News Digest: Cong gets TMC support in its anti-govt protests

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, December 24, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Cong gets TMC support in its anti-govt protests Kharge raised the issue during the Zero Hour after Congress members kept up their protests in the well for the second day today, accusing the Narendra Modi government of targeting those who are not in agreement with its policies. Economy recovery fragile, low job creation: Manmohan  Addressing the 31st plenary session of Indian National Trade Union Congress , former Prime Minister Manmohan said there was dissatisfaction among workers over "anti-labour and unimaginative economic policies of the NDA government". Real dirt of India lies not in streets but in our minds: Pranab  President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday commented on Swachh Bharat Mission saying that "real dirt of India lies not in our streets but in our minds" and "in our willingness to let go of views that divide society into 'them' and 'us' and 'pure' and 'impure'." More India News»

		Business
		Wipro buys US-based IT services company for $130m Wipro is acquiring New Jersey-based Viteos Group for $130 million, or over Rs 820 crore, to bolster its portfolio in the capital markets and asset management industry, leveraging the latter's platform-based IT outsourcing services. Rajan raises bad loan worries Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan has again flagged concerns over the rising level of bad loans in Indian banks, pointing out that weak corporates with lower debt-servicing capacity may worsen the situation. Companies keep performance, pay apart in appraisals Compensation discussions are often tricky and can at times push the process of employee development off-track. More Business News»

		Environment
		'Bread, Wine, Chocolate' makes environmental issues tasty The lands, waters and atmosphere of our planet are under tremendous stress from the appetites and endeavors of more than 7 billion people, and such issues often make for grim reading. Amid smog crisis, China vows more liveable cities China vowed on Tuesday that it would make "liveable" cities a central goal of China's urban planning, amid persistent problems over choking smog that frequently blankets the populous east and north. Fuel adulteration: NGT orders inspection of petrol pumps An engineer on Monday moved the National Green Tribunal against alleged adulteration of petrol and diesel at fuel stations prompting the green panel to direct inspection of petrol pumps across Delhi-NCR and seek a response from the Centre on the issue. More Environment News»

		World
		Palestinian stabbers kill Israeli, assailants shot dead Two Palestinian assailants on Wednesday carried out a stabbing attack outside Jerusalem's Old City, killing one Israeli, before they were shot and killed, Israeli police said. China landslide toll reaches 2; police detain one The death toll in the massive landslide in China reached two even as rescuers pulled out a worker alive who miraculously survived on rain water after being trapped for over 60 hours. Chinese police raided premises of the company of a dumpsite blamed for the disaster & detained one of its officials. Russia 'directly targeting civilians' in Syria war crimes Campaigners say Moscow's actions in Syria have gone 'from callous to catastrophic', as its air strikes kill 16 civilians for every one fighter More World News»

		Entertainment
		Sunny Leone's husband hospitalised Sunny Leone’s husband Daniel Weber was hospitalised last week after suffering from a severe case of tonsillitis. Christmas themed films to watch this holiday  Here are a few Yuletide favourites you can consider revisiting Celebrities who believe in aliens Certain celebs believe in aliens. Let's take a look at who they are... More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Firm personalises kids' books, with robot as co-author One of the best presents that Asi Sharabi ever got was a bad book. It was a customised book for his 3-year old daughter, Thalia, and apart from the initial thrill of seeing her name in the story, there was not much to distinguish it from a mediocre mass-produced picture book. People who like to make new pals addicted to Facebook People who use Facebook to meet new people are most dependent on the social networking site, according to a new study, which found that the reason why people use the site determines the level of their dependency on it. Ebola survivors suffer from vision, hearing loss Survivors of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) may suffer from complications such as vision, hearing and joint pain, even months after their discharge, scientists, including one of Indian-origin have found. More Science News»

		Sports
		Kapil Dev, VVS Laxman hail 'complete batsman' Ajinkya Rahane Kapil Dev and VVS Laxman have endorsed Ajinkya Rahane as a 'complete batsman' on whom the current Indian batting unit can depend on for the considerable future. Key to beating Australia is taking wickets: Laxman The key ingredient to India's success in the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia in January will be the ability of their fast bowlers to strike early and consistently, according to VVS Laxman and Kapil Dev. Embattled Van Gaal storms out of United press conference Embattled Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal showed signs of cracking under pressure as he stormed out of a media briefing after becoming annoyed by questions about his future. More Sports News»

		Technology
		11 easy tricks to make your iPhone run faster Two years of everyday use can take a toll on your iPhone, but these tips and tricks should be able to hold you over until your next upgrade. Facebook Messenger tips and tricks everyone should know Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular apps in the world with more than 700 million people using it every month. Google working on smarter messaging app: WSJ Google, part of Alphabet Inc, is building a new mobile messaging application to better compete with rival services such as those offered by Facebook Inc, The Wall Street Journal reported. More Technology News»

		Education
		We're a valid institution, not blacklisted: US university  Hordes of Indian students are landing up in two US universities - Silicon Valley University (SVU) and Northwestern Polytechnic University-which look more like warehouses than varsities.  Indians flock to US 'educational warehouses' Some half dozen cars are parked in the largely empty lot of the warehouse style building bearing the name SVU - for Silicon Valley University -- on Fortune Drive in San Jose. IIT-Madras signs MoU with Indian Railways on research for advancement of technology IIT-Madras signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railways on Tuesday to develop a long-term frame work for research collaboration and advancement of technology. The MoU will be operative for a period of three years. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Women's right to decent loos upheld by HC Women have the right to have safe and decent toilets at all convenient places, observed the Bombay high court on Wednesday upholding the “right to pee” for women who are outdoors. CM reiterates stand against dance bars in assembly On the last day of the winter session in Nagpur, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government is totally against dance bars and it has initiated the process to draft a new law to ban dance bars. HC: No satisfactory reason for suspending cops' life terms The Bombay high court has held that the state home department cited no satisfactory reasons whatsoever when it suspended the life sentence of the 11 cops convicted in the 2006 Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Property can be registered below circle rate, rules Delhi HC In a landmark verdict that will benefit thousands of land owners in Delhi, the high court on Wednesday allowed registration of properties even if valued below the minimum circle rate of the area. Cop killed, judge almost hit as gang opens fire in Delhi court The shootout took place at 11.40am as Irfan alias Cheenu Pehelwan, who has 23 criminal cases against him, was being produced before a metropolitan magistrate. He's waiting for his dad to return, she her husband Head constable Ram Kumar Meena had promised his six-year-old son to return home early after producing a criminal in court. Hours later, the family was at the mortuary to receive his bullet-riddled body. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		20-year -old commerce student commits suicide A 20 year old commerce student allegedly committed suicide inside his Obalappa garden residence in Jnanabharathi, West Bengaluru on Tuesday noon. Deceased is Sandeep Kumar, II Bcom student with a private college in Kengeri. MLAs brazen rant irks scribes Kannada Makkala Paksha MLA from Bidar South and managing director of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Ashok Kheny courted another controversy on Wednesday after he fired out a sarcastic rant at a journalist in Bengaluru. Forest Department wrongly classifies 3.5 lakh hectares as deemed forest The forest department is said to have wrongfully classified 3.5 lakh hectares, of the five lakh hectares identified as deemed forest by a joint survey by Forest and Revenue Department. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		20 more students stopped from going to US Two days after 19 students were barred from boarding an AI flight because they were headed for two 'blacklisted' universities in California, another 20 students were prevented from boarding Etihad Airways on Tuesday night for the same reason. Students caught between US agencies Is the chaos around Indian students travelling to two 'under-scanner' American universities the result of a communication gap between two key departments of the US government? Lorry rams auto, 2 killed Two sisters aged below 10 years were killed and three others injured when a lorry rammed their auto on the national highway near Ibrahimpatanam in Krishna district early on Wednesday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		I will join your team if you make me CM candidate: Vijayakanth Much in demand among political parties as an ally for the 2016 assembly election, DMDK chief Vijayakanth is setting one pre-condition for joining with them: He will be their chief ministerial candidate. Police alert major airports to nab Simbu over 'Beep song' The cybercrime cell of Chennai police on Wednesday took their dogged pursuit of Tamil star Silambarasan alias Simbu to levels usually reserved for wanted criminals on the run, alerting all major airports in the country to detain the actor in connection with the controversial 'Beep song'. CM urges Modi to pass bill in Parliament allowing jallikattu Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of Parliament, or extend the winter session, to pass a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act so that jallikattu (taming of the bull) can be held in the state during the Pongal festival in mid-January. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Former president Kalam's wish fulfilled after 11 years The plight of three obese kids and their parents from Rajasthan’s Sikar had moved the then President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who directed authorities to take up the treatment of the children. The help has finally reached the kids, now adolescent, 11 years after their parents had received a letter from Dr Kalam’s office in November 2004. Ban Chinese lanterns in three days: HC to govt Residents of the city will miss the spectacle which happens during Uttarayan when the sky is dotted with Chinese lantern. The Gujarat high court on Tuesday directed the state government to ban manufacturing and sale of these lanterns within three days. Probe panel submits report in Vijoy case The state government then gave the inquiry to the two-member panel. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Top cop tells men to curb post-poll violence In view of the the spate of post-poll violence across the state, police have undertaken a survey to gauge the general mood after the announcement of panchayat election results. GRP nabs 3 for stealing Sleuths of Government Railway Police ( GRP) were successful in nabbing three persons involved in stealing luggage of the passengers including mobile phones. They were arrested from Allahabad junction on Tuesday. Many mobile phones have been recovered from the possession. UPPSC employee suspended for demanding bribe An employee of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has been suspended for allegedly demanding bribe from an aspirant for getting him selected in Technical Assistant Group C-2015 examination. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Naidu panel submits Kandhmal inquiry report, indicates Maoist hand in Saraswati killing The Justice A S Naidu Commission on Tuesday submitted to the state government its inquiry report on the 2008 ethno-communal violence in Kandhmal that drew condemnation from within and outside the country. First conviction in chit fund scams in Odisha In the first-ever conviction in the Odisha mega chit fund scam, a special CBI court here on Tuesday sentenced a former managing director of Eshore Developers Ltd to two years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 72,000 on him. Centre to boost state's coastal security The Centre will provide 26 boats to boost coastal security in Odisha soon, Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		SpiceJet mishap: DGCA suspends license of Dumna airport in Madhya Pradesh Directorate general civil aviation (DGCA) has reportedly suspended licence of Dumna airport - located in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh - putting all flight operations to a halt. Arera: Loan sharks turn heat on bizman, youth ends life Succumbing to pressure from loan sharks, a 37-year-old man committed suicide on Wednesday. He left a suicide note stating how he was pressurised despite returning more than principal sum with interest he had borrowed from them. Habibganj police registered a case. No hand of RSS leaders in Vyapam scandal, claims accused Laxmikant Former minister and Vyapam accused Laxmikant Sharma has defended BJP’s fountainhead organization RSS’s (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) role in Vyapam scandal saying RSS is a disciplined, nationalist organization which could never be involved in any wrongdoing. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		PU talks innovation, puts focus on entrepreneur skills Cluster Innovation Center-Biotechnology (CIC-B), Panjab University (PU), on Wednesday organized a one-day workshop to promote innovation and development of entrepreneur skills. Pre-deposit under VAT not mandatory in Punjab, HC rules In a verdict with huge ramification on the business fraternity of the state of Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday held that the condition 25% pre-deposit before filing of appeal under the Punjab VAT Act would not be mandatory. Badal asks villagers to keep check on quality of development works in their areas Reiterating the commitment of the state government to provide better civic amenities to the rural populace in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday said that special thrust should be laid on quality control of the ongoing development works in the villages. More Chandigarh News»

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