News Digest: 'Need to reorient Kerala's development model'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, January 11, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		'Need to reorient Kerala's development model' CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has stressed the need to fine-tune the Kerala model and adopt a new development trajectory. Rahul Gandhi back from Europe, will hold meeting with Congress leaders today Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has returned from his trip to Europe and will hold a meeting with the party functionaries on Monday to take stock of the developments during his absence. Ram Vilas Paswan calls Lalu Bihar's 'super CM' Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday accused the Nitish Kumar government of failing to check crime in Bihar and called RJD boss Lalu Prasad the state’s super chief minister. More India News»

		Business
		Aandhra signs 32 MoUs at partnership summit The Andhra Pradesh government today said it has signed 32 MoUs with various companies involving an investment of Rs 1.95 lakh crore on the inaugural day of the three-day long partnership summit here. BSE to get its own postal stamp Asia's oldest stock exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, will get its own postage stamp, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Sunday. McDonald's India to focus on brand extension In its 20th year of operations in India, McDonald's India will sharpen focus on innovation, delivery business, and brand extensions like McCafe in 2016, that have "significantly boosted" the company's revenues in the past year. More Business News»

		Environment
		Higher temp during winter can hit wheat crop: Experts Comparatively higher temperatures during the ongoing winters have become a cause of concern for the wheat-growers in Punjab and Haryana with experts fearing productivity loss if mercury continues to remain this way. Mozambique park sees wildlife numbers grow after war Lions are getting pregnant and the waterbuck population is soaring at one of Mozambique's main national parks, once the scene of fighting during a civil war which virtually wiped out the park's lions, elephants and many other species. Eighth lion dies at ambitious Etawah Lion Safari Project The ambitious Lion Safari project in Etawah, a flagship project of the Uttar Pradesh government, suffered another lion death on Saturday when Tapasya, the lioness, succumbed to prolonged illness. More Environment News»

		World
		20 dead in bus crash in southern Mexico Mexican officials say 20 people died when a bus plunged off a bridge and fell into a deep gorge. US bomber flies over S Korea as standoff deepens A powerful US B-52 bomber flew low over South Korea on Sunday, a clear show of force from the United States as a Cold War-style standoff deepened between its ally Seoul and North Korea following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test. Sinaloa cartel lives on despite El Chapo's capture The recapture of kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was a boost to the Mexican government, but his Sinaloa drug cartel lives on despite the loss of its "CEO," analysts say. The gang, whose empire stretches around the world, will retain its supply of cocaine from South America, keep feeding addicts in the United States and fill its coffers full of cash. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Asin to wed as per Hindu and Christian rituals Bollywood actress Asin is all set to tie the knot with Delhi-based entrepreneur Rahul Sharma in the capital on January 20. Top 10 must-watch films of 2015 Vyjayanthimala to sing solo for first time More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Chinese scientists develop shape-shifting polymer Chinese scientists have developed a shape-shifting polymer which can be used to make heart brackets or surgical equipment that may help get rid of blood clot thrombosis. Doctors: Do not write off the stethoscope yet Two hundred years after it was invented to hear the heart's murmurs, the ubiquitous stethoscope - symbol of the medical profession - is once again at the centre of a raging debate on its utility. Villages on the Moon can be reality by 2030: Scientists Villages on the Moon, constructed through cooperation between astronauts and robotic systems on the lunar surface, can become a reality as early as 2030, a group of scientists have predicted. More Science News»

		Sports
		We will exploit WACA bounce against India: Finch India last played an ODI at the WACA against Australia in 2004 and even though the wicket has changed since, Australian opener Aaron Finch believes the hosts can still put the visitors in a spot of bother. Raonic takes revenge on Federer to win in Brisbane An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year's final. Stan Wawrinka defends Chennai Open title with ease Living up to his top billing, Stan Wawrinka annexed his third Chennai Open singles title in a row, demolishing the challenge of Borna Coric in the final on Sunday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		9 hot gadgets set to launch in India soon Just like every year, CES 2016, held at Las Vegas, had the tech giants from around the world showcasing their latest products and concepts: Smart fridges, connected cars, futuristic gaming tower PCs, new-age fitness trackers, 8K TV sets and the list goes on. Techies turn 3 Madhya Pradesh villages into free Wi-Fi zone Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India initiative, four techies from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district have turned three remote villages into first free Wi-Fi hamlets in the country without government funding. 8 gadgets & tech you should definitely use in 2016 Here are some gadgets and technologies that provide simple solutions to these and many other such problems. More Technology News»

		Education
		10 lakh youths to get engineering skill training in 3 years Over the next three years, 10 lakh youths will be trained in engineering skills in AICTE-approved engineering colleges and polytechnics. Act now to stop decline in standard of education: President Pranab Mukherjee President Pranab Mukherjee stressed on Sunday the need to arrest the declining standards of education in the country and sought quality improvement by engaging focused attention of academicians, policy makers and other stakeholders to this end. 16 students deported from US 'held' at Hyderabad airport for 8 hours After being deported from the US despite having valid documents, 16 students were held back for eight hours at the Hyderabad airport for ‘paperwork’ and had to be rescued by a Telangana minister on Sunday. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		In winter, Mumbai uses more power for ACs than any other Indian metro: Study The Indian winter appears to be the warmest in Mumbai going by the pattern of electricity consumption through air conditioners and refrigerators.  Kids whip up sweet tidbits, have nutritious fun Kids and parents alike trooped into a Sion auditorium bright and early on Sunday for a morning of whipping up delicious eats like bruschettas and desserts. The workshop, organized as part of The Times of India’s ‘Mumbai for Kids’ initiative had chef Rakhee Vaswani demonstrate recipes, and rope in junior sous chefs from the audience. 'After my brother's death, someone had to take on the goons in khaki' The Bombay high court’s refusal to grant an extension of time for surrender to the cops convicted in the 2006 Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case, was a vindication of the struggle that Ramprasad Gupta, Lakhan Bhaiya’s brother, has gone through in the last nine years. After spending over Rs 15 lakh on the case, Ramprasad’s battle for justice is far from over as he anticipates future appeals reaching the Supreme Court. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Fire in Delhi slum kills 3 children Three children, including a six-month-old boy, were charred to death while another suffered serious burns after a fire broke out in east Delhi's Usmanpur area on Saturday night. Pollution falls, for now, largely due to weather in Delhi Whether due to odd-even rule or not, air pollution levels in the city have begun to fall. Premium bus service for elite class in Delhi soon The Delhi government has proposed to start a 'Premium Bus Service' for the elite class with higher fares, a step aimed at encouraging them to use public transport. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Kerala men arrested for selling stolen diamond Central Crime Bureau (CCB) sleuths arrested four Kerala based men on charges of allegedly trying to sell stolen diamond and recovered a diamond worth Rs 1.14 crore from them. Accused are KV Shanoj Kuttiyappu Kumar, 39 of Cochin, Nikhil Chandrashekar, 25, of Kannur, Ravindra Krishnachari, 54, resident of Avenue road and native of Calicut and Vijay Shanmugam, 26, of Kannur. Passenger amenity centre for bus passengers at Yelahanka The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Sunday opened a new passenger amenity centre for bus passengers at Yelahanka of North Bengaluru. Spread over one acre area and constructed at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore, the centre has parking space for cars and two wheelers in the basement in area of 26,468 sq ft. There are three bus bays, traffic control room, bus pass counter. 11k acres land leased for solar power park has contaminated water: Report Having burnt its fingers in land acquisition for mega power projects time and again, the government has decided to change its land policy for one of the biggest power generation endeavours in Karnataka. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		'Fighter' cocks of Andhra Pradesh cost lakhs, but bring in crores Believe it or not, cockfight organisers in rural Andhra Pradesh spend anything upward of Rs 2 lakh a year to feed each bird to prepare it for the bloody sport. Parties make moves to finalize candidates With the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the schedule for the GHMC elections, political parties have stepped up the pace of finalizing their candidates Cong demands KCR to reveal funds source for publicity blitz The Telangana Congress on Saturday demanded the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) declare the source of funding for its massive outdoor campaign in the city. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Rural labour loses women, Karnataka worst offender Women in rural areas are increasingly withdrawing from the country's labour force. Chennai Corporation asks residents to take part in Swachh Bharat Mission survey The Chennai Corporation has requested residents to participate in the Union ministry of urban development’s Swachh Bharat Mission survey. Chennai floods have exposed inefficient system prevailing in Tamil Nadu, Jayaprakash Narayan says Lok Satta Party founder Jayaprakash Narayan on Sunday said the Tamil Nadu government is plagued with inefficiency, corruption and centralization. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Businessman alleges Rs 2.25cr cheating A 45-year-old businessman has registered a complaint against a Thailand-based travel agency owner for cheating him of Rs 2.25 crore on pretext of selling him a hotel in Bangkok. 9th annual Intellectual Property Summit held in Ahmedabad A holistic understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) and building awareness on patent filing through education was central to discussions held by experts at the 9th Annual Intellectual Property Summit-2016 on ‘Evolving Knowledge- based Society’ organized by Y J Trivedi—AMA Academy for Intellectual Property Rights. EPFO Ahmedabad settles more than 33,000 claims in December Employees Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) Ahmedabad region settled more than 33,000 claims amounting to Rs 121.86 crore in the month of December, out of which more than 34% were settled within 3 days. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Ram naam draws Muslim followers to Magh Mela A group of city-based Muslims have been following the ritual of writing the name of Lord Ram to deposit during the Magh Mela. Accidents on rise, traffic cops to hold road safety week Taking note of the high incidence of road accidents, city traffic police have planned a road safety week beginning Monday. The region reported over 290 deaths and 523 injuries in road accidents last year. Rly to impose mela surcharge North Central Railway has decided to impose surcharge on the passengers travelling during the Magh Mela period. This surcharge will be applicable on tickets purchased at Allahabad and adjoining stations ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 20, depending on the class of the train in which the passenger is travelling. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha gets 14th AIR station at Rairangpur Union oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday inaugurated an All India Radio (AIR) station at Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district. It is the 14th station in the state. “The station would definitely be a source of entertainment and information for the people of the region,” said Pradhan. Rare operation performed on cobra An intestine rupture is definitely a medical emergency. The surgeons showed the promptness and urgency expected from them on an otherwise lazy Sunday afternoon to save a critically wounded patient. So what if the patient is a snake! Sam Pitroda: 20 years too long for techno vision Sam Pitroda, the newly-appointed technology adviser for Odisha who would be associated with the state government's Vision 2036, said 20 years is too long a time to prepare a vision for future technology use. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Defective notes: CBI, IB inspect unit While mystery prevails over production and printing of defective 1000 and 500-rupee currency notes by government-owned mills in Hoshangabad and Nasik, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel and vigilance unit of CISF have joined the high-level probe into a possible security breach. Four persons including two Ranji trophy cricketers caught for poaching black buck in Sagar Four persons including two Ranji trophy cricket players have been caught for hunting black buck in Sagar on Sunday. Houses demolished in Sagar village, dalits take shelter near police station Houses of dalit families of a Sagar village, who were forced to carry their footwear over their head after they refused to withdraw rape FIR have allegedly been demolished by the upper caste members, as police turned a deaf ear to their woes. Fearing for their life, dalits alleged they can’t go back to their village, now. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		80% turnout in 1st panchayat polls with new norms in Haryana With Panchkula recording a polling percentage of 91.7, surprises have started pouring in from the fifth elections of panchayati raj institutions, even as the educated lot are yet to take over the grassroots parliaments in Haryana. India's Honorary Consul General Upjit Sachdeva is now Head/Dean of Consular Corps in Liberia The Government of the Republic of Liberia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has appointed the Honorary Consul General of India in Liberia, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, Head/Dean of the Consular Corps in Liberia. Sachdeva originally hails from Jalandhar and is a successful entrepreneur on Liberia. He has also got Parvasi Bhartiya Sanman in 2011 from government of India. Punjab Youth Congress to run signature campaign for naming of Chandigarh airport Claiming that the recent lathicharge done by Police in Mohali has failed to dampen the spirits of Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) and its activists are determined to push the demand for naming Chandigarh international airport after martyr Bhagat Singh, Punjab Youth Congress president Amarpreet Singh Lally has said that now they would seek support of all Gram Panchayats across Punjab through a signature campaign. This initiative will take off from the native village, Khatkarkalan of Bhagat Singh soon. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Naidu positive of GST passage in Budget session

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, January 10, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Naidu positive of GST passage in Budget session Union parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday expressed hope that the GST Bill will be passed in the Budget session of Parliament. Hoshangabad unit shut over faulty notes In a jolt to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the government-owned Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India (SPMCI) has shut production of its new bank-note paper line (NBNPL), Hoshangabad, and sealed stock of currency notes. To fail or not to fail: That shouldn't be the question In India, every other year, a new committee is established to explore the possibility of making kids repeat classes, even though educationists agree that detention (grade retention, repetition or failure) doesn’t improve learning and increases dropout rates. More India News»

		Business
		Mamata gets biz proposals worth Rs 2.5L cr The two-day Bengal Global Business Summit organised by the West Bengal government concluded on Saturday attracting investment proposals worth at least Rs.2,50,104 crore ($37 billion), CM Mamata Banerjee announced here. '2016 could prove challenging for Asian economies' The Year of the Monkey could prove challenging for Asian economies, with growth remaining subdued, according to a global research report published by HSBC. The report says exports are unlikely to rebound amid lacklustre global demand, and investment looks set to cool further. Doordarshan may go for "slot sale policy" In order to procure content, public broadcaster Doordarshan may go for "slot sale policy" under which professionals would provide programmes in lieu of a share in the revenue that is earned from them. More Business News»

		Environment
		Eighth lion dies at ambitious Etawah Lion Safari Project The ambitious Lion Safari project in Etawah, a flagship project of the Uttar Pradesh government, suffered another lion death on Saturday when Tapasya, the lioness, succumbed to prolonged illness. Sabarimala to go 'green', pilgrims asked to cooperate With the Kerala high court seeking that the famed Sabarimala temple in the state's Pathanamthitta district and its premises are kept clean and turn "green", local authorities have launched an awareness drive and asked pilgrims to ensure that they adhere to the rules. Peta critical of centre for allowing bull races People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India Chief Executive Officer Poorva Joshipura has criticized the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change decision to permit events like jallikattu and bull races again through a 7th January 2016 notification in the Gazette of India. More Environment News»

		World
		N Korea's Kim Jong Un says H-bomb test self-defensive step against US North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country conducted a hydrogen bomb test as a self-defensive step against a US threat of nuclear war and had a sovereign right to do so without being criticised, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday. Paris police station attacker lived in German refugee shelter German police raided an asylum seeker shelter where they said the man who sought to attack a Paris police station on Thursday had lived. Mexico drug lord Guzman to face US extradition hearing Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman will face hearings for his possible extradition to the United States following his recapture, authorities said Saturday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		It was a Beach Holiday for Ranveer-Deepika Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone recently attended a popular awards ceremony together. Sidharth-Alia's alleged love life Actors who refused to do love-making scenes Bollywood is getting bolder by the day. Actors are willing to shed their inhibitions and throw caution to the winds when it comes to dropping their clothes for love-making scenes. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		I need a drink: pilot after 22,000-km flight British aviator Tracey CurtisTaylor landed with her open-cockpit biplane at Sydney’s international airport on Saturday, completing a three-month journey from England to retrace a pioneering feat of early aviation. Want to gain trust? Act silly There’s a common misconception that trust is something that builds gradually. Instead, psychologists say there’s a somewhat scientific formula to gaining people’s trust more quickly. Curbing brain swelling could halt Alzheimer's The memory loss and progressive dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease can be halted by drugs that curb inflammation in the brain, according to a new approach to treating the most common form of dementia. More Science News»

		Sports
		Injured Shami ruled out, Bhuvneshwar in for Australia series Shami sustained the injury during a training session before the warm-up Twenty20 game against Western Australia, which the Indians on Friday. Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis clinch Brisbane International title Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis carried the dominance of 2015 into the new season, winning their sixth consecutive title by lifting the WTA Brisbane trophy. 'Perfect' Djokovic thrashes Nadal to win Qatar Open Djokovic won his first title of 2016 on Saturday, playing "perfect" tennis to thrash arch-rival Rafael Nadal in straight sets during a breathtaking performance. More Sports News»

		Technology
		iPhone 7 will drop headphone jack and sport waterproof body: Report Apple will definitely be removing the headphone port in its next major iPhone release, according to a report. 8 gadgets & tech you should definitely use in 2016 Here are some gadgets and technologies that provide simple solutions to these and many other such problems. Mass layoffs keep IIT-Madras students away from startups While the placement season-2015 has attracted double the number of startups compared to last year, institute officials observe that students are not very enthusiastic this time to attend startup interviews, thanks to the recent news of mass layoffs. More Technology News»

		Education
		CAT 2015 result: Meerut boy bags 99.99 percentile City boy Prabhav Gupta is 20 years old but the world is already his oyster. Gupta has scored 99.99 percentile in the common aptitude test (CAT). The fourth-year engineering student is now preparing for his interview at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad - his dream college. Two from Raj bell CAT with near-perfect 99.99 Two aspiring management students from the state - Arnav Pareek and Prabhav Gupta - scored a near-perfect 99.99 percentile in Common Admission Test (CAT) 2015, results of which were declared on Friday evening.Pareek, who is a chemical engineer from IIT-Banaras Hindu University (BHU), prepared for CAT along with a job in a leading MNC. Students across nation surprised by direct CAT'15 results on their mobile phones To the surprise of students (MBA aspirants) and all waiting for Common Admission Test (CAT) results, IIM Ahmedabad declared the results in an unprecedented manner by sending out direct messages to students on their registered mobile numbers on Friday afternoon. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		150 suburban services The Central Railway has started a 18-hour block for dismantling of the 135-year-old Hancock bridge between Byculla and Sandhurst Road stations. Due to the block, 150 suburban services will be cancelled on main line. Shia cleric execution triggers hate mails to Saudi consulate The Saudi Arabia consulate here has received a barrage of hate mails after the Saudi authorities executed senior Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, along with 46 others, last week. Week on, baby set on fire by father dies The infant, who was set on fire along with his mother and cousin at their Mira Road home by his father on December 31, has succumbed to his burns. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Man stabs, strangles wife over daughter in northeast Delhi A 22-year-old woman was stabbed and strangled by her husband in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur area on Saturday during an argument over the upbringing of their daughter. Seminar on Ram Temple amid protests, 14 detained The Arts Faculty of Delhi University turned into a virtual fortress with police maintaining unprecedented security to ensure smooth conduct of a two-day seminar on Ram temple on Saturday. As anticipated, a number of Left-wing student organisations, staged a protest outside the venue ahead of BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s speech. 'No compromise on Ayodhya, Mathura & Kashi' More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		11k acres land leased for solar power park has contaminated water: Report Having burnt its fingers in land acquisition for mega power projects time and again, the government has decided to change its land policy for one of the biggest power generation endeavours in Karnataka. Police charge sheet no evidence to prove non holding of DL by a rider on the date of accident-, says HC The Karnataka high court has said that a police chargesheet cannot be relied upon as an evidence so as to hold that the driver of an Insured vehicle involved in a accident had no driving licence on the date of the accident.. Few likes on FB could lead to low self-esteem, says study In an age where ‘likes’ on Facebook are determining happiness, popularity and self-esteem, young teens are sliding into a state of depression, finds a study on the impact of using social networking site Facebook. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Parties make moves to finalize candidates With the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the schedule for the GHMC elections, political parties have stepped up the pace of finalizing their candidates Cong demands KCR to reveal funds source for publicity blitz The Telangana Congress on Saturday demanded the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) declare the source of funding for its massive outdoor campaign in the city. Art has escaped from closed doors: Esther David Anybody can be an artiste – that’s the mantra art critic and author Esther David swears by. “It is the way you open up minds and you teach a technique and you expose yourself to a certain area,” David, popularly known for creating space in the world of art for underprivileged children, said while discussing Art & Culture at the ongoing Hyderabad literary festival, on Saturday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Jallikattu, rekla race help preserve native bull stock, say breeders Until the jallikattu ban was lifted on Friday , several prized bulls, bred over centuries, like the Kangeyam, Puliyakulam and Tiruchengodu were headed for the slaughterhouse. As pendency mounts, judges invoke faith to put an end to legal wrangles Vedas, Lord Krishna and Prophet Muhammed – at first blush, these would seem irrelevant at a sombre judicial event on mediation and conciliation. But jurists used anecdotes profusely to drive home a point that mediation as a dispute resolution method was not alien to India. As polls near, DMDK inches closer to DMK Actor Vijayakanth’s political screen play for 2016 assembly elections may well have a DMDK-DMK tie-up as its climax. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Guj cop caught on tape groping women In a state where women are said to be safer than in any other parts of the country , a policeman deployed to secure women from anti-social elements was caught on tape groping women at the Kankaria Carnival organized by the state government from December 25 to 31. Delhi fog delays over 35 flights in Gujarat More than three dozen flights were delayed to and from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot airports on Friday following dense fog in Delhi and consequential traffic congestion. Technical glitch mars results of CAT 2015 In a surprise first, Common Admission Test (CAT) aspirants got their results with percentile score through SMS on Friday afternoon even before being declared officially. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		STF nabs notorious dacoit absconding since 1989 Sleuths of Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday arrested a notorious dacoit identified as Radhayshyam Maurya, a resident of Sultanpur Ghosh (Fatehpur) near Chaufatka when he was escaping towards Kaushambi. Police have also recovered one 0.32 bore pistol along with two live cartridges, one bike without registration and Rs 12,110 cash from his possession. Traffic authorities to take fresh initiatives to minimize road mishaps With National Safety Council (NSC) has expressed deep concern about the mounting toll of deaths on roads across the nation and claimed that speeding vehicles, drunk driving, low use of helmets and seat belts and child restraints in vehicles, etc. have resulted in most of the road mishaps on the roads, the district traffic police have drafted a blueprint to minimize the cases of road mishaps in terms of fatal and non -fatal category. Under the blueprint, the traffic authorities are all set to be apply fresh initiatives on the occasion of national road safety week beginning from Monday. Railway to put up ticket vending machines In order to reduce long queues at unreserved ticketing system counters at railway stations, North Central Railway has decided to install automatic ticket vending machines (AVTMs) at many stations in the zone. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Civic body fine-tunes Raahgiri programme The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), with the help of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Friday conducted a meeting to finalize the Raahgiri programme, which will be held here on January 17. CM, Bangladesh high commissioner talk biz Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested Bangladesh high commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali to explore opportunities to invest in textile sector in the state. Congress stalled GST bill: Jayant Sinha Addressing a news conference here, Sinha said Congress used every possible excuse to stall the upper house. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Techies turn 3 villages of Madhya Pradesh into free Wi-Fi zone Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India initiative, four techies from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district have turned three remote villages into first free Wi-Fi hamlets in the country without government funding. MP CM calls one-on-one with MLAs to do away with `babudom' Unhappy with the seeming ‘devil may care’ attitude of officials, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has exhorted the administrative machinery to keep communication alive with public representatives. MANIT ragging: Seniors allegedly force juniors to watch porn videos Seniors in Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) allegedly forced juniors to watch porn movies and imitate the same act in front of them. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Wildlife institute of India to conduct survey in Aravallis The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, has begun to map out wildlife in the Aravallis besides ascertaining the land use and land cover in the area. It would assess the presence of major wildlife species in the Aravallis, especially the leopards and other predators. Contractor robbed of 1L Armed assailants snatched rupees one lakh from a contractor of the road construction department at Anraj Ghati on Garhwa-Ranka Road, 14km from the district headquarters on Thursday. 'Out of 109 kids with special needs, only 50 go to school' According to a survey done by students from the Centre for Human Rights and Duties and University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, 109 children with special needs reside in Dhanas rehabilitation colony and 85 in Bhaskar Colony. More Chandigarh News»

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