News Digest: PM Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi passes away at 100

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, December 30, 2022
		Today's Headlines

		India
		PM Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi passes away at 100 Informing about her demise, the Prime Minister posted a heartfelt tweet early Friday morning, "A glorious century rests at the feet of God... In Maa, I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values." Buzz that PM Modi may rejig team after January 14 TMC, BJP trade jibes over cancellation of Arijit gig Leaders of West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress and Opposition BJP exchanged barbs on Thursday over the cancellation of a scheduled concert of singer Arijit Singh in New Town area near Kolkata. BJP alleged that February 18 concert was cancelled as Singh had sung ‘rang de tu mohe gerua’, which has the word ‘saffron’, in the presence of CM Mamata Banerjee at the inauguration of the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival. More India News»

		Science
		Pfizer's hemophilia B gene therapy succeeds in late-stage study Smartwatch data shows Covid booster vaccine is safe: Lancet study Study reveals right time to undergo Prostate Cancer treatment Is there a logical method for you to decide whether to receive treatment or not after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis and your doctor's offer to keep you under observation rather than treat you? More Science News»

		Technology
		How to send and receive text SMS in Facebook Messenger on Android Facebook allows you to set Messenger for Android as your default SMS application and use it to send and receive SMS and MMS messages in addition to Facebook conversations. This feature has been available for some time now but still a lot of people don’t know how to enable and use it. How to enable 'Auto-Delete Messages' feature on Telegram Telegram was the first app to introduce the self-destructing message feature (way back in 2013). Unlike WhatsApp, any messages sent or received by users can be deleted without leaving a trace when this feature is enabled. Users can also set up timers to automatically delete chats after a predetermined amount of time. Redmi K60, Note 12 Speed rumoured to launch as Poco F5 Pro 5G, X5 Pro 5G globally Earlier this week, Xiaomi announced the Redmi K60 and Redmi Note 12 Speed Edition in China. Now, the rumours are that the two smartphones could debut globally under Xiaomi’s other sub-brand Poco. In a tweet, Kacper says that Redmi Note 12 Speed will launch as Poco X5 Pro 5G. Meanwhile, the Redmi K60 would arrive as Poco F5 Pro 5G, the sub-brand’s flagship smartphone. More Technology News»

		Business
		Soaring subsidy bills of states may constrain spending on development: RBI RBI pitches for common approach towards crypto assets to address risks To address potential financial stability risks and protect investors, it is important to arrive at a common approach to crypto assets, the Financial Stability Report released by RBI said on Thursday. In this context, various options are being considered internationally, it said. 'Persistent core inflation may exert pressure upward pressure on CPI' India's consumer price index (CPI) inflation has moderated, but the persistence and broadening of core inflation may continue to exert upward pressure on the headline number going forward, the Financial Stability Report released on Thursday said. More Business News»

		Sports
		There should be good communication between selectors and seniors about their place in the team: Gambhir Former India opener Gautam Gambhir called for clarity in team selection from BCCI and said on Thursday that there should be good communication between the selectors and the senior players if they are looking for players beyond them going forward. Gambhir wants more clarity when it comes to the status of individual players and their place in the team. Transitions are inevitable but Hardik has ingredients to be successful: Sanga Transition period in an international team is always "difficult to handle" but India has abundant talent and a potentially good leader in Hardik Pandya to smoothly see through the phase in T20 cricket, feels former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. Australia boost India's WTC final hopes by thrashing South Africa India's chances of sealing the second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) table and make it to the final received a boost on Thursday when Australia thrashed South Africa by an innings and 182 to runs in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. More Sports News»

		Education
		CBSE Class X, XII exams to start from February 15, 2023 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday released the Class X, XII final exam date sheet for 2023. The CBSE Class X, XII board exams will be conducted between February 15 and April 5, 2023. For Class X, the exam will conclude on March 21. The CBSE has already released the schedule for practical exams, which will commence on January 2. Times Education Icons (2) Times Education Icons (1) More Education News»

		Environment
		What causes lake-effect snow like Buffalo's storms? It’s hard for most people to imagine more than 4 feet of snow in one storm, but such extreme snowfall events happen along the eastern edges of the Great Lakes. The phenomenon is called “lake-effect snow". It starts with cold, dry air from Canada. As the bitter cold air sweeps across the relatively warmer Great Lakes, it sucks up more and more moisture that falls as snow. They survived the hunters: Now king penguins face climate change What is the link between winter storms and global warming? The world is getting warmer, winters included. The US, however, has experienced severe winter storms in recent years, and experts are taking a closer look at the link between these extreme cold events and climate change. While the link between global warming and heat waves is very direct, the behavior of winter storms is governed by complex atmospheric dynamics that are more difficult to study. More Environment News»

		World
		Global cold wave: Fog grips north India, snow storms in US, Canada The winter storm ravaged much of the United States (claiming 62 lives so far) and Canada through Christmas. Cold wave and cold day conditions are predicted to wallop parts of Delhi on New Year's eve and the winter chill would intensify further in early January, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Israel swears in Netanyahu as PM of hard-line government Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn into office Thursday, taking the helm of the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in Israel’s history and vowing to implement policies that could cause domestic and regional turmoil and alienate the country’s closest allies. Cambodian casino fire kills 19, dozens more missing At least 19 people were killed and up to 30 were missing after a huge fire tore through a casino-hotel complex in a Cambodian town on the Thai border, officials said on Thursday. About 400 employees and patrons were in the Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in the town of Poipet when the fire broke out around midnight, and up to 30 were still missing. More World News»

		Environment
		What causes lake-effect snow like Buffalo's storms? It’s hard for most people to imagine more than 4 feet of snow in one storm, but such extreme snowfall events happen along the eastern edges of the Great Lakes. The phenomenon is called “lake-effect snow". It starts with cold, dry air from Canada. As the bitter cold air sweeps across the relatively warmer Great Lakes, it sucks up more and more moisture that falls as snow. They survived the hunters: Now king penguins face climate change What is the link between winter storms and global warming? The world is getting warmer, winters included. The US, however, has experienced severe winter storms in recent years, and experts are taking a closer look at the link between these extreme cold events and climate change. While the link between global warming and heat waves is very direct, the behavior of winter storms is governed by complex atmospheric dynamics that are more difficult to study. More Environment News»

		Hyderabad
		57% spike in cybercrime a worrying trend in Telangana The overall crime rate in the state has increased by 4.4% and the jump is manily because of a massive 57% rise in cybercrime according to Telangana police. 6 'fake doctors' from Telangana & Andhra Pradesh under CBI lens The CBI on Thursday conducted searches at 91 locations, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in connection with its investigation into the case of foreign medical graduates registering themselves with the Medical Council of India and state medical councils allegedly using forged Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) documents. PM Narendra Modi's giant grassroots outreach in Telangana in February To accomplish Mission-90 and storm to power in the 2023 Telangana elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the state in February to fortify the party's grassroots with a discernible outreach towards booth-rung leaders, who form the fulcrum of BJP's winning strategy anywhere in the country. The PM is likely to meet and interact with more than 32,000 booth-rung committee leaders, whose appointments will be completed by January 7. More Hyderabad News»

		Chandigarh
		Low rate of 2nd dose Covid vaccination among Panchkula teens cause for concern With the healh department apprehending a Covid surge, low rate of vaccination among teenagers in the 12 to 14 and 15 to 17 years age group has become a cause for concern. Season's 1st rain adds to chill; fog today in Chandigarh: Meteorological department The season's first spell of rainfall - although mild - intensified the cold wave gripping the city for the last over one week, sending the maximum temperature 6 degrees below normal to 14.6 degrees Celsius and the minimum to 8.2 degrees Celsius. Mohali police gets 28 PCRs; district divided into 45 zones for patrolling A total of 28 more Police Control Room (PCR) vehicles have been added to the police fleet and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sandeep Garg has divided the district into 45 zones for PCR patrolling. The SSP said that the exercise was aimed at facilitating PCR penetration in the remotest parts of the district to make roads safer. The SSP said that each zone would have one PCR patrolling 24x7 and the reaction time would be recorded to test its stability. More Chandigarh News»

		Ahmedabad
		PM Narendra Modi's mother Smt Hiraba Modi recovering: Hospital sources An official bulletin from the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre (UNMICRC) on the Civil Hospital campus mentioned 'Smt Hiraba Modi's health condition is recovering' (sic). In rare move, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to allot land for girls hostel at reduced rate In a city where land prices have only headed north, it was one of those rare occasions when Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority's (AUDA) land evaluation committee had recommended slashing of land rate of an Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-owned plot in Nikol area, earlier reserved to be sold as a commercial plot. BJ Medical College ragging: Panel finds three students guilty, suspends them On Thursday, two days after seven students of BJ Medical College (BJMC) complained that they were routinely punched, slapped, and abused over many months by three seniors, the anti-ragging committee of the college found the accused guilty and initiated punitive action against them. More Ahmedabad News»

		Chennai
		Three protests cause traffic snarls in Chennai; police book 6,200 Three protests kept police on their toes on Thursday as they detained and booked about 6,200 people. They were later released. Flyer from China Covid positive at Coimbatore international airport A 37-year-old man who arrived at the Coimbatore International airport from China via Singapore on Tuesday tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. Chennai: MTC to renovate JJ Nagar West bus stand After nearly two decades, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Chennai, has started the work to renovate the JJ Nagar West bus stand in Mogappair.Despite operating buses on 35 key routes, the transit hu More Chennai News»

		Bangalore
		Strengthen Karnataka police intel wing to prevent violence: Panel A legislative committee has cautioned the government that it may have to face more violence and law-and-order issues in the state if it doesn't focus on strengthening the intelligence wing of Karnataka police. Panchamasali row: Karnataka seeks time to place interim report before court The government on Thursday informed the high court that it had received an interim report from Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes in a sealed cover and so far no decision has been taken on the same. Contempt plea: Notice to heads of Karnataka Examinations Authority & youth empowerment The high court on Thursday ordered notice to Ramya S, executive director, Karnataka Examinations Authority, and K Srinivas, commissioner, youth empowerment and sports, in a contempt petition filed by Aditi Dinesh Rao, a national-level diving champion. More Bangalore News»

		Bangalore
		Strengthen Karnataka police intel wing to prevent violence: Panel A legislative committee has cautioned the government that it may have to face more violence and law-and-order issues in the state if it doesn't focus on strengthening the intelligence wing of Karnataka police. Panchamasali row: Karnataka seeks time to place interim report before court The government on Thursday informed the high court that it had received an interim report from Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes in a sealed cover and so far no decision has been taken on the same. Contempt plea: Notice to heads of Karnataka Examinations Authority & youth empowerment The high court on Thursday ordered notice to Ramya S, executive director, Karnataka Examinations Authority, and K Srinivas, commissioner, youth empowerment and sports, in a contempt petition filed by Aditi Dinesh Rao, a national-level diving champion. More Bangalore News»

		Mumbai
		Judicial custody for all nine Palghar gangrape accused The nine accused in the gangrape of a 16-year-old girl in Palghar have been sent to judicial custody by a local court on Wednesday. Police had sought two days' custody extension as they are yet to establish if the gangrape was pre-planned by the accused. Mumbai: Construction companies lose crores to highway steel theft mafia If construction companies suffer losses even when property prices are skyrocketing, the police say a portion of the blame must rest on the steel theft mafia. They say such a mafia not only exists, it goes about its business with impunity by including truck drivers, transporters and weighing scale staff in its operations, whether by force or by inducement. Over time, a construction company might easily lose a few crore. Rs 3,681 crore is lowest bid for Mumbai's BKC bullet train terminus The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is likely to appoint a contractor for the construction of an underground terminus station at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) after financial bids were opened on Thursday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Municipal Corporation of Delhi allocates Rs 13.7 crore for desilting drains Municipal Corporation of Delhi has allocated Rs 13.7 crore for desilting of drains in the city. A detailed action plan has been prepared for desilting of all drains under its jurisdiction at least twice a year, stated the civic body. Delhi court dismisses petition of BJP functionaries in defamation case A Delhi court has dismissed an application filed by BJP leaders, including Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Manoj Tiwari, Hans Raj Hans, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Harish Khurana, seeking discharge against serving of notice of accusation in a defamation case filed against them by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Need to free education from slavery to 3-hour annual exam: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia Seeking changes in the assessment system, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that “the Indian education system is a slave of the three-hour annual examination held at the end of an academic year.” He was speaking at “Educarnival”, an education conference organised by Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Municipal Corporation of Delhi allocates Rs 13.7 crore for desilting drains Municipal Corporation of Delhi has allocated Rs 13.7 crore for desilting of drains in the city. A detailed action plan has been prepared for desilting of all drains under its jurisdiction at least twice a year, stated the civic body. Delhi court dismisses petition of BJP functionaries in defamation case A Delhi court has dismissed an application filed by BJP leaders, including Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Manoj Tiwari, Hans Raj Hans, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Harish Khurana, seeking discharge against serving of notice of accusation in a defamation case filed against them by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Need to free education from slavery to 3-hour annual exam: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia Seeking changes in the assessment system, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that “the Indian education system is a slave of the three-hour annual examination held at the end of an academic year.” He was speaking at “Educarnival”, an education conference organised by Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Municipal Corporation of Delhi allocates Rs 13.7 crore for desilting drains Municipal Corporation of Delhi has allocated Rs 13.7 crore for desilting of drains in the city. A detailed action plan has been prepared for desilting of all drains under its jurisdiction at least twice a year, stated the civic body. Delhi court dismisses petition of BJP functionaries in defamation case A Delhi court has dismissed an application filed by BJP leaders, including Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Manoj Tiwari, Hans Raj Hans, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Harish Khurana, seeking discharge against serving of notice of accusation in a defamation case filed against them by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Need to free education from slavery to 3-hour annual exam: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia Seeking changes in the assessment system, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that “the Indian education system is a slave of the three-hour annual examination held at the end of an academic year.” He was speaking at “Educarnival”, an education conference organised by Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi. More Delhi News»

		Allahabad
		20 cheetals, one chinkara mauled by stray dogs; 3 held in Prayagraj As many as 21 deer - 20 cheetal (also known as spotted deer) and one chinkara - were mauled to death allegedly by stray dogs at a private guest house in Chhatnag area of Prayagraj late on Monday night. 20 cheetals, one chinkara on pvt property in Prayagraj mauled by stray dogs; 3 held As many as 21 deer – 20 cheetal (also known as spotted deer) and one chinkara – were mauled to death allegedly by stray dogs at a private guest house in Chhatnag area of Prayagraj late on Monday night. Walls showing Ramayana scenes to greet Magh Mela pilgrims, visitors in Allahabad Apart from engaging young and professional volunteers as guides for visitors, painted and colourful boats, big LED screens, tent city, walls describing 'Ramayan' and 'Mahabharat' era episodes along with 16 attractive entry points are all set to welcome millions of pilgrims and devotees this Magh Mela. More Allahabad News»

		Bhopal
		50 pigs culled so far in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh after detection of African swine fever cases At least 50 pigs have been culled in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh after cases of African swine fever came to light, an official said on Thursday. Bhopal airport 2nd best in India in fliers' satisfaction The year 2022 is ending on a positive note for Bhopal airport. For the first time, Bhopal's Raja Bhoj airport has secured the second position in the 'customer satisfaction survey' for the period of July-December 2022. Civic polls in 19 towns of MP to be held on January 20 The state election commission announced on Wednesday that polls will be held in 19 civic bodies of the state on January 20. Thus the model code of conduct came into force in the concerned constituencies. Voting will be done on January 20 from 7 am to 5 pm using EVMs.​ More Bhopal News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha Crime Branch forms another team to probe death of two Russians The delayed visit to the crime spot came in the wake of non-preservation of visceral samples of Pavel by the doctors, who conducted his autopsy, raising many eyebrows on the compliance of the standard operating procedure during the investigation of a highly sensational case, has drawn international attention. 'Cremation normal practice in Russia, Pavel's mother cremated as well' The Rayagada police allowed cremation of the bodies of Pavel and his co-traveller Bydanov Vladimir, who died under mysterious circumstances in their hotel on December 22 and 24, after receiving power of attorney from their respective family members. Death of Pavel, who was a rich lawmaker, triggered suspicion of a hit-job as many of Putin critics were allegedly killed in similar fashion in different countries in the past. Hirakud ropeway ride becomes dearer by Rs 10 The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) has raised the price of ticket for the ropeway at Hirakud dam from Rs 70 to Rs 80 in view of recurring expenses. More Bhubaneswar News»

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