Gandhinagar eagerly awaits Uncle Sam's guidance Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, (IIT-Gn) the newbie among its fellow institutes in India, has got none other than Uncle Sam to hold its hand. No school for kids below 3 in Ahmedabad For parents seeking admission for a child younger than three years at pre-schools in the city, this may come as an eye opener. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		In south Mumbai churches, all hail `Yusuf, Mariam aur Yesu' The final Sunday of the month sees hundreds of people gather for a unique mass at St Stephen's Church on Malabar Hill. The Goan-born priest speaks his homily in textbook Hindi. HC asks 2 cops to face trial 23 years after torturing woman Police can’t torture an accused to extract information, the Bombay high court has ruled in a landmark judgment, and ordered two policemen to face trial for brutally assaulting a woman in custody 23 years ago. ACB gets transport dept papers for probe against Bhujbal While the water resources department led by senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan took more than a week to provide crucial documents to the anti-corruption bureau, the transport department handed over all relevant papers to the ACB the day the agency communicated with it. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Hotel near IGI 'sealed' for not treating waste After receiving a closure order last month, the hotel had appealed to NGT to revoke it. But on Friday, the green tribunal directed DPCC to go ahead with the closure. DU VC told to explain haste in announcing credit system Taking a serious view of Delhi University’s decision to announce choice-based credit system (CBCS), HRD ministry has sought an explanation from vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh asking him why it has been done without preparing the ground work. Rape survivor's family upset over Uber email The December 5 cab rape survivor and her family say they were disappointed and angry after they received an email from Uber announcing it has resumed its service in Delhi. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Accused gets bail in Rastogi murder case in Bengaluru The Karnataka high court has granted bail to Rasvin Chengappa, an accused in the murder of Saurabh Rastogi, a senior manager with an MNC. Digvijaya backs CM, pooh-poohs BJP in Bengaluru AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Digvijaya Singh on Saturday firmly backed the Siddaramaiah government, which is under fire from the opposition over the Arkavathy Layout denotification controversy, and accused the BJP of using the Raj Bhavan for "political gains". 100 people rescue baby kite in Bengaluru: BMRC staff, commuters go all out to rescue bird A 10-minute delay or power cut generally irks Metro users in the city, but that was not the case on Saturday morning. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		3 medicos among swine flu suspects Sources said the three medicos were given prophylactic anti-viral drugs. They have been told to stay in their hostel at Koti till a confirmation from the IMP. 'Translation opens window on literary horizon' A world without translations would be a world without Lorca, Victor Hugo, Tolstoy, Pushkin or the great Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish. Tale of 'unpleasant' truths Telling uncomfortable stories isn’t often an easy task. Especially if it seeks to unravel “unpleasant” truths about one of India’s largest corporate conglomerates or dwell deep into “not-so-sexy” subjects, such as conflict. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Bureaucrats to slug it out for cricket honours today in Chennai With the World Cup round the corner, even bureaucrats are taking to cricket. Retired officials appointed on special duty cost TNEB 12crore per year It’s not just retired IAS and IPS officers who are being brought back in advisory capacities by the Tamil Nadu government. Madras HC's thumbs down to 'superman lawyer' We follow a particular order even in the matter of wearing costumes. The only exception to this is comics book hero Superman. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Labour reforms soon, laws to be simplified: CM Anandiben Patel In the wake of the central government’s emphasis on labour reforms to enhance skills of India’s labour force, Gujarat soon will announce labour reforms. No rituals performed, Urdu schools tell students about significance of festival in Ahmedabad While activists protested in minority areas, the AMC school board went ahead as per the scheduled programme of Saraswati Vandana. NIDians bag 5 prestigious awards A partition system made of reclaimed wood, a high stool and a chair were some of the designs made by students of the National Institute of Design (NID) which bagged top five awards in fields of furniture, accessories, lifestyle and design at two prestigious events held recently. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Robbers break into cash-less bank, return empty-handed Few unidentified persons entered UP Gramin Bank at Tharwai by cutting its window frame but returned bare handed as it had no money. The incident came to light on Saturday morning when bank manager came to open the bank. An FIR was lodged with the Tharwai police station. This is the second case of bank robbery in Tharwai in the last six months. 4 pantry car workers held for holding passenger captive Four workers of pantry car in Mumbai Mail were arrested near Bhirpur Station on Saturday for holding a passenger captive. The train, coming from Howrah, got stranded near the station as the passengers pulled the chain. Order food in trains through phone calls, SMSes Railway authorities have decided to provide e-catering facility through phone calls and SMSes in trains running without pantry cars. This facility has been introduced in seven trains passing through North Central Railway region. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Gurjinder ready to make up for CT misses Lancers' new drag-flicker wants to perform for his team in the third edition of HIL and cement his place in the national team Unitary varsity tag for GM College Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced to upgrade Gangadhar Meher (Autonomous) College in Sambalpur to a unitary university. ED chief talks tough on chit scam Director of enforcement directorate (ED) Rajan S Katoch on Friday said the central agency would not spare anyone involved in the chit fund scam. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Action to be taken for not completing power sector reform Energy and public relations minister Rajendra Shukla said power sector reforms and infrastructure works are top priorities of the state government. Abattoir: Green panel gives BMC a week to set house in order Taking a serious view of release of effluents and waste water from a slaughter house at Jinsi in city polluting Betwa River, National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given civic body a week’s time to make arrangement for its proper disposal. Girls break into male domain of vehicle designing 28 Teams Vie For Top Honours At National Go Kart Racing Competition More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Haryana may appeal against fetuses in septic tank case Director General Health Services (DGHS) Haryana, Narinder Arora, is planning to file an appeal in one of the most shocking female feticide cases in the state, almost four years after the doctor was discharged on technical grounds. Congress 'Lalkar' rally sets poll ball rolling Sounding a battle cry against drugs, Amritsar MP Amarinder promised to eradicate the drug menace if his party is voted to power. No more mining in Bangarh area from now The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to impose a complete ban on mining in Bangarh area of Una district with immediate effect. More Chandigarh News»

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