Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, March 21, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		AAP's cyber cell ditches party candidates in Uttarakhand Simmering discontent within Uttarakhand’s AAP unit has come to the fore with the 30-member cyber and social media team of the party announcing it will boycott the poll campaign of three of the four party candidates, including former DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya who is contesting from Haridwar. BSP sword hangs over Congress govt in Uttarakhand Bahujan Samaj Party’s recent move to suspend two party MLAs along with its threat to the Harish Rawat-led government to withdraw support may well go in favour of the Congress on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. Sugar-coated bitter pill for Advani “I will not retire from politics. I will fight from Gujarat, the same constituency. Nobody has asked me not to contest,” BJP veteran L K Advani said in an interview on December 20 last year. More India News»

		Business
		CBI books 6 companies for loan defaults The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered 10 FIRs against six companies for allegedly defaulting on loans from state-run banks. India growth fastest in our history: Starbucks With 40 stores in 17 months of its operations, India is the fastest growing market in the history of the Seattle-based iconic American coffee chain Starbucks, according to a company statement. Indian luxury car market youngest in world India's demographics have turned the country into one of the youngest luxury/premium car markets in the world. More Business News»

		Environment
		Kovai celebrates World Sparrow Day Various programmes were held and initiatives undertaken as part of the 'World Sparrow Day' in and around the city, including seminars and distribution of leaflets and nest boxes by several voluntary organizations. Electric van rickshaws mooted to replace polluting ones The climate adaptation wing of WWF-India is currently working on a pilot project to transform van rickshaws, a highly polluting and illegal commuter and goods carrier popularly used in semi-urban and rural Bengal, into an environment-friendly and legitimate mode of transport. Pench tiger reserve gets Rs 50 lakh boost A year after Supreme Court ordered Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) to plough back money from timber felled in Mansinghdeo sanctuary towards conservation work, the corporation remitted Rs 50 lakh to Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation. More Environment News»

		World
		Russia won't attack east Ukraine: US Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu promised his US counterpart Chuck Hagel in a telephone call on Thursday that Moscow would not assault eastern Ukraine. Uruguay to take Guantanamo detainees Uruguay's President Jose Mujica said on Thursday that his country had agreed to receive detainees from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, calling the decision a matter of human rights. Smog insurance introduced in China A Chinese insurer is offering smog insurance to travelers visiting six heavily-polluted cities in China during extremely hazy days. More World News»

		Entertainment
		5 reasons why Sunny Leone will score over cricket Shobha and Ekta Kapoor’s Ragini MMS 2, directed by Bhushan Patel, is opening in cinemas today. Priyanka to play lead in Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani' Speculations don’t seem to cease when it comes to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s dream project Bajirao Mastani. Hrithik Roshan plays Holi with Sussanne's family More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Hunt for habitable planets from 2024 A massive search for habitable planets orbiting alien stars will be launched in 2024. Cambridge University scientists develop diagnostic app In what could be a great boon for countries like India, scientists from the Cambridge University have developed a mobile phone application that can accurately measure colour-based or colorimetric tests for use in home, clinical or remote settings. Nasa finds 'zebra stripes' in Earth's radiation belt Earth’s inner radiation belt displays a persistent zebra striped pattern generated by our planet's rotation, Nasa’s twin Van Allen Probes spacecraft have found. More Science News»

		Sports
		Is Captain Cool's mask peeling off? Famously labelled 'Captain Cool' for his ability to absorb pressure like a sponge, Dhoni has started to show his displeasure at players for tiny mistakes. India take on Pak in Friday blockbuster Shahid Afridi will once again be a major factor as India take on Pakistan in a blockbuster opening clash of the Super 10 phase of the ICC World Twenty20 on Friday. Federer dresses for success on court Speaking on the eve of his opening match at Sony Open, 17 Grand Slams winner Roger Federer said he's already contemplating options for the 2015 US Open. More Sports News»

		Technology
		US online spying threatens democracy: Google CEO Google co-founder Larry Page on Wednesday condemned US government snooping on the internet as a threat to democracy. First impressions: Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 Samsung's new Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 tablet blurs the distinction between a laptop and a tablet computer. Twitter's hottest stuff now in an app called Nuzzel Nuzzel will show you the most talked-about topics among your Twitter friends. More Technology News»

		Education
		Age no bar for student prodigies at CU The Calicut University has decided to allow student prodigies to enrol for its degree and PG courses even if they don't meet the minimum age and qualification requirements. Board urged to remove tablets from exam centres With the Lok Sabha scheduled to be held on April 30, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board officials are finding it tough to handle the political pressure. Complete DU post-graduation in one year from 2015 The Delhi University is targeting the post-graduate level for its next big set of reforms. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Raise platform height to above 900mm, HC says easier and smoother".A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha heard a suo motu PIL public interest litigation . 'Make laws on juvenile offenders tougher' Experts said the Shakti Mill gangrape cases, where two juvenile accused are yet to be tried, are yet another reminder of the urgency to have a relook at laws that govern juveniles older than 16 years. 19 exams to be rescheduled Mumbai University said "so far" 19 exams on May 16 will be rescheduled.At the senate meeting on Thursday, members sought postponement of exams on vote counting day, citing possible disruption and violence in the city. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Middle class holds key to New Delhi seat The candidates are all rooted in solid middle-class values, and so is much of the 14.2-lakh electorate in New Delhi parliamentary constituency.  Mahabal, Ramesh make it to Congress list  Congress has finally settled for its sitting MPs in West and South Delhi, too.  No refugees, Tibetans to vote this poll It’s a usual day at the colourful Tibetan colony aligning Ring Road near Majnu ka Tila, tucked away in a corner far from the election buzz.  More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Marriage hall looted, groom robbed of gold, gifts, cash A bridegroom lost his gold, silver, gifts and cash after a gang broke into a locked room in a marriage hall on Bannerghatta Road, south Bangalore, on Wednesday night. Rebuffed Dhanaraj put an end to love story It was around 1.30pm Thursday. It was race day, and Sunitha, 29, was hurrying to work at Bangalore Turf Club (BTC). Man stabs 29-yr-old 14 times near Bangalore Turf Club Sunitha Kumar, 29, a counter operator at Bangalore Turf Club, was on Thursday afternoon stabbed until she collapsed and died. Dhanaraj, 45, stabbed her 14 times on the pavement just outside the race course, between gates 3 and 4. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		I-T sleuths swoop down on infra firm owner, wife Income tax sleuths on Thursday carried out raids on the offices and residence of G Amarender Reddy, founder and chairman of GAR Corp Group. Call of duty: Railway, APSRTC employees miss out on voting Thousands of employees of South Central Railway (SCR) and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) will miss out on casting their vote in the coming elections, courtesy their jobs. Over 1.50 lakh may not get to cast vote The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), which oversees election process in Greater Hyderabad, has received 2,96,195 applications for enrolment of new voters. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		It's all smiles in BJP front They smiled for the cameras, exchanged jokes and seemed comfortable in each other’s company. When BJP unveiled its grand alliance for Tamil Nadu on Thursday, it was a picture of complete bonhomie. How astrologer, writer helped seal the alliance A last-ditch effort to salvage the BJP alliance saw an astrologer and a writer play a role.  When there is no alliance, there is me: Mani Shankar Aiyar Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, a Rajiv Gandhi acolyte who has been fielded in Mayiladuthurai for the seventh time, is confident that he will win because of his hard work and people’s goodwill.  More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Papers easy but not error-free Keeping its trends of easy paper this time, the papers of SSC and HSC were easy.The board has also registered six cases of copying in the state. Pradeep Sharma moves high court for FIR in snoopgate Sharma had earlier approached Gandhinagar police and requested to lodge an FIR in connection with the incident against those involved in snooping on him as well as the architect. Another PIL on Sadbhavana costs One more PIL has been filed in Gujarat high court, questioning the spending on chief minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana fasts that were carried out in 2011. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Holi fervour continues in city for 3rd consecutive day Traditional Holi at Thatheri Bazaar (Shahganj) and Sadiapur (Kareli) was celebrated here on Wednesday. 10-year-old boy killed by tiger A 10-year-old boy was attacked by a tiger in Badkhadiya section under Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary on Tuesday afternoon. Protests against ticket distribution in BJP reach Delhi Infighting in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified with dissatisfaction over distribution of parliamentary tickets. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Slain BJD leader's wife files papers Emotions ran high as Gita Sahu, wife of slain BJD youth leader Abhimanyu Sahu, filed her nomination papers from Titlagarh assembly seat on Wednesday. Roadmap for schools To improve quality of education in primary schools, Odisha Primary Education Project Authority (OPEPA) has prepared a vision document. And now, tour packages for poll-bound incredible India Intense politicking ahead of the twin polls has stirred the imagination of Odisha tour operators, who want to cash in on the election fever. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Media certificate of political advertisements Election Commission clarified issues pertaining to media certification of political advertisements.  Certificate for Mock Poll amended Election Commission has amended draft of Mock Poll certificate.  Be alert in monitoring of election expenses Election Commission has directed to be alert in monitoring of election expenses during Lok Sabha elections. The commission hoped that election officers will ensure its strict enforcement for free and fair elections in the state. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Badal 'emergency remark': EC to act against him The Election Commission (EC) and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal are on a warpath again. Dead in Kolkata, alive in Barnala In a classic case of dead man nailed, a 59 year old assistant manager of Punjab and Sind Bank who had declared himself dead was found to be very much alive by a CBI team which landed at his Barnala house in the garb of electricians. Haryana villagers make stolen Murrah buffaloes a poll issue The charcha in many villages of Mahendergarh district of Haryana is not on chai. It is on milk. Rather, it's on the famous high milk yielding Murrah buffaloes. More Chandigarh News»

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