[wanabidii] News Digest: Govt sells $5 billion of PSU shares in 2015

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, December 20, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		Business
		Govt sells $5 billion of PSU shares in 2015 Government's disinvestment kitty has almost doubled this year with over Rs 35,000 crore garnered through PSU share sales, but not without the help of its all-time saviour LIC, while a strong pipeline is ready for 2016 with bluechips like NTPC, Coal India and ONGC. General insurance penetration down to 0.70% in FY'15 Penetration of general insurance in India has come down to 0.70 per cent in 2014-15 from 0.80 per cent in the previous fiscal despite an increase in per capita premium during the same period, according to data from the General Insurance Council. FDI focus to improve finances, bolster rupee: Moody's Describing India's focus on FDI as "credit positive", Moody's Investors Service said improvement in the external situation will also provide support to the rupee. More Business News»

		Environment
		124 turtles recovered from Mainpuri district; 1 arrested Making a breakthrough in checking smuggling of turtles from UP to South East Asian countries, a team of forest officials recovered 124 turtles from Mainpuri district and arrested a gang member involved in the racket. Concrete steps taken to tackle air pollution: Javadekar With the hazard level because of air pollution plunging into the 'severe' category across Delhi, the Centre has said that it has taken concrete measures, including a ban on burning of wastes, to tackle the pollution in the national capital region. NGT orders inspection of Delhi's waste-to-energy plants Concerned over delay in the operationalizing the waste-to-energy plants in capital, the National Green Tribunal today constituted a "high-powered team" to inspect these plants while directing it to submit a report within three weeks. More Environment News»

		World
		After Paris attacks, UK eyes legal protection for gun police British armed police could get greater legal protection if they shoot suspected criminals after Prime Minister David Cameron ordered a review of current laws in the light of mass shootings in Paris last month. Yemen peace talks end due to new fighting: UN The United Nations says peace talks between warring sides in Yemen have ended amid severe new fighting in the country. Spaniards vote in historic election with new parties Spaniards angry with 21 per cent unemployment and seemingly endless corruption cases are voting in an historic national election -- and the country's traditional two-party political system may be broken up in this vote by strong showings for two new upstart parties. More World News»

		Science
		New material could lead to ice-proof roads Driving in winters could soon become easier and safer, thanks to a new material developed by scientists that could 'de-ice' snow-covered, slippery roads potentially for years. Closest 'habitable' planet found 14 light years away Astronomers have discovered the closest potentially habitable planet found outside our solar system, orbiting a star just 14 light years away. Christmas: Finding out how Santa Claus manages to visit 336 million homes 'Maybe Santa has tapped into ways of jumping in and out of different dimensions' More Science News»

		Technology
		10 tricks every Google Chrome user should know Here are 10 of our favourite tips for doing more with the Chrome browser. Year's 10 best smartphones under Rs 10,000 The year 2015 saw a flood of budget smartphones hitting the Indian handset market. Buyers could lay their hands on budget smartphones with fingerprint scanners, 3GB RAM and more. So, here’s over to the 10 best budget smartphones of the year 2015. Google Nexus 5X and Apple iPhone 5S cost Rs 25,000: Which one to buy We take a look at the pros and cons of iPhone 5S and Nexus 5X so that you can decide which one is the right model for you. More Technology News»

		Education
		All CBSE books to be made available online: Smriti Irani Union HRD minister Smriti Irani announced that all CBSE books and learning material will be made available online for free. She said, NCERT books have already been made available online for free through e-books and mobile applications a month-and-a-half ago. ​UP may have open book system for 10, 12 exams The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to introduce an “open book system” for students taking standard 10 and 12 examinations of the UP Board from the next academic session Upper-age limit fixed for nursery admissions The directorate of education, Delhi, has now fixed an upper-age limit for entry level classes. The minimum age was fixed in 2007 but upper-age has been debated for several years. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Lost at sea, burnt on Good Friday, Mumbai's church statues tell curious tales In the run-up to Christmas, TOI explores the many myths around the city’s church statues. Woven around invasions, the destruction of shrines and the city’s history of religious mutability, these stories – whether true or not – give us a rare insight into Mumbai’s chequered past. Woman uploads video of suicide threat after cops fail to register harassment plaint. The Goregaon police registered a case of dowry harassment on Tuesday after a 29-year-old woman uploaded a video on social media threatening to kill herself. When dividends funded cancer cure of 2,000 patients While health economists across the world scramble to devise ways to fund expensive cancer treatment for people, a group of 2,500 Indian investors have used their market dividends over the past five years to fund cancer treatment of 2,000 patients. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Actor Orlando Bloom deported from Delhi In Delhi as a state guest on former Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh's invitation, the actor's e-Visa was rejected and he was sent back to London. A new visa has now been issued and he's to fly back today. Don't meddle in S China Sea: Envoy to West China on Saturday warned countries which are “outside” the region not to “meddle” in the South China Sea issue, saying “muscle flexing” will not be good for regional security. Fuel norms is permanent solution A ban on diesel vehicles is only a temporary measure to tackle pollution, the Centre will provide the “permanent answer” by implementing better fuel norms, environment minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajeev Deshpande. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Kalburgi case will be cracked soon: Minister Karnataka police are close to cracking the murder of Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi, according to home minister G Parameshwara. Woman on bus takes stab victim to hospital At 10am on Thursday, Kavita K boarded a BMTC bus heading to KR Market at Malleswaram. After settling in her seat, she noticed something unusual: a woman sitting in front of her was bleeding from the neck. 16 lakh cases pending in 18 high courts There were 16,01,760 cases pending before 18 of the 24 high courts in the country, according to data portal (www.dakshlegal.in), established by DAKSH, a civil society organization. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		'Silent scream' protest organised in Hyderabad against Hindu Mahasabha leader's remarks Protests against Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari's controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad continued on Saturday as scores of young men pulled a `black curtain' for well over half a kilometre in Old City . Urdu book fair a flop Spread over 10 days, the Kul Hind Urdu Kitab Mela or the All-India Urdu Book Exhibition at the Quli Qutub Shah Stadium was touted to be a grand book fair. One which would be a delight for lovers of the language. But a day before its conclusion, all the diacritics and its nuanced nastaliq script could not stop it from being a flop show, or so scores of publishers claim. Roja stopped from entering Assembly, faints in melee Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday came down heavily on the ruling TDP for setting a bad precedent' by suspending Nagari MLA RK Roja for one year. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Sri Lankan naval agencies detain six Indian fishermen The detained fishermen, including a minor boy, who sailed on a boat from Jegathapattinam in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.  Jayalalithaa reconstitutes AIADMK executive committee; 72 out of 77 newly appointed members are women The newly appointed committee members include MLAs, MPs, heads of corporations and party spokespersons TN migrant workers in Lebanon garment unit set to return home One of the workers, A Senthilmurugan, of Sirgazhi in Nagapattinam, spoke to TOI over phone from Lebanon. “Seven workers left for India on Friday. The rest of us are still waiting. The company said they got our passports back from the authorities,“ he said. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Slow death by Diesel Particles in exhaust of diesel vehicles have increased the threat of cancer, heart disease in Gujarat cities Chargesheet filed against Nilesh Ervadiya for sedition City crime branch on Saturday filed a chargesheet against one Patidar Anamat Andolan Sam iti (PAAS) leader, Nilesh Ervadiya, in connection with the sedition charges levelled against him for widely circulating messages, audio and video clips on social media to push their quota agitation. Ervadiya became the first Patidar leader to be booked on sedition charges, on September 22. Ranip police deny PAAS dharna permission Ranip Police, citing a law and order situation and even traffic issues, has turned down the application of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti to hold dharnas outside Gandhi Ashram on a regular basis between December 21 and January 24. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		'Kung Fu Nuns' say no to pollution Jigme Yudron Chamo, Jigme Konchok Chamo, Jigme Yeshe Chamo and Jigme Tenzin Chamo are no ordinary women.They are part of 250-strong team of cycle enthusiasts, ‘Kung Fu Nuns’, who arrived in the city on Saturday. Glowing tributes to Kakori martyrs Floral tributes were paid to Kakori martyrs Roshan Singh, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan and Rajendra Lahiri at functions held at Swaroop Rani Hospital and Chandrasekhar Azad Park here on Saturday. Martyr Roshan Singh was hanged here on December 19, 1927. Congress flays BJP for 'political vendetta' The activists of Congress party held demonstrations against Bharatiya Janata Party at various places here on Saturday in protest against the alleged use of National Herald case as a political tool by the Union government. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Giraffe born, zebra dies at Mysuru Zoo It's the first time in the zoo's history that two giraffes have been born in a year. It has been breeding giraffes since 2009 and it has seen six births in six years. State Congress rallies behind Sonia, Rahul The Congress party on Saturday took out a protest rally here against the alleged hounding of party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. New BMC rules to keep city free of unsightly billboards Unsightly hoardings, banners and sign boards will no longer be eyesores as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come up with stringent regulations to make the city clutter free. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Vyapam scam: Former minister Laxmikant Sharma walks out of jail after 18 months After nearly 18 months, former state minister Laxmikant Sharma walked out to a warm welcome from his supporters on Sunday morning. CM, Menon stamp likely on choice of state BJP prez Selection of state BJP president might finally be the call of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and organizational general secretary Arvind Menon. Election for state BJP president is expected to be held around mid-January next year. Hearing against Indians accused in Union Carbide case from Feb 18 A district court in the state capital on Saturday scheduled hearing of the cases against all Indians accused in Bhopal Gas Tragedy case to February 18, 19 and 20, 2016. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Sunrise after Sundown In the past one year, a group of young men have lit up 10 remote villages in Ladakh with solar power. FIR against Hooda, others in Huda plot scam; CM recommends CBI probe he Haryana state vigilance bureau on Saturday registered a criminal case against former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other former top functionaries of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) in an allotment scam dating back to 2012-13 in which the criteria were tweaked at the last minute to favour the "Fortunate 13" 2 farmers end lives over mounting debt Two debt-ridden farmers committed suicide by gulping a poisonous substance on the night intervening Friday and Saturday in Bathinda district. More Chandigarh News»

		Unsubscribe | To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here	Other Newsletters from TOI : Breaking News | Top Headlines | Tech | Entertainment | Movie Reviews | Life & Style

Share this :

• Digg
• Linkedin
• Stumbleupon
• Delicious
• Tumblr
• BufferApp
• Pocket
• Evernote