News Digest: Demand for lower e-visa facility fee

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, August 15, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Demand for lower e-visa facility fee With 113 countries set to be extended e-tourist visa facility from the Independence Day, there are demands from some of the beneficiary nations to reduce the $60 visa fee being charged currently. CCTV cameras in Mumbai and Bengaluru buses soon Bangalore and Mumbai are likely to be the first two cities where pilot projects for women safety in public transport under the “Nirbhaya Fund” scheme would be rolled out. With details of 5 crore cases online, 15,000 courts to go digital soon Law minister Sadananda Gowda said on Friday the ambitious e-courts project is successfully running in 13,000 courts across the country where details of 4.76 crore pending and decided cases are available online. More India News»

		Business
		Wholesale inflation lowest since 1976 Wholesale prices plunged for the ninth consecutive month in July on the back of a decline in food and fuel prices, raising prospects of a cut in interest rates to give a push to growth. Sebi notifies norms for startups to tap market To aid fund-raising by technology-driven startups from the public market, Sebi on Friday notified easier norms for companies from sectors like IT, data analytics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to list on a special platform where only investors who can take higher risks can trade. Reliance Jio's 4G beta launch today Mukesh Ambani-led energy-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) is set to start its fourth generation (4G) bundled mobile and data services through a beta launch on August 15, coinciding with the India’s 69th Independence Day. More Business News»

		Environment
		Government to provide solar devices in rural areas The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) on Friday said it will distribute devices like solar cookers and lamps in rural and tribal areas, to provide clean cooking and lighting benefits to the population. Slew of measures announced to curb Delhi pollution Increasing the number of CNG buses, crackdown on polluting vehicles and industries and tree plantation drives are some of the many steps being taken by the Delhi government to curb rising pollution in the national capital, a statement said on Thursday. Man-made forest fires hurt Coimbatore's ecological system Intentional man-made forest fires have begun haunting the district after a two year gap. More Environment News»

		World
		Greece's euro partners approve billions in new loans Finance ministers of the 19-nation euro single currency group on Friday approved the first 26 billion euros ($29 billion) of a vast new bailout package to help rebuild Greece's shattered economy. Islamic State leader raped American hostage, US finds American hostage Kayla Mueller was repeatedly forced to have sex with Abu Bakr Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State group, US intelligence officials told her family in June. China says human rights should not dominate US ties Human rights should not dominate the US-China relationship, a senior Chinese official said on Friday, ahead of a visit to Washington next month by Chinese President Xi Jinping. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kangana: Big B is very childlike on the sets Kangana is a confident girl but admits to an attack of nerves when she recently shot for a commercial with Amitabh Bachchan. Jacqueline: Moving to India was challenging For Sri Lankan beauty, Jacqueline Fernandez, moving to India to have a career in Bollywood was a challenge. Abhishek urges SRK to watch Ash's 'Jazbaa' It is no secret that Abhishek Bachchan dotes on his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Warming threatens tourism in Spain, Italy The tourism industry in southern European, countries like Spain and Italy, could be under threat due to climatic change, an European Union report has warned. Nose for truth: Ants can smell a friend from a foe Ants use their powerful sense of smell to distinguish intruders from safe fellow-ants in their colonies, scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have found. Rosetta makes closest pass of Sun along with Comet Chury ESA's Rosetta space craft which is orbiting a comet rode with it to its closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion, according to the European Space Agency. More Science News»

		Sports
		Talking points: Crisis man Chandimal, record man Rahane TOI Sports looks back at the key passages of play from day three of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and India. Saina reaches maiden World Badminton semifinal Nehwal beats Yihan 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 to enter maiden semifinal in World Badminton Championships. Chandimal flogs India on Rahane's record day in Galle It took a lot longer than they would have liked after reducing SL to 108/5 at lunch, but India bowled out the hosts for 367 to set themselves 176 to win the first Test. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung Galaxy Note5, S6 edge+ : 5 key features As expected, Samsung has unveiled the next iteration of its big screen Note smartphone in addition to its ‘edge’ variant with an unconventional name borrowed from the company’s flagship ’S’ series. Here’s a look at five key features of the Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ smartphones… Net Neutrality: Few hours left to save the internet Unfortunately, the deadline to submit the comments is 15 August 2015 so citizens have less than 24 hours to make their voice heard. Independence day: Best gadget deals In recent times, Indian Independence day has become one of those occasions when e-commerce websites offer deals and discounts. More Technology News»

		Education
		Not even 10 takers for seats in 20 Odisha engineering colleges At the end of the engineering admission process across the state on Friday, around 20 colleges failed to reach the double digits in student intake raising serious doubts about their future. Higher education department suspends BU's registrar Solanki In major fall out of the 'illegal appointments' higher education department on Friday suspended Barkatullah University's registrar Lonu Singh Solanki. HC upholds two-level entry RTE rules in Maharashtra schools The Bombay high court in an important order on Friday upheld the Maharashtra government's rules that specified two entry levels — one at the pre primary and the second one at class 1 — for admissions under the twenty five per cent quota under the Right To Education. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		State sets out to increase MBBS seats, doctors The state government is implementing the Centre’s suggestions for improving doctor-patient ratio. Police shoot 105 questions at Radhe Maa over five hours In a marathon quizzing session at the Kandivli police station on Friday, godwoman Radhe Maa faced nearly 105 questions on dowry harassment, obscenity and exploiting people's superstitions. Kamothe toll: Committee to resolve row The state government on Friday told the Bombay high court that it will set up a panel comprising additional chief secretaries of finance, PWD and planning departments to resolve the disputes with the Kamothe toll operator on the Sion-Panvel Highway. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Many pledge, but long way to harvest Almost one lakh people have signed up for organ donation dur ing the annual organ donation day campaign of the Times of India, over the last three years. That could translate into several lakhs of lives transformed or saved if all the pledged organs could be retrieved. However, the organ donation process is yet to be streamlined and not all donors are able to donate their organs because of the lack of infrastructure and adequate awareness. When traffic is stalled, trips delayed, roads turn dangerous On April 6, a biker was beaten to death by the occupants of a car after their vehicles collided in Turkman Road in central Delhi. On May 11, the 42-year-old driver of a DTC bus died after being attacked by a man whose motorcycle he had struck from behind in west Delhi's Mundka. These are just two of the at 10 incidents of road rage that have ended in deaths or brutal assaults this year. Not getting smart anytime sooner It can streamline the city's chaotic traffic but the “integrated traffic management system“--part of Delhi Police's Safe City project--remains on paper seven years after it was proposed. For now, only piecemeal installation of smart gadgets is on with plans to integrate them into a system later. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Rowdy-sheeters too bask under poll sun Endless traffic snarls and polluted air. How did Bengaluru -once famed for its pleasant weather, tree-lined avenues and clean streets -become such a mess? HC stays SIT probe against Kumaraswamy In relief to former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, the Karnataka high court on Friday stayed for four weeks the investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) of the Lokayukta over a fresh FIR registered against him. The FIR pertained to the grant of a mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals (SSVM) of Ballari in 2007 by Kumaraswamy when he was CM. Bannanje back home, shifted to Udupi jail A special team led by additional commissioner of police (West) CH Pratap Reddy brought underworld don Rajendra Kumar alias Bannanje Raja, 47, here from Morocco via Delhi on Friday afternoon. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		I CAN, and so can you Fine phrases and grand promises but precious little to show - that's the general experience with adults in the adult world. Andhra Pradesh offers housing bonanza to lure staff to new capital The AP government has come out with a bait in the form of free housing to lure employees working in Hyderabad to shift to Vijayawada after all its earlier plans to relocate the state administration to the capital region failed to cut ice. Islamic clergy calls for I-Day celebrations in Hyderabad madrassas In an effort to dispel “preconceived notions” about madrassas, scholars have urged managements of Islamic schools to organise Independence Day celebrations. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Govt plans ID cards, quota for Tasmac customers Finding itself in turbulent waters over anti-liquor protests, the state government is all set to take the wind out of the opposition sails this assembly session by proposing a series of regulations including quota-based sale of alcohol through Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets. 1 month after public tried to repair road, govt starts work After being bombarded with protests and pleas to repair the stretch of Poonamallee High Road between Maduravoyal and Koyambedu, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has finally started work. AIADMK drives wedge between BJP and DMDK In a move that not only displays warm feelings for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party but also attempts to drive a wedge between DMDK and BJP, AIADMK's party organ chided a DMDK MLA for his critical remarks on Modiat a protest. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Man held for giving client fake HC order City police on Friday arrested Homi Maratha, a resident of Ambavadi, for creating a fake Gujarat high court order by forging the signature of the then judge, Justice HK Rathod. Crime branch officials said Homi’s father, Navinchandra Maratha, who is a suspended advocate, is also an accused in the same case. Woman dies of H1N1 in city A 45-year-old woman from Aravalli district died of swine flu at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Friday. Bili leaves become dearer as Shravan month begins Devotees of the city will offer two truckloads of Bili leaves (Belpatra) daily to Lord Shiva during the month of Shravan which begins from Saturday. Shiva temples across the city have been decked up for devotees who throng in huge numbers during this holy month. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		PG merit position yet to be uploaded on AU site The Allahabad University is not posting the merit position for admission in various PG courses on the website. Because of this, the aspirants of other states are in dark about counselling. MIM eyes east UP, B'khand All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is concentrating on 28 districts of eastern UP and Bundelkhand in a run up to 2017 assembly polls. AU fails to constitute anti-ragging panel The Allahabad University has failed to constitute an anti-ragging committee on the campus for the new academic session. As per University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines a varsity must constitute a 20-member committee at the start of the new academic session. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha CM approves to open more courts The state government on Friday approved to set up nine more courts in the state. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik cleared a file in this regard, said an official statement from the chief minister's office. After MCI decree, fate of 124 med students uncertain The careers of 124 students of Sardar Rajas Medical College hang in balance as the Medical Council of India (MCI) decided not to renew permission for admission to the college for the third academic session (2015-16). Abandoned SUV of Sarathi found Police on Thursday recovered an abandoned SUV, owned by Sarathi baba, from the parking lot of a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.Sarathi baba was arrested by Crime Branch on August 8 on charges of cheating. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Congress seeks probe into illegal mining despite NGT ban The MP Congress has alleged that illegal mining of sand is rampant in several parts of the state specially in Narmada river belt, despite ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and demanded strict action against mafia. Three maoists convicted in former Madhya Pradesh transport minister's murder A court in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday sentenced three Maoists to life in prison in connection with murder former transport minister Likhiram Kawre. Number of suicides among married men on rise in state Rise in cases of domestic violence, marital disputes and alleged misuse of these laws by women has led to a significant spurt in number of suicide by married men in Madhya Pradesh, reveals a report by'Save Indian Family (SIF)' an NGO which works to promote family and marital harmony. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Congress is taking revenge of its defeat from people - Meenakshi Lekhi Stating that Congress party's walkout from the Parliament was a blatant attack on the spirit of democracy and the rule of law, BJP spokesperson and member parliament Meenakshi Lekhi said "Congress is taking revenge of its defeat in Parliamentary elections and is unnecessarily harassing the people of India for getting its legitimate rights". Lekhi was talking to media persons here on Friday. Good governance: Cash prizes for students enhanced Haryana science and technology department has increased the prize money being given under "science essay writing competitions" for school and college students. Phagwara resident lodges complaint against Radhe Maa, kin Phagwara resident Surinder Mittal has submitted a complaint to police seeking registration of a case against Radhe Maa for bribing, torturing, seducing, threatening, hurting religious sentiments and for spreading obscenity and vulgarity. More Chandigarh News»

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