News Digest: It is for India and Pakistan to resolve differences: US

It is for India and Pakistan to resolve differences: US
The United States has put the onus on India and Pakistan to work out their differences through talks after the two neighbours expelled a diplomat each from the other country amid escalating tensions.

52 Indians among 61 indicted by US for role in call centre scam
The US Justice Department on Thursday indicted 61 individuals, mostly Indians, including 32 based in India and 20 in the US, on charges of fraud, impersonation and money laundering in connection with an extraction scheme that scared Americans into paying nonexistent tax dues through threatening phone calls.

Ditched once, Nitish Kumar wary of Samajwadi Party in UP grand alliance
Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is learnt to be apprehensive of entering into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party despite SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's clarion call for a 'Mahagathbandhan' ahead of UP assembly elections.

More India News»

Cabinet gives in-principle nod to PSU strategic stake sale
Cabinet gave in-principle approval to NITI Aayog's proposal for strategic sale of state-owned firms & entrusted DIPAM with the task of finalising the PSUs in which control can be given to private players. Arun Jaitley said the names of PSUs that are up for strategic stake sale would be made public.

Govt approves new trade pact with Bhutan
The Cabinet on Thursday approved a new agreement for a free trade regime between India and Bhutan, which also facilitates duty-free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for third countries export.

RBI warns of fake notes in circulation
The Reserve Bank of India notice on Thursday highlighted the pitfalls of fake currency notes in circulation and warned the public of "unscrupulous elements putting into circulation fake currency notes of higher denominations."

More Business News»

This bird stays in the air for 10 months, study finds
A small, dark-feathered bird known as the common swift flies for 10 months on end without ever landing, the longest time spent aloft of any known bird, scientists said Thursday.

Global wildlife population may fall 67% by 2020
The global wildlife population could fall by an average of 67 per cent between 1970 and 2020 as a result of human activities, according to World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2016. The report indicated that the global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have already declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012.

Humanity decimating planetary wildlife: Report
Nearly three-fifths of all animals with a backbone, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, have been wiped out since 1970 by human appetites and activity, according to a grim study released on Thursday.

More Environment News»

China's space lab searches for strongest blasts in universe
A square-shaped probe dubbed as "Little Bee" and placed atop China's second space lab currently orbiting the Earth is searching for gamma-ray bursts, the strongest explosions in the universe. The formal name of the probe, placed on Tiangong-2, is POLAR (an abbreviation of Polarimetry of Gamma-ray Bursts), state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Nasa growing lettuce in space
Nasa has planted lettuce on the International Space Station (ISS) to learn how to grow fresh food in space - which may help prepare astronauts for the future manned mission to Mars.

Third lettuce crop planted on space station

More Science News»

Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus price details revealed, goes up to Rs 92,000
The iPhone 7 Plus 32GB, 128GB and 256GB will cost Rs 72,000, Rs 82,000 and Rs 92,000 respectively

Apple slashes prices of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus by up to Rs 22,000
Apple has announced biggest-ever price drop for its smartphones in India. Under the new pricing, iPhone 6S (128GB), carying an MRP of Rs 82,000, will now be available at an MRP of Rs 60,000. iPhone 6s Plus (128GB) will now be available at an MRP of Rs 70,000, the smartphone too has received a price cut of Rs 22,000. Apple's 4-inch smartphone iPhone SE, too has got a price cut. The 64GB version of iPhone SE will now be available at Rs 44,000.

WhatsApp privacy policy challenged in Delhi High Court: 5 things to know
A public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court (HC) challenges the change in WhatsApp's privacy policy.

More Technology News»

HRD to soon take call on compulsory CBSE class X board exam, says Prakash Javadekar
The Union HRD ministry will soon take a call on whether the Class X board examination should be made compulsory for students of CBSE schools. Speaking to reporters after the 64th CABE meeting on Tuesday, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said that many state boards are already conducting Class X exams.

Govt schools adhering to RTE Act norms: Centre tells high court
The Centre on Monday claimed in Delhi high court that government-run schools in the country were adhering to norms mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act and regular monitoring and review was being done to check compliance.

Norms for appointment of foreign faculty in IITs to be eased
According to official sources, the HRD ministry has put forward a proposal to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry to ensure the norms related to allowing foreign faculty are made easier.

More Education News»

CBI questions Maria, Jt CP in Sheena case
The CBI which filed a chargesheet against Peter Mukerjea in the Sheena Bora murder case last week, continued to press on with the investigation on Thursday by recording the statements of three senior IPS officers.

Blood banks to screen donors for zika virus
Mumbai: Blood banks in India have been told not to accept blood donations from people who have travelled to zika -affected areas till at least four months after their return, reports Sumitra Deb Roy. The health ministry has also urged donors to be open about their travel history to avoid contaminating blood.

Coming soon, jail tourism in Maharashtra
Maharashtra home department plans to throw open its jails to the common public keen on a taste of history

More Mumbai News»

3 days to Diwali, city air quality at season lowest
Delhi was shrouded in dense smog as pollution levels spiked massively in different parts of the city on Thursday morning, making it the most polluted day of the season so far.

From fake IDs to culturing moles, ISI hand ran deep
The interrogation of the Pakistan high commission staffer and his three Indian associates, who were nabbed for spying on Wednesday, has exposed the methodical manner in which the neighbouring country’s intelligence agency, ISI, created and sustained its information network in India.

Outside zoo, cops spent 6 hrs for big catch
Sleuths of the Crime Branch of Delhi Police started a 12-hour-long operation on Wednesday midnight and spent six hours on the field after getting inputs from intelligence agencies about the espionage ring.

More Delhi News»

'Rakshaks' protect wild animals straying into human landscape

Recruitment for PSI posts on under CCTV vigilance

Beware the festive bulge, skip the mithai and fries

More Bangalore News»

YSRCP warns government against Swiss Challenge method
The YSRCP on Thursday warned the AP government of "serious consequences" if it attempted to bring in the Swiss Challenge method through the backdoor after the high court found the methodology faulty.

Digital gifting the sweetest option this Diwali
Digital gift cards, digital meal passes, digital medical and travel vouchers have replaced traditional options with both individuals and corporates taking to these new-age choices with gusto this Deepavali.

'Air quality has declined'
Alarmed over the rising levels of pollution within the iconic Salar Jung Museum, scientists have now called for immediate measures to save priceless artefacts housed within its premises.

More Hyderabad News»

3 fishers held by Sri Lanka for smuggling heroin
Sri Lankan navy on Thursday arrested three fishermen on charges of smuggling heroin. Among them two have been identified as Thalvin Rajan and Levin from Thangachimadam in the district.

Junctions with signals see more accidents
If you thought lack of signals at intersections were primarily responsible for accidents, think again. Junctions with signals turn out to be major accident spots when compared to minor intersections where there may be no signals, as per the findings of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy.

9 out of 106 students attended school in panic-stricken Thandarai Colony
Fear is the dominant emotion that residents of a certain colony in Thandarai village feel, so much so that only nine out of the 106 students of Government Middle School attended classes on Thursday.

More Chennai News»

CAT had quashed chargesheet against Rahul Sharma: SIT

Around 250kg gold to be raded across Gujarat today

Zambian student suicide: Embassy team meets cops

More Ahmedabad News»

Triple talaq issue: 'Need to broaden scope of debate'
At a time the issue of triple talaq is in the limelight nationally, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking openly on the issue, Muslim women of the Sangam city too expressed opinions on the issue.

STF nails two weapon smugglers
In a major breakthrough, a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and Mauaima police on Wednesday arrested two notorious arms smugglers near Ramnagar Ghanshyari railway line.

Shopkeepers rake in moolah with 'patakha' covers
It's not just the political bigwigs who are trying to make the most of the Samajwadi Party (SP) family tussle ahead of the UP assembly polls.The shopkeepers selling crackers have found out a unique way to rake in moolah.

More Allahabad News»

Odisha asks people not to panic over possible cyclone

'Families of rebels being harassed'
Revolutionary writer Varavara Rao has alleged that bodies of Maoists killed in the encounter at Malkangiri's Bejing on Monday were brought to the district headquarters to harass the families of the deceased rebels.

Shipping firm GM shot dead over 'business rivalry' in Paradip
The general manager of Hyderabad-based Seaways Shipping and Logistics Ltd (SSLL) was shot dead in a suspected case of business rivalry in the port town of Paradip on Wednesday.

More Bhubaneswar News»

BJP finalises Shahdol, Nepanagar bypoll candidates

Good governance: Chouhan prescribes 11-point agenda
Law and order took centre-stage on the second and concluding day of the collectors and SP conference under direction of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Narmada Bhavan on Wednesday.

Firing range shut, cops miss target practice
Eklavya Firing Range in the 25th battalion on Bhadbhada road was the lone firing range where the security forces, excluding army, could practice in Bhopal.

More Bhopal News»

AAP yields more ground to Navjot Singh Sidhu, deputy chief minister's post

AAP pledges old pension plan for state
Once it is voted to power in the upcoming 2017 assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has promised to reintroduce the old pension scheme in Punjab for the benefit of state government employees.

'Sidhus raised voice against Badals'
AAP in charge of Punjab affairs Sanjay Singh too confirmed on Thursday that talks between Navjot Singh Sidhu and AAP were on."Talks are going on with Sidhu.There is no denying this.

More Chandigarh News»