News Digest: Only time northeast takes centre stage

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, April 06, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Only time northeast takes centre stage  Opinion polls rarely cover it, national political leaders chopper their way through, landing at a place or two, and media largely ignore it — that's how elections come and go in India’s Northeast.  Amit Shah calls for revenge, triggers storm    Narendra Modi's close aide, BJP general secretary Amit Shah, exhorted Jats in riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar to avenge their "insult".  Vote for INLD, not our ally BJP: SAD With less than a week for the April 10 Lok Sabha polls in Haryana, BJP is facing a tough time handling its two allies - Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). More India News»

		Business
		GMR group wins $700 million airport project A GMR-Megawide consortium has been awarded a US$ 700 million project to develop and operate the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Philippines. BHEL annual profit slides to Rs 3,228cr Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's net profit more than halved to Rs 3,228 crore in the previous financial year on account of low volumes and challenges in the domestic power sector. Black market for python skins worth $1bn a year Illegal python skins worth an estimated $1 billion are being imported into Europe every year to feed growing demand for the luxury leather, according to a new report. More Business News»

		Environment
		Govt's 1992 notification paves way for real estate players in Faridabad Aravalis A 1992 notification of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has proved spoiler in the protection of Aravalis in Faridabad and has paved the way for real estate players to eye these areas. Hand-bred tigress gives birth to two cubs in Madhya Pradesh Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh has added another feather to its cap. Climate change: UN experts see options to limit threat A week after publishing the starkest warning yet on the risks of climate change, UN experts meet in Berlin from Monday to assess options for limiting the threat. More Environment News»

		World
		Afghans defy Taliban threat to vote in droves Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats and rain Saturday, underscoring their enormous expectations from an election that comes as the country's wobbly government prepares to face down a ferocious insurgency largely on its own. An echo of India's Aam Aadmi Party in Pakistan Arvind Kejriwal may well have found his doppelganger in Pakistani civil servant Adnan Randhawa. Like Kejriwal, he quit civil service and now heads a political outfit called the Aam Aadmi Party Pakistan (AAPP). Ukraine may sue Russia for gas price hike Ukraine on Saturday rejected Russia’s latest gas price hike and threatened to take its energy-rich neighbour to arbitration court over a dispute that could imperil deliveries to western Europe. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Sex is extremely important, it keeps you alive' Enrique Iglesias to go the Poonam Pandey way? PICS: Bollywood celebs talk about intimate scenes Ranbir and Deepika grabbed attention with their affair and later with their breakup. However, Deepika isn't uncomfortable with her ex-flame and claims that performing with Ranbir is comfortable. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Want to lose weight? Get some early sun The influence of morning light exposure on body weight was independent of an individual’s physical activity levels, caloric intake, sleep timing, age or season. It accounted for about 20% of a person’s BMI. Depressed people at 40% higher risk of heart failure: study Depression is one of the leading causes of deaths across the world. People suffering from major depression – the prolonged feelings of sadness and helplessness – find it difficult to get back into the rhythm despite medications and intense counselling. Neanderthal genes helped Europeans live in colder climate If you are a European and fat, chances are that you have inherited a gene variant from Neanderthals. More Science News»

		Sports
		World T20: A final that will make history India are on the cusp of history: they have brushed aside the scars and scares from the tours to SA and NZ, and are looking as good as new once again. I have seen everything in cricket: Dhoni While his rivals and teammates envy Dhoni's wealth and popularity, the one trait they really want to borrow is the his calm demeanour and equanimity. Chelsea return to top after beating Stoke Chelsea regained top spot in the Premier League thanks to a straightforward 3-0 win over shot-shy Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple and Samsung fight over who was the follower In a San Jose courtroom, Samsung’s lawyers showed the internal Apple documents, hoping to paint a picture of Apple as a fading brand. Dell Venue 7 review: Quality tablet under Rs 10,000 Dell has recently forayed into the Android tablet segment of India with its new Venue 7 and 8 tablets. Google reveals details of its modular smartphone Google has given a little peek into its Project Ara, which is aimed at creating a modular smartphone. The idea is to allow consumers to choose phone parts and put them together to create a unique and personalized smartphone. More Technology News»

		Education
		Courses on hold, Ignou students stare at bleak fate The court case that led to violence at the Maidan Garhi campus of Indira Gandhi National Open University on Wednesday has also left hundreds of students in a fix. IIM-Calcutta increases tuition fee by 20% The premier institute announced a hike in tuition fee for its two-year diploma programme from Rs 13.5 lakh to Rs 16.2 lakh–a jump of about 20%. IIM Calcutta may open campuses in Dubai and Malaysia The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C) may explore the possibility of opening campuses on foreign shores soon.And the destinations could be Dubai and Malaysia. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		IITs back 'marriage' between students and their interests IITians are increasingly opting to change their branches midway through their course. Dean, academics, IIT-Madras, K Ramamurthy said, “We allow 10% of the total class strength to change branches. And many do so too.” In Maharashtra, more candidates this time than in 2009 The state may have more candidates in the fray this election than in the last LS elections. Against 819 candidates who fought in 2009 in 48 constituencies, 1,054 candidates (495 of them are nominations so far for the third phase in Mumbai, Konkan and Khandesh) are this time contesting the elections. Most LGBT voters prefer Congress and AAP Does queer India form a vote-bank of its own? If so, which party will it vote for? In a possible first, a pan-India survey of the country’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and its supporters (siblings, friends, colleagues, health professionals) throws up coherent voting patterns. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Smart tech helps them see Shoes that tell you when to make a turn, a cane that senses all obstacles, — technology is starting to make life simpler for the visually challenged. Apollo doctor 'molests' US tourist, held The 22-year-old woman, who had been staying at a hotel, went to the hospital in southeast Delhi a week ago on feeling unwell, a source said. 4 held for murdering woman Four people have been arrested and police are looking for another person in connection with the murder of a 40-year-old woman whose body was found in a semi-nude condition, hung from a tree in a park in Uttam Nagar on March 29. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Maharashtra company challenges ban on Bt cotton seeds A seed company from Maharashtra has moved the Karnataka high court challenging the order banning Bt cotton seeds marketed by it leading to the company being blacklisted. Disproportionate assets case: Court wants Sasikala, Ilavarasi to appear on Monday Special judge John Michael Cunha declined to accept the reasons cited by the duo for their non-appearance, but posted the matter for Monday. Playing cricket turns fatal for 2 schoolboys In two separate incidents that occurred in one hour, two schoolboys were electrocuted on Saturday morning.Incidentally, both were playing cricket when the mishaps occurred. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Ignoring EC directives, parties promise the moon In their quest to woo voters, political parties have ignored the guidelines formed by the Election Commission of India (EC) regarding the promises made in their manifestoes.  The tide that's ebbed When she filed her nomination papers as Congress candidate from Palacole (West Godavari ) in 2009, little did Bangaru Usha Rani know that she would soon be making headlines.   Here voter ID cards are used for everything else but voting Believe it or not, but the last time that the residents of this village in Srikakulam’s Ponduru mandal, which is famous for its khadi, exercised their franchise is nearly three decades ago.  More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Folk drums get the beat up at political rallies Chenda melam troupes from within Chennai and from Kerala say that business is picking up with election campaigning. "We have no political affi liations,” says Ram Mohan of the Palghat-based Mudhra Melam.  Airline staff held for gold smuggling in Bangalore A gold smuggling racket, in which Sri Lankan Airlines staff were involved, was busted at Bangalore airport by sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from Chennai early on Saturday. From under debris, 21-year-old called home The body of a 21-year-old construction worker, who was trapped under the debris of a two-storeyed building that crashed in Puzhuthivakkam on Friday night, was retrieved early on Saturday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Two held with goods stolen from builder's home A Vastrapur Police team arrested two persons - a domestic help and a security guard - working at bungalow of a prominent builder as they were trying to sneak out valuables from the bungalow on Friday. JEE Main for technical institutes today The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) - 2014 for the admission to undergraduate engineering programmes at NITs, IIITs, other state funded and self-financed institutes will be held on Sunday. People's Union for Civil Liberties protests against legal action initiated against Setalvad The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on Saturday organized a meeting, where members of the Muslim community and a few Congress leaders protested against the legal proceedings initiated by the state government against social activist Teesta Setalvad. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		New superfast train between Mumbai and Varanasi Railways have decided to run a premier superfast special between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Varanasi. HC to hear plea on lower subordinate exam on April 9 The petitioner, Bhasker Singh, has also requested the court to direct the UPPSC to permit him to provisionally appear in the forthcoming examination of lower subordinate, scheduled to be held on April 6. HC dismisses plea against minister, MLA The Allahabad High Court had dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against Prakash Rai alias Lallan Rai, minister of state and also against Samajwadi Party MLA Haji Parvez Ahmed. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Caller tune rings in election message Don't be surprised to hear collector (Kandhamal) N Thirumala Naik appealing to people to cast their votes after dialing number of a district-level officer . Naveen sings tribal tune in Kandhamal  BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday claimed Odisha stood first in country on giving rights over forest land to dwellers under Forest Rights Act (FRA). Multi-cornered fight in Bargarh Bargarh Lok Sabha (LS) seat is likely to see a multi-cornered contest.BJD and BJP have fielded new faces while Congress has re-nominated sitting MP Sanjay Bhoi. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		BJP candidate caught for cash-for-vote  BJP candidate from Bhind, Bhagirath Prasad, who shifted to the saffron camp within 24 hours of bagging a ticket from Congress, has been caught in a cash-for-vote row. Former Chambal dacoit Malkhan campaigning for BJP Everything is fair in the time of elections. Desperate to achieve its much-hyped 'Mission 29' — winning all the LS seats in the state — the BJP has foisted a former dacoit on the campaign trail. Congress' triple tango in Vidisha Politics of the bizarre is being played out in Vidisha parliamentary seat after Congress MLA Jitu Patwari, on Friday also filed his nomination as a party candidate. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		28-year-old injects drug in hosp, dies A 28-year-old basketball player, who was an addict, entered a hospital, pumped some injection into his body and died in a washroom on Saturday. Honour killing case sent to CBI Punjab and Haryana high court handed over the alleged honour killing case of a 23-year-old youth from Jind to CBI on Saturday, allowing a plea filed by his mother. AAP candidate choice a balancing act  With Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fielding candidates from all 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab, the party has given a diverse mixture of leaders from top professionals to completely unknown faces from very humble backgrounds. More Chandigarh News»

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