News Digest: CAG slams poor planning, project mismanagement for delay in submarine refit

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, December 09, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		CAG slams poor planning, project mismanagement for delay in submarine refit The CAG has slammed the defence establishment’s poor planning and gross project mismanagement, coupled with long delays in supply of requisite material by Russia, which led to submarine INS Sindhukirti being stuck in a refit for a decade at Hindustan Shipyard (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. 70,000 clerics issue fatwa against terrorism, 15 lakh Muslims support it On the last day of Urs-e-Razvi of Dargah Aala Hazrat, nearly 70,000 clerics came together and passed a fatwa against terrorist organizations, including IS, Taliban and al-Qaida. House panel: MHA's duty to keep social fabric intact The meeting of the standing committee on home affairs here, attended by around 15 MPs, saw Mehrishi giving a briefing on the state of social and communal harmony in the country. More India News»

		Business
		India No. 1 choice for global tech R&D India remains the No. 1 location for MNCs to establish product engineering and R&D centres outside their home countries, and the growth of these centres in India is outpacing the average global growth. Indian basket of crude hits 11-year low It’s yesterday once more! Benchmark oil prices on Tuesday slumped 6% to levels last seen in 2009, renewing hopes of lower pump prices for consumers and reduced crude import for government managers but also sparking fresh worries for oil company brass. Sebi willing to fix MF agents' fee Market regulator Sebi will step in to set the commission structure for mutual fund (MF) distributors in case the fund industry fails to lower it on its own from the current levels. More Business News»

		Environment
		Global warming could cause fall in oxygen: Study Earth's oxygen could dramatically fall due to change in ocean temperature of just several degrees, which may likely result in the mass mortality of animals and humans, a new study has claimed. Beijing smog reaches over 25 times safe levels Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on Tuesday, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. Despite outcry, Japan to resume whaling Japan will dispatch a whaling fleet to the Antarctic after a one year suspension, the government said, defying international criticism and a UN legal ruling that the “research“ expedition is a commercial hunt in disguise. More Environment News»

		World
		Russia has black box of downed jet, will analyse it: Putin Moscow has recovered the black box of the Russian jet downed by Turkey last month and will analyse it with foreign specialists, president Vladimir Putin has said.  Trump call for Muslim ban `irresponsible': UN rights chief The UN human rights chief called Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal that all Muslims be banned from entering the United States "grossly irresponsible. UN urges Jordan to let 12,000 stranded Syrian refugees enter The United Nations urged Jordan on Tuesday to allow in 12,000 Syrian refugees stranded at the border in deteriorating humanitarian conditions and offered to help reinforce security at registration points. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shankar Mahadevan undergoes angioplasty Singer and music composer Shankar Mahadevan was rushed to a Delhi hospital last week after he complained of chest pain. Shatrughan Sinha to celebrate b'day in Kerala Ruling party MP, Shatrughan Sinha will reportedly be with his superstar-beti Sonakshi and other members of the family in Kerala. Shocking secrets of Hollywood Let's take a look at a few secrets from Hollywood that might shock you... More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Glaciers in Everest have shrunk by 28% in 40 years' Glaciers on Mount Everest, source of major Asian rivers like Brahmaputra, have shrunk by 28% over the past 40 years due to climate change, according to a report. Novel technique can help improve diabetes treatment Scientists have deployed a new drug discovery technique to identify an anti-diabetes compound with a novel mechanism of action, which may lead to a new type of treatment. `Too much green tea can harm you' Green tea, enjoyed by millions for its numerous health benefits, may have adverse effects if taken in high doses, a new study in fruit flies suggests. Researchers discovered that excessive consumption of green tea adversely affected development and reproduction in fruit flies. More Science News»

		Sports
		2016 IPL edition from April 9 with Rajkot and Pune as new teams The next edition of the IPL will be held from April 9 as two new franchisees -- Rajkot and Pune -- were added to the event as replacements for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. There's no 'Conflict of Interest' for Ganguly: BCCI president BCCI president Shashank Manohar on Tuesday said that there is no 'Conflict of Interest' as far as former India captain Sourav Ganguly is concerned. Bittersweet taste to India's series win over South Africa In his first Test series at home, Kohli has pulled off what one of India’s most significant triumphs in the last few years because a transitional side beat one that had not lost an overseas series in nine years. But, opinions remain divided on India’s tactics towards winning in the first and third Tests. More Sports News»

		Technology
		8 USB gadgets to make your PC smarter Here are some useful and downright quirky gadgets that you can use along with this ubiquitous port… Chinese researchers unveil brain-powered car China's first mind-controlled car has been developed by researchers in the north-east port city of Tianjin. Chennai rains: Now, an app to offer 24x7 doctor advice Currently, there are a few digital doctors' service, and the ones that are there are available via texts. Doctor 24x7 app connects its users with doctors for a live call without any appointment or texts. More Technology News»

		Education
		Kendriya Vidyalaya admissions to go online in 2016 Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) is planning to make its entry level admissions (class I) in all the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) completely online from the 2016-17 academic session. The decision was taken at the last Board of Governors meeting. Karnataka is top draw for foreign students Karnataka is the most popular destination for foreign students in the country. According to the Annual Status of Higher Education 2015 prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industry, India has 34,774 foreign students, with Karnataka (13,241) attracting the most number, followed by Tamil Nadu (4,401) and Maharashtra (3,888). 'Over 85 lakh students benefited from scholarship schemes' Over 85 lakh students have benefited from scholarship schemes meant for the youth from the minority communities during the last fiscal, Rajya Sabha was informed today. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Quality of universities determines nation's fate: Economist Summers American economist Lawrence Summers who was at Mumbai university said India could take inspiration from a slogan pasted on the wall of the Facebook office: “Done is better than perfect“. Quantity of coal on port trust land halves, questions unanswered The quantity of coal lying on Mumbai Port Trust land has almost halved in the last few months. For much of this year, 1.5 lakh metric tons of coal formed lethal mountains along the city's eastern seafront. As of Tuesday morning, the figure had come down to around 74,000 metric tons. Railway board forces CR's hand, directs it to increase 15-car rakes The railway board has asked Central Railway and Western Railway to prepare an action plan for the introduction of more 15-car services to check accidents caused by overcrowding. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Solve Panchsheel traffic issue: NGT The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Delhi government and police to inspect Panchsheel Park in south Delhi and find ways to avoid massive traffic congestion in the area. 38 construction projects penalised The city government has served notices to a number of major projects across Delhi, including the under-construction Parliament House annexe building and a wing of Supreme Court, asking each of them to deposit compensation amount of Rs 50,000 for flouting dust pollution norms. Auto-cracy could be at odds with pollution fight Though there are just around 70,000 autorickshaws in Delhi, their drivers wield clout that is disproportionate to that number. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Scientist does IISc proud, bags international award Professor U Ramamurty of the Indian Institute of Science has bagged the 2015 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) prize, which carries a cash prize of $15,000, in the engineering category . Rector murder case - Four more priests chargesheeted Police investigating the murder of rector Fr KJ Thomas have filed an additional chargesheet, accusing seven more persons, including four Catholic priests, of involvement in the crime. Fr Thomas was hacked to death inside St Peter's Pontifical Seminary in Yeshwantpur on April 1, 2013. Cops to grill Kerala sex racketeers The online prostitution rack et that was busted in Kera la in November with the arrest of two organizers of the Kiss of Love campaign had spread its tentacles to Karnataka: Some of the minors pushed into the trade hailed from the state. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Rajiv Foundation's Rs 3.5 crore fund siphoned off by cheats The online funds transfer fraud that affected State Bank of Hydera bad is turning out to be a huge organised scam covering four states and a dozen banks as of now. Officials to get show cause notice for skipping 'Mee Kosam' Over 45 officials of various departments in Hyderabad district will get show cause notices for ignoring the 'Mee Kosam' programme held on Monday. Nature tourism circuit in Nallamala in the offing The government plans to boost eco-tourism in the state, including development of a nature tourism circuit in the Nallamala hills. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Remote villages forgotten in relief ops When darkness falls, flood-hit residents huddle around and pray to the gods to save them and reduce the floodwater that entered their houses and marooned them. In many remote villages in Cuddalore and Chidambaram, residents have been waiting for days for help and relief materials to arrive. Non-Chennaiites lend helping hand A concerned family, neck-deep water, five days without electricity, high fever - none of this could make 24-year-old Zaheel Ibrahim leave for safer ground in Kerala or stop him from helping his fellow Chennaiites from the deluge. Zaheel and many others from across the country who call Chennai their home have come forward to help the city get back on its feet. They collect funds, distribute food and organise relief work. Hospitals flouting waste disposal rules While the debate on what caused the Chennai floods continues, so does flouting of environmental rules, and hospitals are no exception. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Coast Guard alerts fishermen about `suspected vessels' Fishermen along the Gujarat coast were on Tuesday alerted over `su spected and unidentified' pair of vessels in the Arabian sea by the Indian Coast Guard They have been asked to im mediately contact Coast Gu ard, Navy or any other securi ty agencies if they spot the vessels. Court awards life term for murder A city sessions court on Tuesday awarded li fe imprison ment to Mo hammed Asif Shaikh, hol ding him guil ty of killing Danilimda re sident Sohrab Shaikh last year. 14-mark error in TYBA exam paper Students taking the third-year Bachelor of Arts Semester V examination, were in for a shock when the found that the calculations in a 14-mark question didn't tally. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		City Government Public Library set for complete makeover The Allahabad Government Public Library, known as a perfect place for bibliophiles, is all set to get a makeover after state government has sanctioned Rs 94 lakh for its face-lift with automation and conservation of decades old books. Mini-India comes alive at NCZCC People thronging the ongoing Shilp Mela at North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC) were mesmerized with the rich presentation of folk songs and dances of various parts of the country on Monday. A mini-India has been recreated at this venue. Railway to use treated water of STPs for non-potable purposes In another step towards conservation of water and show its commitment for preservation of ecology, the railway administration has decided to use non-potable water released after treatment from sewage treatment plants (STPs) for non-potable purposes of Railways. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Manipuri youth dies in Odisha, family cries murder The family members of a Manipuri youth, who was found hanging from a tree at the quarters of an Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer here on December 2, on Monday alleged that he was murdered. Protest against devotee queues The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration's maiden initiative to allow devotees in queues inside the shrine near sanctum sanctorum has run into a hurdle as a group of servitors on Monday staged a wildcat protest against the move. They demanded rollback of the reform. Cong, BJD join hands to attack PM in house For a change, the ruling BJD and principal opposition Congress were seen on the same side in the state assembly here on Monday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Dindori collector responds to court summon after arrest warrant A young IAS officer posted as collector in Dindori district did not bother to respond to a Gwalior court’s summons till an arrest warrant was issued to bring her to the court as a witness in a corruption case. Madhya Pradesh CM removes senior IFS for demanding bribe, orders inquiry An audio clip that showed a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and chief conservator of forest (CCF) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, demanding Rs 65 lakh as bribe from a timber trader; went viral on social media. MP Cong walkout in assembly over forced recovery of power bill dues from farmers The Congress Opposition on Tuesday staged a walkout in the state assembly claiming the government is insensitive to drought-affected farmers issues and that the state electricity board is recovering huge electricity bills from the agrarian community. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Now open, to fans and pilgrims, the Beatles ashram Love me do, they sang, but if reports coming out at that time, 1968, about the Fab Four were to be believed, there was very little brotherhood left in the band that the world would go on to recognise as one of the greatest ever. Mewat police arrests notorious Kaud gang of NCR With the arrest of Ahmed Kaud and four of his cronies, the Haryana police on Tuesday claimed to arrested all the member of Kaud Gang, the most notorious gang operating in NCR areas of Haryana News Delhi, Rajsthan and Uttar Pardesh. CISCE exams begin in Feb It is time for students studying in schools affiliated to Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) to buckle up as the date sheet for Class X (ICSE) and XII (ISC) board exams has been declared. More Chandigarh News»

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