[wanabidii] News Digest: I-T dept releases list of 18 defaulters owing Rs 1,150cr

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, December 30, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		I-T dept releases list of 18 defaulters owing Rs 1,150cr Stepping up its 'name and shame' campaign, the Income Tax department on Wednesday made public a third list of 18 tax defaulters including gold and diamond traders whose dues totalled around Rs 1,150 crore. Sebi orders Sarada Pleasure to repay investor money Capital markets regulator Sebi has ordered Sarada Pleasure & Adventure Ltd and its directors to refund the money collected through issuance of preference shares to the investors. Sensex sinks below 26k-mark on profit-booking, down 119 points Markets on Wednesday failed to make good use of the early momentum in a fluctuating trade as the benchmark Sensex broke below the psychological 26,000-mark by falling over 119 points amid profit-booking and a mixed global trend. More Business News»

		Environment
		Chill not to freeze New Year's Eve thrill in Himachal hills The snow will not freeze the thrill in the hills of Himachal Pradesh as the sun will add warmth to the celebrations. Tourists will thus herald the New Year on a sunny note, the Met office cheerfully says. There will be long sunny days at most of the tourist destinations in the state till the New Year dawns. Crows too know how to make and use tools! f you thought only humans or primates can forge and use tools, you are wrong. Crows can make, use, and even store for re-use certain tools while foraging for food, a new study shows. '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. More Environment News»

		World
		No holiday cheer as Turks in Russia dread 2016 Since Ankara shot down a Russian warplane on the Syria-Turkish border on November 24, Moscow regards Turkey -- a trading partner and top tourist destination for Russians -- as an adversary. US accuses Iran of conducting rocket test near warships Iranian naval vessels conducted rocket tests last week near U.S. warships and commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the American military said Wednesday, causing new tension between the two nations after a landmark nuclear deal. South Korea 'comfort women' protest against Japan deal South Korean women forced into wartime sexual slavery and hundreds of supporters held a rally today against a "humiliating" deal with Japan designed to settle the issue, and vowed to keep fighting for justice. More World News»

		Science
		Indigenize is focus of this year's science meet "Industrialize or perish" was the clarion call given by Sir M Visvesvaraya, former dewan of Mysuru, and one of India's best known engineers. Today, many decades later, the slogan the country is embracing seems to be "indigenize or perish". Shopping can bring long-term happiness: Study In some good news for shopaholics, scientists have found that material purchases can provide more frequent happiness over time. Man posts selfie a year after quitting crystal meth to show progress of living clean One of the greatest things about being clean is that I got to be sober to see my sister have her baby girl: Ryan Harder More Science News»

		Technology
		In pictures: 9 big technology achievements of 2015 As the year ends, here's capturing in pictures some of the biggest technology feats. These innovations not only made an impact this year, but will also shape technology trends in 2016 and ahead. 15 best smartphones launched in 2015 2015 was the year when the Indian market saw a major shift to smartphones with high-end features offered at mid-range prices. 9 startups oppose net 'gate-keepers' A group of nine startups, including Zomato and Paytm, wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman R S Sharma on Tuesday evening, requesting the regulatory body to "to issue clear regulations preventing telecom providers or content providers from acting as gate-keepers". More Technology News»

		Education
		Bangalore university trifurcated In future, students of Bangalore University, which has around 600 colleges affiliated to it, need not go to its Jnana Bharathi campus to sort out issues related to academics and admissions. NID Ahmedabad to mentor sister design institutes As new four National Institutes of Design (NID) are being set up, the first NID here of the country will play the role of mentor for its counterparts to design the goals of future. Gujarat University senate elections back on track The Gujarat University is likely to issue the final notification for its senate elections on December 31. The university has already prepared the list of 28,000 voters. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Council polls: Cong wins 3, Sena 2, others bag 1 seat each The Congress won three seats, Shiv Sena won two, while the NCP, BJP and an Independent bagged one seat each. The elections to the seven local authorities constituencies of the state Legislative Council were held on Sunday in which 15 candidates were in the fray. BMC students to run Powai marathon In a first, over 300 children from municipal schools in the city will participate in the upcoming Powai run on January 3. Yoga conference for teachers' in Lonavala The Kaivalyadhama Yoga institute’s ‘International yoga conference – Yoga & Education is being held on its campus in Lonaval starting December 27. The conference was inaugurated by Minister of AYUSH, Shripad Naik. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Odd-even scheme: Why exempt women, two-wheelers, Delhi high court asks The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the Arvind Kejriwal government why women and two-wheelers have been exempted from the odd-even traffic rule effective for 15 days starting January 1. Seeking a response from the government, the court said it will hear the matter next on January 6. Tell parents to follow odd-even rule, Kejriwal to children "Vehicular pollution is the main reason why we are here... After conducting car-free day on 22nd of every month, we calculated pollution and it was comparatively lesser," Arvind Kejriwal said. Salman vs Khan: Market body may sue actor The Khan Market Traders Association plans to sue actor Salman Khan over the name of his new online shopping platform — khanmarketonline.com. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Congress wins Karnataka legislative council polls Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah closed the year by posting a massive victory for his party in the legislative council polls results on Wednesday, with the Congress winning 12 seats, leaving the BJP far behind with 5, JD(S) and Independents one seat each in the 19 of the total 25 seats from the local authorities constituencies' declared so far. Council results today; Congress, BJP on edge Will the gamble by candidates who tried to woo voters with freebies and cash pay off? Will the rumoured BJP-JD(S) pact in some constituencies, and cross-voting by JD(S) legislators in favour of Congress candidates fetch the desired results? Bangalore university trifurcated In future, students of Bangalore University, which has around 600 colleges affiliated to it, need not go to its Jnana Bharathi campus to sort out issues related to academics and admissions. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Will Infosys help Telangana create its Mysore? Government in talks with four domestic firms including Infosys to set up their campuses in Telangana AP plans to buy developed plots from farmers The AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) is planning to buy parcels of developed land from farmers who participated in the land pooling scheme for the upcoming capital city of Amaravati. The APCRDA is now busy finalising plot allotment policy. Top Maoist leader surrenders Top Maoist leader Gajarla Ashok, alias Aitu, surrendered before the Warangal police here on Tuesday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Tamil Nadu floods: TCS donates Rs 10 crore to Chief Minister's Relief Fund TCS managing director N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday met chief minister J Jayalalithaa and handed over a cheque for Rs 10 crore. Jackal numbers up in Chennai, foresters thrilled Luck has little to do with it. Efforts of forest department officials have borne fruit and the jackal population in the city and on its outskirts is steadily increasing. Foresters estimate that there are more than 50 of the animals in the Guindy National Park (GNP) alone. Cop behind 90 green corridors to hang his boots Green corridor, a relatively free route the traffic police create to enable speedy transport during an emergency, has been driving an increase in organ transplants in the country, and Chennai is leading the way. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation seeks toy train maintenance renewal After realizing that the comprehensive maintenance contract for two toy trains at Kankaria lake front ended on December 24 the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has the filed for immediate renewal. 'Clean air for BRTS users, deadly fumes for other drivers' So, today you are at a safer distance from the deadly particulate matter — size of 2.5 micrometre (PM 2.5) which enter your lungs — while being confined in a closed BRTS diesel AC bus than while driving a two-wheeler, a car, cycling or even walking on Ahmedabad streets. Intolerance shameful, but no need for award vapsi: Raghuveer Chaudhari On the raging controversy on intolerance and writers returning their awards, Jnanpith Award winner Raghuveer Chaudhari said the manner in which Kannada writer, Kalburgi, was killed for his independent ideas was shameful. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Rs 2.98 lakh stolen from scooter dickey A retired railway official Govind Khanal was deprived of Rs 2.98 lakh on Monday. Thieves stole the money after breaking open the dickey of Govind Khanal’s scooter at Manmohan crossing under the limits of Colonelganj police. Students to wear dhoti-kurta, sari at UPRTOU convocation This year’s convocation of Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU) would write a new chapter in its history. Doing away with the tradition of wearing black robe and cap, as worn at earlier convocations, the students would wear dhoti-kurta and sari during the 10th convocation scheduled to be held on February 16. On public demand, UPPSC scraps CSAT exam pattern Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has made General Studies-II paper of ‘Combined State Upper Subordinate Services Examination (Preliminary)’ or PCS (Prelims) exams qualifying in nature by scrapping the controversial Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern on Monday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Sevashram students shiver without blankets Winter has set in completely across the district with the night temperature in several interior pockets hovering between 7C and 9C, at least 27,000 students residing at sevashrams (residential schools meant for SC and ST students) of the district are sleeping without blankets. Incentives for doctors big plus, infant deaths big minus The Naveen Patnaik government took certain remarkable initiatives such as offering up to 100 per cent extra incentives to doctors posted in vulnerable areas and sacked 408 truant medicos in 2015. Nandankanan toy train, cable car off track Two prime attractions in Nandankanan-zoo-ropeway and toy train-are out of operation for more than one and half year. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Now, govt to run from village 'chaupals' The Madhya Pradesh government will run its administration from village ‘chaupals’ instead of air-conditioned secretariat. Set ablaze after rape, minor dies Minor girl, who was set ablaze after being raped in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh, died during treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Rewa, on Tuesday. Bhopalis set to step in to New Year on kind note Having a kind beginning this New Year is on the mind of young Bhopalis. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Solan girl breaks record, does kathak at 16,000ft A student from the dance department of Punjabi University, Patiala, has made it to the Limca Book of Records for performing kathak at an altitude of 4,890 metres (16,040 feet) on Baralacha La (pass) in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Shruti Gupta, who is pursuing masters in kathak, performed the classical Indian dance at Baralach La for seven minutes surpassing the previous record of 7,217.84 feet made in Bilaspur. Stray cattle destroy crops, pit farmers against each other Stray cattle menace in Barnala and Bathinda districts is causing friction among farmers. HMT's tractor unit may close down Disappointment was writ large on the face of Roop Singh, a farmer from Barnala, when he heard the news of HMT's tractor-manufacturing unit in Pinjore, Haryana, heading for a closure. More Chandigarh News»

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