Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, March 11, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Network of volunteers to check pre-poll cash flow To check the flow of black money into electioneering, the Election Commission (EC) has ordered chief electoral officers (CEOs) of all states to set up village awareness committees. These will keep tabs on candidates and their agents in the Lok Sabha elections. Why two ex-Infosys bosses took the poll plunge This is perhaps a first for any major company in India. A former CEO and a former CFO of Infosys will contest the coming general elections. Irked UP Islamic university team cancels Saudi Arabia visit Lucknow’s Nadwatul Ulama has cancelled the visit of a delegation from the Kingdom on Sunday to protest its decision to declare Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. More India News»

		Business
		LIC close to seizing Unitech's land When contacted, a Unitech spokesperson said that the company was in the process of clearing its dues to LIC. Volkswagen's latest: Cars with no drivers Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn unveiled James 2025, a prototype of the interiors of what it called the car of the future, at the opening ceremony of Europe's largest technology showcase, Cebit 2014, in Hannover in Germany on Sunday. IRDA arm creates hospital registry The Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) - a body created by insurance regulator IRDA - has created a registry of healthcare providers and assigned them unique IDs. More Business News»

		Environment
		Solar lights to ward off tigers at Sundernbans' villages WWF-India has launched the project — 'Lights for Stripe' — to install solar lights along the edge of villages on the fringe areas of the tiger reserve. Japan sees higher chance of El Nino this summer There is a greater possibility of an El Nino weather pattern emerging this summer, Japan's weather bureau said on Monday. Four new gases that harm ozone layer found, despite bans: Study The ozone layer shields the planet from damaging ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer and eye cataracts, and has been recovering after a phase-out of damaging chemicals. More Environment News»

		World
		Confrontation in Ukraine as diplomacy stalls A pro-Russian force opened fire in seizing a Ukrainian military base in Crimea on Monday and NATO announced reconnaissance flights along its eastern frontiers as confrontation around the Black Sea peninsula showed no sign of easing. Interpol reveals lax passport screening In 2013, passengers were able to board planes more than a billion times without having their passports screened against Interpol's databases. 'At Fukushima, meltdown deaths top tsunami toll' As Japan observes a third anniversary of the earthquake-tsunami-nuclear meltdown that hit its northwestern coast on March 11, 2011, a new survey by the paper Asahi Shimbun showed that in Fukushima prefecture, more people died in the aftermath of the nuclear meltdown than due to the earthquake and tsunami. More World News»

		Entertainment
		EXCLUSIVE: Sunny Leone Kisses a Girl in Ragini MMS 2 We were the first to report that Ragini MMS 2 will have a girl-on-girl kiss. 'It is understood that a sex scene should titillate' For over a decade now, incidents of rape have become more a part of our reality than our scripts. With sordid cases like the Nirbhaya gangrape in Delhi and the Shakti Mills gangrape in Mumbai occurring with alarming frequency, sensitive directors no longer see the need to include these in films in the name of titillation anymore. When Rajinikanth taught Shah Rukh Khan a lesson King Khan flew down to Chennai to attend the audio launch function of Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin’s Kochadaiiyaan on Sunday. A self-confessed fan of the Superstar, Shah Rukh Khan said, “The only word I know properly in Tamil is ‘thalaiva’. And that’s the reason why I’m here. I have come to be part of this launch as a fan, as a friend, as a seeker of knowledge.” More Entertainment News»

		Science
		The real Dr Dolittle: Scottish scientist 'develops method for talking to animals' A scientist claims to have developed a method for “talking” to animals, allowing owners to ask them questions about how happy they are with their living conditions and welfare. Alzheimer's risk: Blood test can tell Scientists have developed a blood test that can predict with more than 90% accuracy if a healthy person will develop mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease within three years. Two Russian cosmonauts, US astronaut head back to Earth A pair of Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut sealed themselves inside a Russian Soyuz capsule on Monday and left the International Space Station, ending a six-month mission, officials said. More Science News»

		Sports
		Can Team India be 'Super Kings' again? Things are looking little different this time around at ICC World T20 for MS Dhoni and it's not just because there are 5 Chennai Super Kings players in squad. Qualifier Giorgi dumps Sharapova out Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi stunned defending champion and fourth seed Maria Sharapova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of BNP Paribas Open. Rest of India should emulate glory story Mizoram Football Association secretary Lalnghinglova Hmar reckons Mizoram Premier League played key role in transforming the state's football landscape. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Proud that India's a source of global tech talent: Satya Nadella New Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks about growing up in Hyderabad, the future of tech, his abiding faith in software and Indian talent in an interview with TOI. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: Worthy rival to iPhone Xperia Z1 Compact is a small phone but with top-end features and hardware. Nokia X: First impressions We got a chance to spend some time with the phone at the launch event, here are our initial impressions of the device. More Technology News»

		Education
		Indian Statistical Institute to get Rs 115-crore cryptology research centre Encryption technology is set to take a leap in Kolkata with a dedicated research centre at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). Kolkata school reaches finals of international space design contest The registration for the qualifying round opened in September 2013 and the registered teams were required to submit a qualifying proposal (project) in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP). Global recognition of Indian degrees soon India is set to get full-fledged membership status of the Washington Accord by June, enabling global recognition of Indian degrees and improving mobility of students and engineers. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		ACB defies high court, returns 70% graft plaints sans action Also, around 168 open and discreet inquiries are pending with the ACB despite norms to settle them within a stipulated period. Girl and mom beat tragedy, sit for SSC exam A mother and her daughter from an Andheri slum are taking the SSC board exams together this year, with 15-year-old Shweta guiding 41-year-old Jayashree Kanam. For polls, Mumbai University reschedules five TY math papers Mumbai University has rescheduled the date/timings of five math papers for TYBA and TYBSc exams starting from March 25 and April 1 respectively. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		'Talwars can't let out Rahasya details' The dispute between the Talwars, convicted for the murder of their teenage daughter Aarushi , and makers of yet-to-be-released film Rahasya continued over its private screening on Monday even as the Bombay HC asked the producers if they are ready to allow a family member of the girl to watch the film. Metro soars 23m to cross roadblock At a height of 23m, the Delhi Metro line at Dhaula Kuan intersection may not be the highest in the network, but it’s certainly the most challenging to build. Man arrested for raping businesswoman A man was arrested for allegedly raping a business associate inside a car near Sarita Vihar. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Go dark during Earth Hour Switch off all non-essential lights for one hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on March 29. That will be your contribution to the global Earth Hour campaign. Holidays push BJP, church to seek change in election date The Karnataka unit of the BJP has petitioned the Election Commission (EC) to change the April 17 polling day in the state, as it fears that a series of holidays will affect the voter turnout. Hello, I'm a BLO, says who? For three days now, the phone of Shobha D, a clerk in the agriculture department, has never stopped ringing. And when she does reluctantly pick up the phone, she pleads: "I am not the BLO, please." More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Emaar properties scam: Koneru is YSRCP's Vijaywada LS candidate Prime accused in the sensational Emaar properties scam case, Koneru Rajendra Prasad alias Koneru Prasad is the YSRCP candidate for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency. Unauthorized constructions: Deputy commissioner, town planning staff suspended "The officers have shown negligence and carelessness in performing official duties and exhibited lack of integrity and devotion to duty.The action was taken in public interest pending a detailed enquiry," the order said. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in dilemma over mayor's election GHMC sources said the mayor is also chairman of the standing committee of the corporation. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		7 arrested for stealing from bags at airport They stole anything and everything, from undergarments to mobile phones and cameras, from the baggage of departing passengers at the international terminal of Chennai airport. More women among 85K voters enrolled through special drive Voter enthusiasm appears to be peaking, as the election commission's special enrollment drive in the city on Sunday received 85,884 forms. Man chases lost wife on bike, bangs against woman In a dramatic turn of events, a man found his 'lost' wife on the road near Guindy and, before he could reach her, met with an accident. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Nab hubby, he won't allow me to talk on phone: Woman Maya, a 24-yearold from Vadodara, was excited about getting married to a man hailing from a well-to-do Ahmedabad family. Three try to rob senior citizen A senior citizen living alone in Paldi, thwarted a robbery attempt by raising an alarm on Sunday afternoon. Girls' hostel watchman attacked A 45-year-old man, working as a watchman at a girls' hostel, was assaulted by some unidentified persons on Monday morning.Police suspect it to be a case of personal enmity and have launched a probe. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Missing names, form shortage irk voters The district election office’s lofty claims of offering a seamless opportunity for voters to exercise their right to franchise fell flat with several polling centers witnessing chaos and confusion on Sunday. Want to win for Rahul Gandhi, Mohammad Kaif says With the name of former test cricketer Mohammad Kaif finalized as Congress candidate from the prestigious Phulphur parliamentary constituency, politics in the state and the country would witness yet another cricketer capitalizing on his popularity for political gains. Cheating rampant at UP board exams in Bareilly district Cheating continues unabated in the ongoing UP Board examinations. On Saturday, four more students were caught red-handed copying during their Class X science exam. So far, six students have been caught cheating at this centre alone. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Congress set to go with old faces in Kendrapada Congress is likely to stick to some of its known faces in Kendrapada and Jajpur districts despite the fact that they lost elections in the past. Niranjan rubs salt into Congress wound Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik on Sunday stoked more controversy within the grand old party, saying a 'coterie' was running the party in the state. Examinations rescheduled for upcoming polls National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Berhampur University have rescheduled their examinations in the state due to ensuing assembly and Lok Sabha (LS) elections. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra wrecks Congress ship Next day, Congress' deputy leader of opposition Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi defected in the House before leader of opposition could even start his speech, leaving the Congress party in a state of shock. Will remain a BJP worker, Ashok Argal says BJP MP from Bhind, Ashok Argal, should have been a furious man on Sunday when his party gave membership to his five-year-old political rival from Congress Bhagirath Prasad. Scam-riddled Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board now stokes religious row The scam-riddled Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) has stumbled into another controversy - this time for hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Cong complains to poll officer against Jagir Kaur Jagir Kaur exercised political pressure to force the XEN, panchayati raj, to organize a foundation stone laying ceremony in both the villages on March 2. Armed accomplices free gangster from custody, 3 cops dismissed The gunmen reportedly opened fire at the police party in broad daylight while they were taking Rajiv Kumar alias Raja, of Ludhiana, lodged in Bathinda central jail, to a court in Patiala. Include medicine price issue in manifestos: NGO "This general election, society has taken up cudgels against the open loot of common man in purchasing non scheduled general medicines. More Chandigarh News»

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