News Digest: Bihar pitches for dedicated agri feeders

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, June 20, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Bihar pitches for dedicated agri feeders Bihar has strongly urged Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to consider announcing a scheme for dedicated agriculture feeders in his budget for 2014-15. Nitish a loser despite win: Sushil Modi Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said despite the victory of the JD(U) nominees in the Rajya Sabha bypolls on Thursday, former CM Nitish Kumar ended up as a loser. NIC helps ministries build social media presence The National Informatics Center is assisting union ministries in setting up their social media presence and updating their websites.  More India News»

		Business
		Sebi bid to boost retail participation Sebi has brought a host of changes that include a 10 % reservation for retail investors in an offer for sale (OFS) and permission for buying of shares for employee stock option schemes from the secondary market. Volkswagen lowers India market share target The company said that environment in India is "challenging" and it is a "struggle to find the right product and right cost structures" to make a deep cut. GMR wins arbitration case against Maldives The international arbitration tribunal hearing the dismissal of GMR Group from running the Male Airport in 2012 has ruled in favor of the Indian infrastructure major. More Business News»

		Environment
		Agra bans plastic bags to curb pollution With an aim to curb the rising pollution in Yamuna, the Agra district administration has decided to strictly implement the ban on use of polythene in the city. Kerala to setup study and research centre on climate change The Kerala government has planned to set up a study and research centre to have scientific knowledge on climate change, minister for environment and forest Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told the assembly today. Environment ministry to crowd source green ads Seeking to involve the general public in its effort to create awareness over green issues, the environment ministry has decided to 'crowd source' ideas or creative inputs for its 'official' advertisements. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine to sign EU pact this month Ukraine's new pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday he would sign the crucial trade and economic relations portion of an historic EU pact in Brussels on June 27. Pak needs a long-term vision for Waziristan Now, as the military has launched a "comprehensive" offensive in the region of battle-hardened fighters, the government needs to reveal whether the operation will take on all militant groups without discrimination or whether it is just aimed at eliminating the bad guys. US cuts aid to Uganda over anti-gay law The United States on Thursday cut aid to Uganda, imposed visa restrictions and canceled a regional military exercise in response to a Ugandan law that imposes harsh penalties on homosexuality. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Don't have a six pack like Salman, but I have one' Nine-year-old Akshat Singh, who is currently competing with adults on reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, admits that his life revolves around three things: his love for chicken, his passion for dance and his dream of meeting Salman Khan (not necessarily in that order). Ram Kapoor on why he is quitting Bade Acche Lagte... Ram Kapoor has decided to quit Bade Acche Lagte Hai. On his recent visit to the DT office, he explained why he decided to quit the show, which got him a lot of female fan following. Revealed: Why Aftab Shivdasani kept his marriage a secret? Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani, who was in the news recently for getting married to Nin Dusanj, has revealed why he kept his marriage a secret. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, collect Mars samples from Earth It is sci-fi which hopefully should turn into a reality — collecting Martian samples without actually landing on the Red Planet and bringing them to earth for analysis. Rare gene flaws can cut heart disease risk by 40% Four rare mutations in a single gene may reduce the risk of heart disease by 40%, a new study has found. A 'love spray' to make dogs friendly An oxytocin nasal spray can strengthen the bond between you and your pet dog, a new study has found. Researchers studied how 16 pet adult dogs of different breeds behaved after they were exposed to an oxytocin spray. More Science News»

		Sports
		Suarez helps Uruguay beat England 2-1 Luis Suarez came back into the side after being injured for the first match and scored two goals that left ragged England on the brink of crashing out of the World Cup. Japan fail to crack Greece in 0-0 draw Colombia qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 24 years after Japan and 10-man Greece played out a dire 0-0 draw in Natal. Balotelli demands a 'kiss' from Queen Mario Balotelli joked that if his side rescues England's chances of World Cup qualification by beating Costa Rica, he expects a kiss from Queen Elizabeth II. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Asus to launch ZenFone range in India on July 9 Taiwanese manufacturer Asus will launch its ZenFone range of smartphones in India next month, sources have told TOI. Amazon Fire Phone: 7 unique features Amazon Fire Phone: 7 unique features Facebook back after brief outage Social networking service, Facebook, is back after a brief outage. More Technology News»

		Education
		UGC nod must for new degree courses The notification calls upon the universities to adhere to the provisions of the UGC Act vis-à-vis approved nomenclature of degrees and observance of minimum standards of instruction before award of degrees. Akola boy is Maharashtra JEE (Advanced) topper The IIT-Madras zone, home to popular coaching hub Andhra Pradesh, cornered half the seats in the most elite club of the JEE. Delhi University colleges start sports trials With the application process over, Delhi University colleges have started sports trials with some conducting fitness tests on June 17 More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Polytechnic fined Rs 1 lakh for wrong marking The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education on Thursday imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the M H Saboo Siddik Polytechnic College in Byculla for incorrectly marking students in their internship. Fewer candidates from IIT-B zone clear JEE (Advanced) The IIT-Madras zone, home to popular coaching hub Andhra Pradesh, cornered half the seats in the most elite club of the JEE. Congress may replace state unit boss Thakre The Congress may replace its state unit chief Manikrao Thakre. MP and former CM Ashok Chavan seems to be a strong candidate, though the Adarsh stigma continues to stick. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Couple die within minutes of each other Premlata, 65, suffered a heart attack mid-flight and died soon after, only to be followed by her 75-year-old husband who could not bear the shock. Missing bank executive found murdered A 56-year-old senior bank official, who went mysteriously missing on June 5, was found murdered a few days ago in east Delhi’s Patparganj locality, police have said. Ghananand Sharma lived in south Delhi’s Neb Sarai. Student among 3 held for Greater Kailash robbery A DU graduate and law aspirant has been arrested along with two others for robbing the house of the managing director of an electronic goods manufacturing company in Greater Kailash on Tuesday afternoon, police said on Thursday. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		After 48 hours, girl trapped in borewell found dead in Karnataka Hope turned to heartbreak at Nagathana village in Karnataka's Bijapur district on Thursday. IIT JEE results: Mangalore boy tops state; Bangalore kid spoilt for choice Prajwal HC is a weaver’s son but that didn’t deter the Doddaballapur boy from dreaming big. Student commits suicide at home An 18-year-old II PU student allegedly hanged herself at her Bagalagunte residence in Peenya, North Bangalore on Thursday afternoon. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Hyderabad boy bags second rank in IIT-JEE Hyderabad continued its top-notch record in IIT Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) with Ch Sai Chetan from the city bagging the second rank, the results of which were announced on Thursday evening. Where are the rains? Most parts of the region recording no rainfall and some parts receiving only scanty rains, it seems the monsoon, which had covered the entire AP by June 9 last year, will continue to remain elusive as ever in the days to come. Bonhomie marks first AP Assembly session The first session of the residuary Andhra Pradesh Assembly commenced here on Thursday at exactly 11.52 am with the newly-elected members taking oath in the old Assembly Hall. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Anxious wait for families of TN nurses stuck in Iraq As the battle between Islamic militants and government forces intensified for control of towns and cities in Iraq, fear grew among families of the nine nurses from Gudalur in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu working in different parts of the strife-torn nation. To check prices, TN tough on hoarders Tamil Nadu is among the few states that has dealt firmly with hoarders under the Essential Commodities Act and kept a close watch on the prices of essential commodities in the wholesale and retail markets. Congress leaders mark Rahul's birthday, attack Centre In the first celebratory function held at the state Congress headquarters after the Lok Sabha poll debacle, leaders marked the 44th birthday of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Nanavati commission's review plea disposed off by HC The Gujarat high court on Thursday 'disposed off' Nanavati commission's review petition against the HC order to furnish documents of the intelligence bureau related to the 2002 riots to suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. Insurance firms can't offer saving plans: PIL Gujarat high court on Thursday sought explanation from the Centre, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and 19 insurance companies, including the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, over a PIL questioning the legality of life insurance products offered by the companies. 'Paid 5,000 dinars to stay alive in Baghdad' Munir Tirmizi and his wife Zahurabegum, residents of Raikhad, along with 14 others from Gujarat, had gone on a pilgrimage to Hazrat Ali’s mausoleum in Baghdad. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC allows UPPSC to reply on PCS irregularities plea The Allahabad high court on Thursday allowed the counsel for UP Public Service Commission to file reply on a writ petition alleging irregularities in the result of preliminary exam of PCS 2013. Women's organisation seeks strict action against errant tempo drivers A women social organization on Wednesday handed over a memorandum to Inspector General Mutha Jain demanding strict action against overloaded three wheelers flouting traffic norms. 'Stifled' firemen struggle in battle against blaze The district has reported 205 fire breakouts, including the recent four at Johnstonganj and Chowk from April 1 till date.The incidents resulted in heavy casualties in the form of life and property. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Monsoon arrives in Odisha After a slight delay, the southwest monsoon finally hit Odisha coast on Wednesday, triggering rain at some isolated pockets. All-party meet: Panel to resolve rath row An all-party meeting here on Wednesday approved constitution of a high-level committee, headed by Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty, to hold consultations with stakeholders to amicably resolve the controversy surrounding devotees mounting chariots during Rath Yatra. BJD MLAs slam scheme for farmers The ruling BJD members on Wednesday landed the state government in an embarrassing situation in the assembly when they alleged that farmers failed to avail healthcare facilities at different state-run and private hospitals under Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY). More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		PMT scam: 125 medics detained across Madhya Pradesh In the biggest statewide crackdown on medical students who cracked the PMT examination through fraudulent means, over 125 medics, including 27 girls, were picked up in one swoop on Wednesday. Science Centre takes mobile bus ride to tackle superstition They are trying to tackle superstition with science. In an attempt to get rid of superstitious practices prevalent in different districts across the state, the Regional Science Centre, Bhopal has decided to send mobile bus in rural areas this year. In state, rape scourge hits foreigners' footfall Rising incidence of crime against women, including rape incidents has greatly discouraged foreign tourists from visiting tourist destinations in the state. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings: Panjab University again takes the crown in India Panjab University has again been crowned number 1 among all the Indian educational institutions, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Times ranking: Topper Panjab University aims higher Delighted, the university teachers and students say the ranking will bring in more jobs, growth and better future for all. Parents' 'perfect boy' on top Parshant was a little over 4 years of age when his 80% hearing disability was discovered, but for his parents, he has always been the "perfect child". More Chandigarh News»

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