Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, February 19, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Trinity fellow clears air over Rahul's academic credentials A UK-based academician has sought to dispel speculation over Rahul Gandhi's credentials as a Cambridge graduate, saying he had a hand in the Congress vice-president's admission to the prestigious university. Why fruit juice isn't better than cola How many times have you settled for a packaged fruit drink instead of a fizzy cola for health reasons? Turns out that the fruit drink contains the same amounts of sugar and calories as the cola. Gold smuggling in India likely to rise if curbs stay: WGC Gold demand in India is expected to be robust in 2014 and likely to encourage an increase in smuggling if curbs on bullion imports remain, the World Gold Council (WGC) said. More India News»

		Business
		China pips India in gold consumption China has overtaken India as the world's largest gold consumer, according to a World Gold Council report released on Tuesday. Buy your first home by March 31 Those planning to buy their first house should rush and complete the formalities by March 31 to avail of the additional tax benefit against the interest paid on a home loan. Quadricycles to ply from October 1 A new category of four-wheelers - quadricycle - will be allowed to ply in cities across the country from October 1, largely replacing the auto-rickshaws. More Business News»

		Environment
		Mahashtra govt to implement river conservation scheme In view of growing urbanisation and industrialisation, Maharashtra government will implement a river conservation scheme, under which sewage water will be treated for reuse in industry and agriculture. Dolphins 'suffering miscarriage, lung disease, after BP oil spill' Scientists admitted that their study cannot prove that the dolphin's health problems were caused by the Deepwater spill because there were no studies of dolphin health prior to it. Calf refuses to leave sick jumbo Rupesh Khan The injured villager Gunamoy Kundu (50) has been admitted to Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital. More Environment News»

		World
		Snowden elected rector of UK varsity Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency analyst who revealed US surveillance of phone and Internet communications, was elected rector of Glasgow University in Scotland today. Venezuela opposition leader jailed over protests Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez emerged from days of hiding and surrendered to police before thousands of supporters Tuesday, saying he hopes his arrest awakens Venezuela to the corruption and economic disaster caused by 15 years of socialist rule. China to expand abandoned baby hatch scheme Chinese government is desperately dealing with the rising trend of parents abandoning unwanted babies, mostly disabled, by placing specially designed baby hatches in the villages. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Became men when we shared space with Priyanka' Priyanka Chopra, who played Nandita — a Calcutta-based cabaret dancer from the 80’s — in 'Gunday', has been applauded for her finely-nuanced performance in the film Deepika's present lover bonds with her ex-lover The special screening of ‘Gunday’ saw who’s who of Bollywood in their designer best. However, what drew maximum attention was the bonding between actors Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. IN PICS: Celebs who should NOT be invited together We overheard an interesting conversation between two Bollywood wives, who were having lunch at a suburban restaurant More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Stem cell banking from teeth gains acceptance People with poor health history or those suffering from genetic diseases are going to the dentists in greater numbers for stem cell banking from teeth. Why Einstein changed his view on universe Scientists have found out why physicist Albert Einstein, who for long believed that the universe was static, changed his mind and accepted the modern cosmological view that the cosmos is expanding. Nasa satellite data raises hope of reviving Aral Sea All is not lost for the fast-disappearing Aral Sea, a saline lake in central Asia. More Science News»

		Sports
		NZ series gone, skipper Dhoni still 'cool' Captain MS Dhoni refused to accept that it had been a disastrous tour, merely accepting that the (loss in the) ODIs were disappointing only "to some extent." Barca edge towards last eight after win A Lionel Messi penalty and a late goal by Dani Alves gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over Manchester City in their Champions League Last 16 first leg clash at Etihad. Kiwi nightmare ends with missed chance Virat Kohli hit his sixth ton as India drew the second Test against New Zealand on the fifth day at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to lose the two-Test series 0-1. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung, LG may set up chip making units in India Samsung and LG are considering setting up units to manufacture chips in India, following government's clearance to build two such units. Aakash 4 tablet computer to be priced at Rs 3,999 Kapil Sibal said low-cost tablet PC Aakash 4 will be available in the market in around one and a half months for Rs 3,999. ​Google to put new Android versions in all upcoming phones Google will stop approving manufacturers’ requests for its mobile services for older Android versions 9 months after a new iteration debuts. More Technology News»

		Education
		Mukesh Ambani quits, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to head IIM-Bangalore board In a first for the premier Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), a woman will head the board of governors at IIM-Bangalore. Rajasthan govt introduces optional board exam for Class VIII The Vasundhara Raje government on Tuesday announced the formation of an education board for Class VIII, also introducing the option of exams for Class VIII students in government schools. Govt launches Rs 600cr scheme for educating adult Muslims Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the government on Tuesday launched a new programme for educating adult Muslims, targeting over one crore of them. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		CM will move to new sixth floor office this week The chief minister's office has begun shifting from the first floor of Mantralaya to the refurbished sixth floor. 'Cheap flats meant only for government staff' Developer Hiranandani Constructions on Tuesday said people are being lured by “miscreants” for securing allotment of concessional flats in its project at Powai. Sewage responsible for 70% of river pollution A government survey reveals that the sewage from cities, villages and towns is polluting the state’s rivers in a much bigger way than industrial wastes. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Afghan held with cocaine worth Rs 20cr An Afghan national, ferrying drugs for an international cartel, was arrested with 4kg cocaine worth Rs 20 crore in the international market. CBI reluctant to take up Nido Tania death case The CBI can refuse investigations referred to it by central or state governments, but it is bound to investigate those cases which have been given to it by courts. Delhi high court to hear discoms before RWAs, NGOs The Delhi high court on Tuesday said it would first decide the plea seeking an audit of accounts of Delhi's three private discoms by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India before dealing with other matters on the subject. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Hit the waves on surfboard Karnataka could get its own version of Santa Barbara, if the tourism department's initiative gets off the board. It's hit on surfing to draw the crowds, both Indian and foreign, to its beaches. Little Mariam moves limbs, is out of ICU It was a yawn that sparked hope. Mariam Kouser, 3, followed it by opening her eyes on Sunday, making her parents and grandparents, who were waiting by her hospital bed for two months, break into tears of relief. Tumkur socialite's death was murder Charred remains of the socialite wife of a high-profile businessman in Tumkur did little to raise police curiosity in early 2011. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Sonia-bashing to be poll plank for TDP, YSRCP If there is one major poll issue that will dominate the general elections in Seemandhra region, it will be “Italian Sonia”. AP Inc breathes easy after passage of T Bill Andhra Pradesh Inc finally heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday as curtains finally fell on the four-year separate statehood drama with the passage of the Telangana bill clearing the clouds of ‘uncertainty’ over businesses, especially in Hyderabad. No toll fee to be levied on inter-state vehicles for now With Telugu-speaking people set to get two states, transport services between the two entities will not be affected at least for the next few years. Also, motorists will not have to pay inter-state fee for now. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Relatives thank CJI, Jaya for support When the bus carrying Arputhammal entered the Koyambedu terminus at 10.35am on Tuesday, news of her son’s death sentence being commuted to life was out. A daughter waits to be reunited She was born in prison and raised in a special cell for women in Vellore jail for nearly two years. On first birthday, Amma canteens to serve sweet pongal free There will be a ‘sweet’ surprise for all those visiting Amma canteens in the city for breakfast on Wednesday — a complimentary plate of ‘chakkkara pongal’ to mark the first birthday of the hugely popular eateries. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Childless get nest on hope's fertile ground Currently, the commissioning couple stays in a hotel while the surrogate mother is given lodging and boarding at the Surrogate House and later admitted in the hospital. Newborns are admitted in the pediatrics hospital. Ahmedabad traffic cops are now armed Men in whites will no longer be mere pushovers for errant drivers! Besides preventing traffic offences, traffic cops may act as a deterrent against serious crimes taking place on city streets. Police agencies put 70 through narco in 2013 The queue of police agencies seeking narco analysis of crime accused is getting longer by the day at Directorate of Forensic Science in Gandhinagar. In 2013, police teams from across the country put 70 accused through narco analysis. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Litterateurs pay tributes to author Amar Kant The mortal remains of noted Hindi litterateur and Jnanpeeth Award winner Amar Kant was consigned to flames at Shankarghat on Tuesday. Drive to check passengers without tickets conducted To curb the practices of traveling without tickets and irregular tickets, Allahabad division of North Central Railway is launching drives in various trains and stations. Eat boiled vegetables for max benefit: Experts Indian housewives have been practicing it since time immemorial and modern chefs consider it the art of healthy eating and living. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		BJD may go solo in coming polls The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday indicated it would fight the forthcoming assembly elections without forming an alliance with any political party. Unguarded ATMs face closure Taking umbrage at non-compliance with its recommendation for deploying security guards at ATM kiosks here, commissioner of police R P Sharma on Tuesday shot off a second reminder to the head offices of different banks. Major reshuffle in IPS cadre Ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the state government effected a major reshuffle in SP-rank officers on Tuesday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Mobile phones banned in MP board exams MP board of secondary education has banned students from carrying mobile phones to exam halls for its high school and higher secondary examinations. STF seizes mark-sheets, starts probe Special task force (STF) on Tuesday initiated investigations into irregularities in RTO constable recruitment test held in August 2012. BJP aims to reclaim Malwa region via Narmada-Kshipra link Two months before Lok Sabha elections, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan's BJP government in Madhya Pradesh touched the sentimental nerve of Malwa region people by completing the first phase of its ambitious pilot Narmada-Kshipra river linking project and holding a cabinet meeting on Tuesday at Ujjaini - the village where the two rivers are linked. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Central Excise asks BJP to pay service tax on Modi rallies Ahead of elections, the confrontation between the Congress and the BJP is now set to take an ugly turn with the Centre deciding to slap service tax on rallies being addressed by BJP PM pick Narendra Modi. Chandigarh youth flaunt their vocal talent on virtual stage The city youth are now going for a virtual platform to showcase their talent. Girl hit in school, becomes partially blind Panchkula deputy commissioner S S Phulia has ordered a probe to ascertain how a 10-year-old girl lost sight in one of her eyes after an alleged assault at her school. More Chandigarh News»

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