[wanabidii] News Digest: Now, pay to choose seats in domestic airlines, even for middle seat

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Today's Headlines

Now, pay to choose seats in domestic airlines, even for middle seat
A Jet Airways spokesperson said allowing guests to pre-reserve seats for a fee is a prevalent and commonly accepted industry practice by almost all major airlines, full service as well as low cost, in the world.

Biscuit sales down post demonetisation, says Parle
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive has eaten into the growth momentum of the biscuits sector, which has seen sales fall by up to 1.5 percentage points, according to market leader Parle Products.

10 director level posts vacant in RBI
Prior to that, in March, the government had nominated three non-official directors — Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Bharat Narotam Doshi and Sudhir Mankad — on the central board of the bank.

More Business News»

Environment

China to levy new taxes to strengthen pollution fight
China's largely rubber-stamp parliament passed a law on Sunday that will levy specific environmental protection taxes on industry for the first time from 2018, as part of a renewed focus on fighting the country's pollution woes.

New species of ant-like desert bees found

World's last wild frankincense forests are under threat
Last intact wild frankincense forests on Earth are under threat as prices have shot up in recent years with the global appetite for essential oils. Overharvesting has led to the trees dying off faster than they can replenish, putting the ancient resin trade at risk.

More Environment News»

World

Israel to re-assess UN ties after settlement resolution, says Netanyahu
The vote was able to pass the 15-member council on Friday because the United States broke with a long-standing approach of diplomatically shielding Israel and did not wield its veto power as it had on many times before - a decision that Netanyahu called "shameful".

China to levy new taxes in bid to strengthen pollution fight
Anger has risen in the world's second-largest economy at the government's repeated failure to tackle land, water and air pollution, with large parts of northern China enveloped in dangerous smog in recent days.

Putin orders government to probe plane crash
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to probe the crash of a Syria-bound military plane carrying 92 people including more than 60 Red Army Choir members, the Kremlin said in a statement on Sunday.

More World News»

Science

World's most heat resistant material found
Scientists have identified materials that can withstand temperatures of nearly 4,000 degrees Celsius, an advance that may pave the way for improved heat resistant shielding for the faster-than-ever hypersonic space vehicles.

Farm residue can fire your cars, cut fuel import bill
The red patches in Nasa photos, indicating small fires dotting the plains of Punjab in early October, were plain enough. By early November, the patches got more intense, as blazing crop stubble and billowing smoke became a common sight in Punjab and even west UP.

India successfully tests smart anti-airfield weapon system
India on Saturday successfully tested the smart anti-airfield weapon system, capable of engaging ground targets in a range of 100kms from a fighter aircraft, at the integrated test range in Chandipur.

More Science News»

Technology

Two biggest 'enemies' of PM Modi's cashless economy push
When it comes to cybercrime, India ranks 6th in the world. The incidence of cybercrime in the country has doubled in just one year.

RJio's free services may end on Dec 31, here's why
Bharti Airtel today moved telecom dispute tribunal TDSAT against TRAI allowing Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio to continue free promotional offer beyond stipulated 90 days, charging the regulator of being a "mute spectator" to violations.

Reliance Jio user base to shrink once services become paid: Fitch Ratings
Riding on the free voice and data offers, Reliance Jio Infocomm's subscriber base may touch 100 million by March 2017 end said Nitin Soni, Director at Fitch Ratings. However, it may even shrink once the telecom operator starts charging its customers, he added.

More Technology News»

Education

IIT-Kharagpur to slash fee hike by half
Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur looked poised to slash the proposed hike in registration fees for MTech and PhD scholars by half following unprecedented protests at the institute for over a week.

New IITs have better faculty-student ratio
Despite their more comfortable situation at the moment, the newer IITs are not slackening pace.

IITs seek review of fee concessions for special category students
The cost incurred on such students is "adversely affecting the financial viability of the institutions and eroding their corpus funds", IITs said in a report.

More Education News»

Mumbai

Ambedkar's grandson plans to contest 40 seats in state

814 kg ganja meant for New Year parties in Hyderabad, Mumbai seized
The team which lay in waiting on the outskirts of the city saw the lorry with Chhattisgarh registration moving towards Shamshabad and they followed it. The lorry went into Sujata Garden farmhouse located at Palmakula village near Shamshabad.

24-year-old girl from Bhendi Bazaar tops dental exam, prepares to fight BMC polls

More Mumbai News»

Delhi

'US woman giving conflicting versions'

Anti-CM stir leads to hiring of more guest teachers

Instead of jingle bells, it's alarm bells for them

More Delhi News»

Bangalore

Karnataka CM Siddharamaiah seen using personal assistant to wear shoes
Siddaramaiah has been embroiled in yet another controversy where he was seen using his personal assistant to wear his shoes. It was during a function in Mysuru, where he was paying his last respects to veteran sandalwood actor Chetan Ramarao.

The art of loving injured animals

Rowdy's sister falls for cat-eyed inmate, is now leader of his gang
Suma a 25-year-old fell in love with a notorious rowdy sheeter Raja alias Cat Raja (28) in the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. She is now the lady boss of his operations, which he directs from his cell, collecting booty and distributing it.

More Bangalore News»

Hyderabad

DSP suspended for 'leaking' info to smugglers

3-men panel to probe Ravela row

Chittoor seeks Rs 610 crore to meet New Year demand

More Hyderabad News»

Chennai

Armed reserve police constable commits suicide while on duty

Colleges move early to train students for job market

Sasikala family will ruin AIADMK: Sasikala Pushpa
Sasikala Pushpa says she would go all out to prevent former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's aide V K Sasikala from becoming the party general secretary.Excerpts from an interview with Pushpa by .

More Chennai News»

Ahmedabad

30 ASI monuments in Gujarat encroached

Christmas celebrations across the world

Nine Nobel laureates to be part of Vibrant Gujarat Summit

More Ahmedabad News»

Allahabad

Government begins process to give school bags

Government can take shrine land for public use: High Court
The Allahabad high court held on Friday that the government can acquire land where religious prayers are held and convert it for the "benefit of the public at large".

Hectic buying for Christmas in market
At a time when Allahabadies are making last minute preparations for making their Christmas celebrations special, markets of the Sangam city are buzzing with hectic activities. Among various items, Santa gown and accessories that goes with the dress, are the most sought item.

More Allahabad News»

Bhubaneswar

Walk in a musical park
Initially, the BDA had planned the music in park programme twice a year.Emboldened by the last Saturday's success, the BDA decided to go for a monthly event.

Paddy procurement goes cashless
The much-awaited paddy procurement in Ganjam district started with opening of 47 mandis (procurement centres) recently.

Banking remains a far cry in remote Kandhamal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project of cashless transactions is a distant dream in tribal-dominated Kandhamal.

More Bhubaneswar News»

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh poachers get ammo from Reds, STF writes to cops
The arrests were made in a joint operation by MPSTF (forest) and sleuths from Balaghat and Seoni forest circles with the help of local police.

Gwalior farmers pay kids' school fees in paddy
Bhitarwar region of Gwalior is known as the rice bowl of Madhya Pradesh, and paddy is the main crop of the kharif season. Villages here have run out of cash, like in most rural parts of MP. TOI had earlier reported how demonetisation has revived barter economy in villages as a means for bare survival.

Hamidia effect: JP Hospital kept on toes

More Bhopal News»

Chandigarh

'Importer not to pay if DRI causes delay'

The fight for justice

Hope floats on choppy waters

More Chandigarh News»