News Digest: LK Advani talks it out with Sumitra Mahajan

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, December 09, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		LK Advani talks it out with Sumitra Mahajan Niti Aayog plans easy mobile feature for e-payments In view of the cash crunch due to banning of high-value currency notes, Niti Aayog announced on Thursday that a more user friendly version of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), used on mobile phones for making cashless payments, will be rolled out in the next 15 days. National Highway widening plan to swallow Kerala mantri's house More India News»

		Business
		Paytm founder raises Rs 325 crore by selling 1% stake Digital payments and commerce platform Paytm's founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has sold 1% of his holding in One97 Communications to raise about Rs 325 crore. Renault JV plant shuts down 1 shift, lays off 800 Govt has infused Rs 23,993cr funds in AI: Minister The Government on Thursday said it has already infused funds to the tune of Rs 23,993 crore in the National flag carrier Air India from 2011-12 till November this year. Air India is surviving on a Rs 30,231 crore bailout package extended by the previous UPA government in 2012 for a 10-year period. More Business News»

		Environment
		Climate change will trigger migration: Study Tequila plant may be key to fighting droughts Agave - the cactus-like plant used to make tequila - can survive the driest of conditions by 'breathing' at night, say scientists who hope to harness the plant's reverse 'body clock' to engineer drought-resistant crops that can adapt to changing climate. Giraffes suffer 'silent extinction' in Africa Giraffe numbers have declined by as much as 40 per cent since the 1980s in a "silent extinction" driven by illegal hunting and an expansion of farmland in Africa, the Red List of endangered species reported on Thursday. More Environment News»

		World
		IS weakened in Afghanistan, claims UNSC report Despite impressions to the contrary, the presence of terror group Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) in Afghanistan has significantly weakened from 2015 to end 2016. From nine districts, IS's control has been reduced to only three and a half districts, a UNSC report claims quoting Afghan officials. Trump's new tone on immigrant kids divides GOP Donald Trump's promise to "work something out" for immigrants brought here illegally as kids is dividing fellow Republicans, underscoring how difficult it will be for Congress to take any action on immigration, whether it's building a wall or dealing with immigrant youths. 'No progress' as Kerry, Lavrov meet on Syria: US US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov failed to make progress on a Syria truce in talks in Germany early Thursday, an American official said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Himesh Reshammiya-wife deny other woman angle Himesh Reshammiya and Komal, his wife of 22 years have filed for divorce, citing compatibility issues. Sushant Singh Rajput in Ryan Gosling's shoes? Buzz is that Tarun Mansukhani’s next, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez, is based on the 2011 Hollywood film, 'Drive', which featured Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. 'Kahaani' producers keen to take the franchise ahead Pleased with the response to 'Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh', the producers of this Vidya Balan starring thriller are hopeful of adding another 'kahaani' to the franchise. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Play a game, learn to code: Computer science week kicks off across the globe Lonely cave dwelling bacteria resistant to 18 antibiotics Hot hydrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere found More Science News»

		Sports
		Junior Hockey World Cup: India blank Canada 4-0 Rated as strong favourites for the title, hosts India started their campaign on a resounding note defeating Canada 4-0 in their opening Pool D match of the Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow on Thursday. 4th Test: India hit back with late strikes after Jennings ton Debutant Keaton Jennings became the 19th England batsman to hit a century on Test debut but Ravi Ashwin pulled things back with three late strikes as England ended the day at 288/5. Sachin Tendulkar picks up stake in PBL franchise Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday ventured into the world of badminton as co-owner of Premier Badminton League (PBL) franchise "Bengaluru Blasters" alongside Tollywood film stars including Chiranjeevi. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Airtel offers free unlimited calls to anywhere in India The cheapest plan starts at Rs 145 in which users get 300MB of 3G/4G data along with free local and STD Airtel-to-Airtel calls across India. Paytm's Android app gets new features Popular e-wallet solutions provider Paytm is rolling out an important update for its Android app. The update introduces improved security features, notably an ‘App password’ functionality that allows users to secure wallet transactions with passwords. Here's all that India watched the most on YouTube in the year 2016 Here's all that dominated YouTube India during the year 2016. More Technology News»

		Education
		Delhi Government streamlines admission process for Class VI More firms but fewer offers at IITs this year At IIT-Bombay, the number of students picked by leading finance and consulting firms has reduced; it has shrunk from 16 to 13 as in the case with Goldman Sachs or nine to four from consulting firm BCG. Meanwhile, students across IITs have received more offers from the analytics sector. CAT flaws: Candidates point at complete mismanagement Though IIM-Bangalore said on Monday that the leaking of the toughest section of last Sunday’s Common Admission Test (CAT) for the Indian Institutes of Management and other prominent business schools on social media sites was an isolated incident that was being dealt with, some candidates have alleged “complete mismanagement” at the test centres. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		469 complaints allege medical care denied in Maharashtra Uproar at Ripon Club meeting, trustees empowered to negotiate fresh terms Pre-schools in Chembur, Khar & Juhu top survey list With December setting in, most parents are scrutinising pre-schools before making a choice for their toddlers. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Many in IIT-D get fat offers from abroad Cops zero in on 'serial killer' of 3 south Delhi women 65-year-old arrested for sodomy More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bheema is innocent, he is being fixed, says brother Krishna Nayak, younger brother of fugitive KAS officer Bheema Nayak, was hesitant to speak to the media. He turned down all requests, but later conceded to speak, on one condition: “No personal questions, please.“ KAS officer Bheema Nayak's office abuzz with big news PLOT THICKENS KAS Officer On The Run, Ramesh's Suicide Note Brings Out Murky Details Of Nayak And Reddy's Wheeling-Dealing. Retired Coffee Board staff protest for revised pension Over 100 retired members of the Coffee Board held a protest on Thursday demanding implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission suggestions with immediate effect. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		17-yr-old ends life A 17-year-old intermediate student ended her life by consuming hair dye after she had an altercation with her elder sister on Tuesday evening. Send smaller notes: Etala urges RBI Finance minister Etala Rajender has directed officials to monitor situation at banks and cash flow in the state on a day-to-day basis in the wake of demonetisation. Cops turn crooks, eye demonetisation kickbacks People trying to make a quick buck by exchanging new notes for old ones, aiming for a commission in the process. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		KPR Mill board approves share buy-back OPS seeks PM Modi's help in church event `Rahul will pay Karunanidhi a visit soon' More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		L&T to build world's biggest cricket stadium for Gujarat Cricket Association DA case against Diu municipal body chief CBI court nixes plea for further probe More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Triple talaq cruel, Muslim women suffer bias: High Court Fuelling the raging debate over whether constitutional guarantees extend to Muslim women, the Allahabad high court has said that triple talaq or the practice of Muslim men getting an instant divorce by saying “talaq“ three times is “cruel“. Big temples to go cashless in New Year Congress poster in UP rakes up controversy General Secretary of City Congress Committee, Irshad Ulla, again raked up a controversy by releasing a poster on Thursday, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wearing Rs 10 lakh suit at a time when he calls himself " Fakir". More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha government planning to introduce career counselling in high schools Toilet walls turn canvases for art work to check open defecation OHRC seeks inquiry on 'no-black-scarf diktat' at CM's meeting The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Thursday sought a report from the government on a police diktat that prevented women from wearing black scarves and dupattas at programmes attended by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Accused hides behind HC ruling barring cops from invoking graft Act Police Action Under Cloud Teachers get 2 years for BEd, DEd Minister for school education Kunwar Vijay Shah told TOI that the government has given two years to teachers teaching in private schools without B.Ed and D.Ed to do their degree or diploma course. Siddharth Bahuguna takes charge as SP south Bhopal IPS Siddharth Bahuguna on Wednesday took charge as superintendent of police (SP) Bhopal (south), replacing the outgoing SP Anshuman Singh. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Haryana CM's 'Man Friday' to look after housing schemes in Haryana Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s close aide and chairman of Haryana Housing Board Jawahar Yadav has been made incharge for state-wide planning and monitoring of housing schemes including ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)’, ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural)’, and ‘Deen Dyal Jan Awas Yojana’. Moga rally today, select schools shut Parkash Singh Badal, country's oldest serving CM, turns 89 Born on December 8, 1927, at Abul Khurana village near Malout in southwest Punjab, Badal has been Chief Minister five times -- 1970-71, 1977-1980, 1997-2002, 2007-2012 and 2012 onwards. He has been in power in Punjab continuously since March 2007. More Chandigarh News»

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