[wanabidii] News Digest: Maharashtra to waive road tax for electric vehicles

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, January 03, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Maharashtra to waive road tax for electric vehicles To reduce pollution and work towards cleaner environment, the Maharashtra government would waive value added tax, road tax and registration charges for electric vehicles, Union power minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. Telangana begins e-Motor Insurance policies The Telangana government today started the recognition of 'e-Motor Insurance policies' in the state, in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and the Insurance Information Bureau of India (IIB). Tata Steel's workers in Scotland get new package A number of key employees at Indian steel giant Tata Steel's two Scottish plants on the verge of closure will be retained on a 60 per cent salary as part of a new 195,000-pounds government support package, the Scottish government announced on Saturday. More Business News»

		Environment
		US condor that helped save species returns to wild Banking into the wind and then gliding out of sight, a male California condor flew back into the wild after a captive breeding program that helped save North America's largest species of land bird. 'Banning phosphate in detergents can be looked into' Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government will surely think of banning use of phosphate in detergents when there was an alternative to do so. Javadekar said he would see what best practices could be put to use in making phosphate-free detergents. Norway to help India manage construction waste India will sign an MoU with Norway for training of human resource to handle construction and demolition waste, in tune with the Clean India Campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More Environment News»

		World
		Saudi foreign minister postpones Pakistan visit Saudi foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir postponed his visit here during which he was expected to consult Pakistani leadership over the country joining the kingdom's Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism. Obama says he is 'fired up' for 2016 US President Barack Obama is returning to the rancor of the US capital after two weeks of fun and sun in his native Hawaii, saying he's "fired up" for his final year in office and ready to tackle unfinished business. Hong Kong bookseller's disappearance sparks protests Hong Kong opposition lawmakers protested on Sunday outside Beijing's representative office in the Chinese-ruled city over the disappearance of a bookseller who specialises in publications critical of the Communist Party government. More World News»

		Science
		New way to measure gravity can spot alien life In a bid to determine whether distant stars with planets orbiting them can harbour life, a global team of astronomers has discovered a new way to measure the pull of gravity at the surface of distant stars. Lara Croft now has company In 1987 the video game Metroid was released in the US. It featured a masked and armoured space adventurer named Samus Aran navigating an alien planet, and it was one of the first games to blend exploration, action and puzzle-solving in a way that has become common. At the end of the game Samus Aran is revealed to be a woman. Scientists sequence first ancient Irish human genomes A team of scientists in Ireland has sequenced the first genomes from ancient Irish humans, which is now being used to answer pivotal questions about the origins of the country's people and their culture. More Science News»

		Technology
		6 things we want from tech industry in 2016 This past year brought lots of new products, services and features -- including a few that even managed to improve everyday life.Here's a look at a wish list for the tech industry for the year 2016... How to fix your iPhone if it is slow If your iPhone's not properly displaying app updates or if it's acting slow, there's a weird -- and incredibly simple -- thing you can do that could fix it. 6 ways Indian smartphone industry will change in 2016 The upcoming internet explosion will predominantly be catered to by smartphones to give a boost to mobile apps and value-added services backed by 4G/LTE network technology, with local manufacturing a big focus area. More Technology News»

		Education
		CBSE announces timetable for 2016 examinations The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the dates for the class X and XII board examination 2016. IIM-Kozhikode to host the 52nd annual TIES conference from January 4 Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode will host the 52nd Annual Conference of The Indian Econometric Society for three days from January 4 at its campus near here. Varsities to face cut in research funds by UGC Already reeling under a financial crunch, the state universities in Telangana may have to suffer further as the University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to disburse funds based on the research work undertaken. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Up slow line services affected at 5 CR stations The Up slow line services will not be available at Kalva, Mumbra, Diva, Kopar and Thakurli stations due to megablock from 11.15 am to 3.15 pm. A Rickshaw, A Race, And A Carnival Fancy a drive to the Goa carnival this year? How about doing it in an auto rickshaw marathon from Mumbai over seven days? The latest Times Passion Trail invites you to a singular challenge: Take turns driving a rickety three-wheeler in a team of three, exploring multiple destinations along the way, as you journey to the party capital over a week. What's more, the winner of the marathon gets to do the trail for free.​ Tweet for help on police page may become FIR A 32-year-old man’s plea for help on the Mumbai Police Twitter page might become the first such tweet to be converted into an FIR. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		CBSE approval must for students willing to change name: Delhi University Tightening its norms for change of name, a practice which has often been misused during student union elections, the Delhi University has made it mandatory to have approval from CBSE for any such request. Bomb scare on Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express turns out to be hoax Security has been stepped up at New Delhi railway station following a bomb scare forcig the evacuation of Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express at neighbouring Ghaziabad. Authorities said the scare was triggered by a letter received by them threatening of terror attacks on Kanpur-bound trains. Odd-even: Delhi falls in line, autorickshaws won't There is one section of people in Delhi that seems to be working overtime to undermine the odd-even campaign of the Arvind Kejriwal government. These are the 85,000 autowallahs, who, like Delhi’s polluted air, seem to be resistant to any change More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Modi sees 'Make in India' dream taking off through Tumakuru chopper unit Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he is seeing his "Make in India" dream getting realized in real sense as he laid foundation to the new helicopter unit at Bidarehalla Kaval in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, about 100km from Bengaluru. Karnataka is host after 12 years The Indian Science Congress returns to Karnataka after 12 years -and Mysuru after 33 years -on Sunday. The last time Karnataka hosted the ISC was in 2003, when it was held in Bengaluru. tnn CS should push pending projects Newly appointed chief secretary Arvind Jad hav's statement that he doesn't intend to bring about any change in his short tenure of six months is be ing seen as the “most practical statement“ made by a bureaucrat. However, the message being conveyed is that he's going to be a “status quo official“. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		AP lets off 120 corrupt officials More than 120 officials were let off by the Andhra Pradesh government despite corruption charges framed against them by the vigilance and enforcement department.Yielding to political pressures, the AP government has dropped action against the officials charged with corruption, irregularities, diversion of funds and violation of rules. In the last18 months, the TDP government has either overruled or dropped several vigilance reports and recommendations against the tainted officials. Good time to write peaceful future for India, Pakistan Ghalib once said, Dekhiye paate haiN ushshaaq bu tauN se kya faiz Ek birhaman ne kaha hai ke yeh saal achcha hai. It loosely translates into: Let's see what lovers gain from the deities a Brahmin has forecaste the year to be good. Manuu to invite PM Modi for convocation The Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Manuu) is all set to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the next varsity convocation, chancellor Zafar Sareshwala said here on Saturday . More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Six held for murder of fringe political party functionary in Chennai The Chennai police on Sunday arrested six people for the murder of a functionary of a fringe political party on Saturday night. Tamil Nadu govt announces Pongal bonus for its employees, teachers and others  The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday announced the annual Pongal bonus for its employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners. Corner of a north Chennai street Jayam Ravi’s film 'Bhooloham', while debating the pitfalls of consumerism, has rather inadvertently turned the floodlights on an unacknowledged tradition of North Chennai: Professional boxing. Up until the 70s, prize-fighting bouts were a huge draw in the largely working class part of what was then Madras. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Notice to Gujarat University over quota in senate pol The National Commission for Scheduled Caste has issued notice to the Gujarat University for not having reservation in the senate and syndicate. Cold nights, hot days in all parts of state The dual weather condition continued to prevail over all parts of Gujarat on Saturday as a notable difference between night and day temperatures was recorded here. Shehnai sets opening tone, flute closes the day Shehnai's mangalvadya greeted the audience as Saptak began this year's journey. The morning's mood lifted with the notes of `Raag Jog' woven by Lokesh Anand and Kapil Kumar. The next performance was vocal by Aniket Khandekar, splendidly accompanied by Hemant Joshi on tabla and Sudhir Yardi on the harmonium. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Kalka Mail completes 150 years of operation One of the prestigious and oldest trains of India, the Howrah-Kalka Mail dating back to British period, has completed 150 years of its existence. History was created as this train chugged in at Allahabad junction on Saturday making its tryst with destiny. Air Marshal Sinha to be CAC chief Air Marshal SBP Sinha would take over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command (CAC) on Thursday. He would take charge from the outgoing AOC-in-C Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill, who retired on Thursday. MNNIT to devote proposed research centre to Kalam Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) has decided to set up a state-of-the-art centre for interdisciplinary research and projects in specified fields. It would undertake studies in the fields of climate change, energy, environment and disaster management. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		RTO portal defaced with Pakistani flag An erstwhile official website of the regional transport office (RTO) in Ganjam district—www.rtoganjam.com—was on Sunday hacked by a suspected Pakistani national. Jual: Pact with BJD 'historic blunder' Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram here on Saturday said the BJP's decision to form an alliance with the BJD in 1997 was a "historic blunder" for which the party is still paying the price. Freedom fighters seek quota for kin Freedom fighters of the state on Saturday demanded one per cent reservation for their children in the education sector and revision of their allowance. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Vyapam scam: Former MP slams STF for putting Laxmikant in jail without proof BJP leaders supporting Vyapam accused and former Madhya Pradesh minister Laxmikant Sharma are now attacking STF (special task force) for sending him to jail without any substantial evidence Rape in Ola vehicle, accused cabbie arrested An Ola cab driver allegedly raped a woman passenger, a mother of two children in the vehicle in state capital. It is the first incident in state capital in which a rape was committed in App-based cab service. Nomination filing for state BJP president elections on Monday An electoral college of 260, including chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Thavar Chand Gehlot, will elect the next state BJP president More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Sec 26 roof collapse main accused joins police probe The main accused in the Sector 26 liquor vend roof collapse case that killed six people has joined police investigation and was granted anticipatory bail. Not to our expectations, say experts Real estate experts and members of different associations were not excited about the reduction of collector rates in the city. Maruti, dealership told to pay Rs 10k fine The Panchkula district consumer forum has directed car manufacturing company Maruti Suzuki and its city-based dealer to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for harassment and mental agony and Rs 5,000 as cost of litigation to a Sector 28 resident for failing to fulfill its promise as advertised. More Chandigarh News»

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