News Digest: Arbitration law to be tweaked for ease of business, law minister says

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, February 04, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Arbitration law to be tweaked for ease of business, law minister says The government will introduce amendments to Arbitration and Conciliation Act in the coming budget session of Parliament along with a bill on setting up of commercial courts across the country, sending out signals to foreign investors on ease of doing business in India. Industries near Taj flout SC ban, expand Several glass bottle manufacturing industries operating near the Taj Mahal have allegedly expanded their capacity despite a freeze on such activity around the world heritage site since 1996 to safeguard it from pollution. Arunachal receives season's first snowfall Several districts of Arunachal Pradesh received the season’s first snowfall in past few days. More India News»

		Business
		Petrol, diesel prices cut by over Rs 2 State-run fuel retailers on Tuesday reduced petrol price by Rs 2.42 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.25, but the motor fuels still remain costlier than jet fuel — which costs Rs 46.51 per litre in Delhi — due to four consecutive hikes in excise duty. RBI cuts SLR, allows new 'unbreakable' bank FDs Banks will have headroom to lend an additional Rs 42,000 crore following the RBI’s move to cut SLR by 50 basis points. SLR, or statutory liquidity ratio, is the portion of deposits banks must invest in government bonds. Pause till we get more data: Rajan RBI governor Raghuram Rajan spent his 52nd birthday laying out his monetary policy review. The governor expressed the need to look deep into the new GDP numbers which portray India’s 2013-14 economic growth to be one of the highest in the world. More Business News»

		Environment
		India a leader in climate change efforts: Prakash Javadekar Environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said India's commitment and the corresponding efforts in pursuing clean and renewable energy path demonstrated the country's leadership in combating climate change. Dance of Demoiselle cranes in Daryapur Local bird-lovers are rejoicing this season as the year has recorded the highest number of winter migratory bird specie ever sighted in Maharashtra. Around 957 Demoiselle cranes, popularly known as ‘Kraunch’ in Marathi, have been spotted near Daryapur tehsil which is around 55 kilometres from Amravati. Europe's food fight shifts after GM crop vote Campaign groups and the biotech industry are digging in for a new round of conflict, following the European Union's decision to allow member states to set their own rules on growing genetically modified organisms. More Environment News»

		World
		Britain takes first step to allow 3-parent babies UK is set to become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. China doesn't defend Pakistan on terrorism For possibly the first time ever, China did not try to defend Pakistan against accusations of sheltering, financing or supporting terrorism. 55 years on, 'Mockingbird' gets a sequel One of the world’s most widely read literary works will soon have a sequel. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Aamir, Anushka on top post 'PK' While PK gets Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma the top spot, Action Jackson gets Ajay Devgn a place in the top 5 in Times Celebex powered by zoOm! for Dec 2014. 'Amitji can hurt me tremendously' R Balki, 50, may not have a great memory but he is certainly original. He is hugely emotional and highly innovative and is amongst the few men who consider women not just equal to men, but in fact, better. Actresses getting bolder with orgasm scenes More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, smartphones that will sniff out life-threatening disorders Experts are developing a new technology that would enable smartphones to screen their users' breath for life-threatening diseases. Babies' genes may hold clues to preterm birth Variants in a fetus' DNA, not the mother's, may be what trigger some preterm births, scientists have found. Having troubled sleep? Blame it on your gadgets Excessive use of smartphones and computers throughout the day can worsen quality of sleep in teenagers, a study has found. More Science News»

		Sports
		Amitabh Bachchan to commentate in India-Pakistan WC clash Amitabh Bachchan is set to make his commentary debut in the much-awaited India-Pakistan World Cup game as part of a promotional activity for his upcoming film 'Shamitabh'. Barcelona president charged with tax fraud in Neymar case A Spanish judge charged the president of Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, on Tuesday with tax fraud linked to the signing of Brazilian star Neymar. Cristiano Ronaldo worth one billion pounds, says agent Ronaldo's agent Mendes revealed that the prolific striker would sell for at least 300 million pounds if Real Madrid wish to set him free anytime soon. More Sports News»

		Technology
		WhatsApp bug shows private pictures to strangers A security problem in WhatsApp means that anyone can see users’ profile photos, even if they have been set to be viewable to friends only, according to security researchers. 9 reasons why iPhones are better than Android phones If you're having trouble deciding between iPhone and Android, take a look at these 9 reasons why iPhones trumps Android. HTC One (M9) Plus specifications leaked online HTC One (M9) Plus or Hima Ultra will sport a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440x2560pixels as per new rumours. More Technology News»

		Education
		XIIth Boards paper pattern to change Changes in the pattern of question papers for the Class XII Central Board of Secondary Education exam, and a clear shift away from ‘objective-type’ questions to ‘application-based’ ones, will make it significantly harder to score this year. NCERT to publish series on martyrs Concerned that the existing textbooks do not celebrate heroes, NCERT has decided to publish a series called ‘Veergatha’. Rohan Murty to be inducted into education advisory board Rohan Narayan Murty, the man behind the ambitious Murty Classics of India, will be made a member of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the oldest and highest advisory body on education. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Sack 35 govt staff convicted for graft: CM Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday asked chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya to dismiss around 35 government employees, who have been convicted on charges of corruption. Minimum temp falls to 16.2 degrees Celsius After several days, the minimum temperatures in the city touched the 16-degree mark on Tuesday. The minimum temperature recorded in Santacruz was 16.2 degrees Celsius as compared to Monday’s minimum of 17 degrees Celsius. HC increases maintenance IT professional pays daughter The Bombay high court on Tuesday directed a senior software consultant working with an IT MNC to pay Rs 25,000 as monthly maintenance for his 12-year-old daughter who lives with his former wife. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhiites wake up to a foggy morning, 13 trains delayed Delhiites on Wednesday yet again woke up to a foggy morning with the minimum temperature settling at 11 degrees Celsius. Clean up capital's air With air pollution dominating public discourse this winter, TOI approached the major political parties contesting Delhi assembly elections to ask them about their action plan for cleaning up Delhi's air and taking positive steps for the environment. Ajay Maken of Congress gives us his party's plan in this regard in the first of a series. After fake visa try, man held in genuine attempt Presuming that he would not get a permanent US visa, a man applied twice on fake identity and got rejected both the times. Ironically, his offence came to the fore when he applied for the visa again, this time under his real identity. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Students of illegal schools can write SSLC exam: Government Thousands of class X students of schools declared unauthorized by the education department could be left in the lurch, with the state government deciding to allow them to appear for the upcoming SSLC exam as private candidates. Cutting-edge tech fights off Big C Innovations benefit four patients who are on road to recovery Panel will get Arkavathy files when it seeks: CM While opposition leader Jagadish Shettar alleged the government was not cooperating with the commission, the CM said the commission was yet to seek information and files would be sent when sought. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Three more succumb to swine flu in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Swine flu claimed two more people in Telangana and one in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Officials said that 60-year-old Shobha Rani and 40-year-old Asra died in Hyderabad, while a 45-year-old man succumbed at Punganur town in Chittoor district. Need to plug loopholes in healthcare delivery: KCR Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao called for serious introspection in the government health sector, saying basic healthcare was eluding the poor. It's a 'grave' situation for the dead in Hyderabad Two months after Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner Somesh Kumar announced the ‘immediate modernisation’ of crematoriums and development of graveyards, the reality presents a sorry picture. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Multiple voter entries being fixed, HC told All necessary action has been taken to correct multiple entries in the electoral list and resolve the issue of absent, shifted and dead voters for the February 13 Srirangam byelection, the Election Commission has told the Madras high court. Woman, daughter found killed in hut A mother and daughter were found murdered in their hut at Chinnachozhayampakkam near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district on Tuesday morning. Air Pegasus to touch southern skies, start services this month Another low-cost regional airline will soon fly the southern skies. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Hotel occupancy gets a boost Good times roll for the hotel industry, which saw a very vibrant beginning to 2015 owing to the inflow of high profile tourists from across the world. Cops focus on old hotspots, but crime rising elsewhere Believe it or not, out of 39 police station areas, only eight reported presence of 48% accused caught from within the city in 2014. These areas are Vatva (167), Naroda (164), Sardarnagar (126), Vejalpur (113), Danilimda (103), Naranpura (85), Sarkhej and Bapunagar (75 each). Chinese lanterns: HC seeks reply from state, Centre Gujarat high court on Tuesday sought explanation from the Centre, the state government and the director general of police (DGP) over use of Chinese lantern, which soar into the sky on the festival of Uttarayan. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Locals protest against inefficiency of AMC officials Peeved over overflowing drains and problem of waterlogging, residents of Jayantipur and Sulemsarai staged a protest on Monday. Shouting slogans against Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for failing to look into their complaints, the people asked for speedy solution to their problems. HC turns down mufti's plea on cap The Allahabad High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by a mufti who had requested the court to issue directions to the passport authorities to accept his photograph with a cap for issuing passport. Security tightened at railway stations, trains Railways has pulled up its sock for the last bath of Hindu month of Magh – Maghi Purnima – scheduled for Tuesday. Security has been enhanced at Allahabad and adjoining smaller stations. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Stone falls in Puri temple complex The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) preserving Puri Jagannath Temple in view of July Nabakalebara notwithstanding, a piece of stone fell from a subsidiary shrine on Monday. State seeks extra central forces to fight Reds, protect coast The state government on Monday demanded additional central forces to strengthen its fight against Maoists and for better coastal security. Ponzi firms still on prowl, SPs alerted Despite CBI probe and arrest of high-profile persons in the mega chit fund scam, several Ponzi firms continue to take investors for a ride in the state. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Gas leak from Jabalpur spice factory kills 2 A two-year-old and her aunt died after reportedly inhaling gases that leaked from a spice packaging factory in Jabalpur on Tuesday. Bhopal's Sadar Manzil should be converted into heritage building: Experts 18th century palace Sadar Manzil of Bhopal should be converted into heritage building for multiple use, according to experts, here on Tuesday. 97 AIIMS Bhopal docs face uncertain future Union Ministry Red Flags Appointments More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Khattar launches e-registry system for land registration Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday inaugurated an E-registry system for registration of lands through video conferencing from Chandigarh secretariat. 2 Hallomajra men accuse local councillor of assault Two Hallomajra residents - Charanjeet Singh Kohli, and Maan Vir Singh - accused a local councillor - Satish Kumar Kainth - and his associates of assaulting, thrashing and humiliating them in Hallomajra on Tuesday night. ATM thieves nabbed Police on Tuesday arrested two accused allegedly involved in looting Rs 4 lakh from an ATM machine of a government bank located in the cantonment area of Chandimandir. More Chandigarh News»

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