Photostream: News Digest: Lt Gen Bakshi, Hariz get PVSM medal

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Today's Headlines

Lt Gen Bakshi, Hariz get PVSM medal
Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Lt Gen P M Hariz, who were superseded by Gen Bipin Rawat in the race for Army chief, have been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal. The medal is awarded to officers for their meritorious service.

'Excellence plus, not just excellence, was criterion this year'
The Padma list this year features only five Delhi-based awardees as compared to an average of 24 from the national capital honoured between 2005 and 2014. Also, the doctors who have been conferred the civilian honour are not the ones treating the rich and the famous of Delhi, who are known to push hard for their nominees, but the lesser-known medical practitioners working at the grassroot level.

Common man's doctors honoure
She may not be as famous as some of the big shots in the medical fraternity, but 91-year-old Bhakti Yadav is credited with hundreds of free deliveries and gynaecological assistance to the needy. She has been honoured with a Padma Shri this year.

More India News»

Business

IDBI arrests may hit loan settlements at PSU banks
Resolution of bad debts, on the books of public sector banks, could get delayed following the CBI’s arrest of top IDBI officials for sanctioning loans that went bad after a restructuring programme. Many public sector lenders are in a state of shock after CBI arrested, what was then the top rung of IDBI Bank, for sanctioning a loan of Rs 900 crore to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Although IDBI Bank was one among the consortium of 17 lenders — which together advanced Rs 6,900 crore to KFA — bankers feel that IDBI was targeted because the institution breached internal norms.

'Resolve Etisalat issues to step up infra investment'
The UAE on Wednesday indicated that it would step up the planned infrastructure investment of up to $75 billion in a proposed fund with India if the government quickly resolved its concerns over Etisalat, which had invested in Swan Telecom that lost its 2G licences following a Supreme Court ruling.

Dow Jones tops historic 20,000 mark
The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded above 20,000 for the first time on Wednesday, resuming a rally that began in the wake of US President Donald Trump's election victory. The rally was reignited by Trump's signing of numerous executive orders since his inauguration on Friday.

More Business News»

Environment

Wolf-sized otters roamed Earth over 6 million yrs ago

India to ratify Kyoto Protocol on climate change
The Union Cabinet - India's highest decision making body - on Tuesday gave its approval to ratify the second commitment period (2013-2020) of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of Green House Gases (GHGs).

'2 of 10 most polluted cities covered by real-time monitoring'
Only two of India's 10 most polluted cities, Delhi and Faridabad, are covered by the government's real-time air quality monitoring system, leaving more than one billion unprepared for toxic episodes, Greenpeace India said today, asserting that the country's air is now "deadlier" than China.

More Environment News»

World

Alarmed by Trump plans, refugees see growing enmity in US
Nur Hasan al Faraj's already slim hopes of a new life in the United States have all but died since she heard that President Donald Trump would temporarily ban refugees coming from some Muslim states.

Pak to get new foreign secy; Tehmina Janjua leads race
With the appointment of Pakistan’s outgoing foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry as ambassador to the United States, several diplomats are in the running for the country’s top bureaucratic position in foreign affairs. These include former ambassador to France Ghalib Iqbal, high commissioner to India Abdul Basit, permanent representative to the UN in Geneva Tehmina Janjua, and high commissioner to the UK Syed Ibn-i-Abbas.

Russian 'ship of shame' returning from Syria: UK
A Russian aircraft carrier used to wage a massive offensive on the Syrian city of Aleppo is on its way back to Russia, Britain's defence minister said on Thursday, calling it a "ship of shame",

More World News»

Entertainment

'Irada' trailer: Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi's suspense-drama
Bringing back their hit combo to mainstream cinema are Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi, who will soon be seen in Nishant Tripathi's film 'Irada'.

Watch: Behind the scenes of Deepika's photo shoot
Deepika Padukone is stunning and we all know it but her sheer energy is what makes her even more beautiful.

Mahira Khan on her 'Raees' co-star: Shah Rukh Khan spoilt me for life
Mahira opened up about her “magical” experience working with King Khan.

More Entertainment News»

Science

Bursts of methane may have warmed early Mars, suggests study
Interactions between methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the atmosphere of ancient Mars may have created warm periods that allowed the red planet to support liquid water on its surface, according to a new study that may help in our quest for life beyond the Earth.

Has Mt Everest shrunk after Nepal quake? Survey of India to find out
An expedition from the Survey of India would depart for Nepal in 2 months to conduct the exercise that comes in the backdrop of doubts expressed by section of the scientific community about the shrinking of the towering mountain peak. Mount Everest officially stands at 8,848 metres above sea level.

Long eclipse avoidance manoeuvres performed successfully on MOM spacecraft

More Science News»

Sports

Usain Bolt loses gold as IOC strips Jamaica of 2008 relay win
The loss of the relay gold deprives Usain Bolt of one of his 'triple triples' -- he won gold in the 100m, 200 and the 4x100m at Beijing and then went on to repeat the feat in London in 2012 and again in Rio last year.

Kohli, Sreejesh, Sakshi, Deepa, Thangavelu for Padma Shri
Besides Kohli, the seven other sportspersons named for the award are wrestler Sakshi Malik, Paralympians Thangavelu and Deepa Malik, gymnast Dipa Karmakar, hockey captain PR Sreejesh, discus thrower Gowda and blind cricket team captain Shekar Naik.

Rahul Dravid declines Bangalore University honorary doctorate
"While thanking the university for recognizing him, (Dravid) has in all humility declined to accept the honorary degree," Vice-Chancellor B Thimme Gowda.

More Sports News»

Technology

BHIM app gets support for seven regional languages
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), the common platform for making quick payments using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is now available on Google Play Store with an updated version.

Airtel, Vodafone to cap unlimited calling plans to 300 minutes a day: Report
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India are about to modify their unlimited calling offers where they’ll be restricting the daily usage to 300 minutes

Upcoming budget may have incentives for makers of PoS machines, ATMs
To promote digital payments, the upcoming budget may offer incentives to companies which manufacture equipment like PoS machines and micro ATMs.

More Technology News»

Education

IIMs to get full autonomy, will award degrees, not diplomas

After 13 years, JNU hikes entrance examination fee by 27%
JNU aspirants will now have to shell out more money for appearing for the varsity's entrance examination as the fees for it have been increased by 27 per cent from the upcoming academic session.

Percentage of 'out-of-school' girls in MP jumps to 8.5: Report
Despite offering freebies like books, bicycle and uniforms along with scholarships among others to enhance enrollment, Madhya Pradesh is among the top three states in the country where the percentage of out-of-school girls is the highest, according to an education status report for 2016.

More Education News»

Mumbai

Kherwadi flyover work to affect traffic for three days

On Republic-Day eve, BMC flouts noise cut-off

Man beats stray to death in Goregaon, arrested

More Mumbai News»

Delhi

One held for shooting at cop

SHO reaches Delhi high court 2 hours late, sent to police lines

Tandoor case: Sushil Sharma gets parole

More Delhi News»

Bangalore

Karnataka to legalise kambala and bullock-cart races
The Karnataka government will introduce an amendment to the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act, 1960, to make kambala and bullock-cart races a sport in Karnataka.

Gang abducts woman, 71, for Rs 1.5 crore, nabbed in 14 hours
14-HR KIDNAP DRAMA Cops Track Gang Through Mobile Tower Signals, Effect Midnight Rescue

BS Yeddyurappa-KS Eshwarappa fight reaches Delhi
RSS And Party Boss Amit To Broker Peace

More Bangalore News»

Hyderabad

Student's suicide: School illegal, wards told to shift

Funds freeze & eviction: Civil society rallies behind minorities commission
Shunted Out To Dark, Dank Office: Panel

Musaddilal case: ED scans for laundering

More Hyderabad News»

Chennai

Unsealed or Unlabelled? Your bubbletop may contain unsafe tap water

Metrowater to source water to quench parched city

Artists join hands for cancer relief

More Chennai News»

Ahmedabad

Padma stars of the state

President's medal for 3 Gujarat cops

Kutch: Once a tax haven, now an investment hub

More Ahmedabad News»

Allahabad

Mela turns into voter awareness camp
A mela venue in Pratapgarh turned into a voter awareness camp on Tuesday. Volunteers of Baba Bhayharan Nath Dham and Bakulahi River Rejuvenation Abhiyan used banners and posters to educate visitors about their right to vote.

BJP declares Neelam karwaria as its candidate from Meja
BJP on Tuesday declared Neelam Karwaria as its candidate from Meja assembly segment of Allahabad district in the list of 67 candidates being declared by senior party leaders at party headquarters in New Delhi.

Apna Dal to go it alone in 150 constituencies
Apna Dal (Krishna Patel faction) would go it alone in 150 selected constituencies from across the state. The party would release the lists of candidates on January 26 and 27.

More Allahabad News»

Bhubaneswar

State election commission asks govt to transfer Pattamundai BDO

Woman's death during road blockade, NHRC summons Khurda DM

Engine breaks free from train, runs 2km in Rourkela
Three days after Hirakhand Express jumped track killing 41 people at Kuneru, in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, the passengers of Bhubaneswar-Anand Vihar superfast weekly express had a narrow escape when the engine got detached from the coaches minutes after crossing Rourkela station.

More Bhubaneswar News»

Bhopal

5.5 lakh temporary pump cconnections to be permanent by June 2019 in MP
Around 5.5 lakh temporary pump connections will be converted in permanent connections by June 2019 under Mukhyamantri Sthayi Krishi Pump Connection Yojana. The information was given in review meeting of energy department, taken by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Mass teaching day in MP put off again, Feb 15 is fresh date
The ‘mass teaching day’ to be observed on January 28 where chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and eminent personalities were to teach primary students of government schools for an hour, has been postponed to February 15 due to chief minister’s other engagements. This is the second time that the event has been postponed.

PM Modi invited to MP's Narmade Sewa Yatra's concluding ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited at the concluding ceremony of Namami Devi Narmade Sewa Yatra, on May 11. The 3,344km campaign touching 972 villages and 51 blocks of 16 districts, situated on the bank of river Narmada, will end in May. An official announcement for PM’s visit is awaited.

More Bhopal News»

Chandigarh

No repeat winner from Bathinda in 50 years
Bathinda assembly constituency has not seen any politician getting elected for a second consecutive time in the 50 years since the state was trifurcated in 1967.

Punjab's green crusader Balbir Singh Seechewal gets Padma Shri
It was 16 years back when Balbir Singh Seechewal took up the challenging task of cleaning 160 km long water body, Kali Bein, a rivulet in Punjab. According to legend, first Sikh master Guru Nanak had got enlightenment while sitting on its banks.

45 years on, 1971 war widow to get compensation
Having struggled hard to get land under special rules meant for families of martyrs of Indo-Pak war, Jasbir Kaur, wife of Major Kanwaljit Singh who has been missing since the 1971 India-Pakistan War and was declared a martyr by the Centre, will finally get the payment in lieu of 10 acres of cultivable land at collector rate from the Punjab government.

More Chandigarh News»