News Digest

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, June 26, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Cong slams Govt's rejection of easing visa norms for Bangladeshis Congress slammed the BJP government for rejecting the proposal to ease visa norms for Bangladeshi nationals, saying it goes against India’s objective of improving relations with neighbouring countries. Modi not likely to attend football World Cup final in Brazil Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not likely to attend the football World Cup final in Rio, the government said on Wednesday. Nagaland governor Ashwani Kumar resigns Nagaland governor Ashwani Kumar put in his papers on Wednesday, following in the footsteps of governors of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. More India News»

		Business
		Govt defers gas price hike, may junk UPA formula The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday indicated that it would not be guided by the UPA’s formula by deferring for three months a decision on revising price of gas produced from domestic fields. Slum redevelopment a CSR activity Slum-redevelopment, road safety awareness and consumer protection services will be treated as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, according to clarifications issued by the ministry of corporate affairs in response to queries from stakeholders. Govt extends excise sop for consumer sectors The government on Wednesday extended excise duty cuts by six months in an effort to provide relief for the beleaguered automobile, consumer durables and capital goods sectors and revive demand in the economy, which is battling a slowdown. More Business News»

		Environment
		Canada offers to join efforts to clean up Ganga Canada has offered to collaborate with the government on its ambitious project to clean up the Ganga, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. Staff crunch hits tiger protection in Similipal Tiger Reserve The Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), a dedicated force formed in August 2013 for better protection of big cats in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), is handicapped due to staff shortage. New algae species could provide valuable biofuel The discovery of a new species of macro algae along the coast at south Goa could open up vast reserves of biofuel besides providing raw material for anti-cancer drugs. More Environment News»

		World
		Poor turnout in Libyan elections as prominent lawyer killed Fewer than half of the eligible Libyans voted in a parliamentary election on Wednesday overshadowed by violence, officials said, with the paltry turnout reflecting disillusion with chaos pervading since Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow in 2011. Polish PM survives vote of confidence Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has survived a vote of confidence in his coalition amid a high-profile bugging scandal that has prompted calls for his centre-right government to resign. Kerry issues warning after Syria bombs Iraq Syrian warplanes bombed Sunni militants' positions inside Iraq, military officials confirmed on Wednesday, deepening the concerns that the extremist insurgency that spans the two neighboring countries could morph into an even wider regional conflict. US secretary of state John Kerry warned against the threat and said other nations should stay out. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kapil Sharma bags his first brand endorsement After bagging a three-film deal with Yashraj Film's, Kapil has now gone ahead to sign his first brand endorsement. How Vidya Balan managed to fool Hrithik Roshan Vidya Balan’s get-up as a beggar — one of her numerous disguises in Bobby Jasoos, which releases on July 4 — has fooled many, including her father. And the latest person to be at the receiving end of her prank is Hrithik Roshan. Katrina-Ranbir shared a 'honeymoon cottage' Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif recently shot in South Africa for one of their forthcoming films. Interestingly, we hear that during the shoot in Ficksburg, the two stayed in a honeymoon cottage of a hotel. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		3D scans spot cancer more accurately? Adding a newer test to digital mammograms can increase the detection rate for breast cancer and decrease nerve-racking false alarms, in which suspicious findings lead women to get extra scans that turn out normal, a study found. Cosmic bling: An Earth-sized 'diamond' discovered in space Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized ‘diamond’ about 900 light-years away in space, which is possibly the coldest, faintest white dwarf star ever detected. 11bn-year-old diamond the size of Earth is coldest white dwarf ever discovered Astronomers have identified what might be one of the strangest stars in our galaxy: an incredibly cold, ancient and faint white dwarf that has crystallized into a diamond the size of Earth. More Science News»

		Sports
		Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2, top Group F Argentina won Group F on Wednesday while Nigeria also advanced despite the loss, becoming the first African team in the round of 16 in Brazil. France top group E; Ecuador out France drew 0-0 with 10-man Ecuador to advance to the second round of the World Cup on Wednesday, while the South Americans will return home. Shaqiri hat-trick steers Swiss into last 16 Xherdan Shaqiri netted a hat-trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 to secure the runners-up spot in World Cup Group E and a last 16 clash against Argentina. More Sports News»

		Technology
		#GoogleIO2014: Complete coverage Google I/O 2014: Complete coverage Google announces Android One platform for low-end smartphones Google has announced Android One, a design reference platform that enables manufacturers to build low-end smartphones more easily, at I/O 2014. Next Android version to have better performance, revamped UI Google has given a preview of Android L release, the next version of Android, which focuses on performance as well as design. More Technology News»

		Education
		As IT slumps, engineering colleges reduce seats Time was when the first choice of most aspiring engineering students was information technology. That was 15 years ago. DU course row: Heartbreak, anxiety for Kolkata students  Till last week, Ayush Sharma and Sonali Jain of Kolkata were chasing their dream of getting into Hindu College in Delhi.  DU to go ahead with BMS entrance test With confusion still prevailing on the admission process, Delhi University said that it will conduct the scheduled entrance test for bachelor of honours in management studies (BMS) tomorrow. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Late results could deny IB students engineering seats in state The directorate of technical education (DTE), which conducts admissions to engineering colleges across Maharashtra, will have to exclude students from the international board. Wadala police refuse to vacate rickety structure A Bombay high court order says the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) can take police help to evict occupants from a building declared dangerous. Cops to summon Ness only after matching statements Police will record industrialist Ness Wadia’s statement only after corroborating Preity Zinta’s statement with that of witnesses, said an officer. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		UGC sets today's deadline for compliance by DU on FYUP With admissions delayed over the FYUP row leaving students in the lurch, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh and registrar Alka Sharma remained incommunicado throughout Wednesday as the University Grants Commission kept up the pressure. 'PWD not desilting city's drains' A delegation from municipal corporations met the lieutenant governor, Najeeb Jung, to discuss plans for the monsoon season. However, during their meeting, the delegation blamed public works department for not carrying out de-silting and has asked the LG to ensure it does its job. Shutdown: Students fume, owner frets There’s a tussle between the Jawaharlal Nehru University administration and students’ union ever since an eviction notice was served to Ganga dhaba and a few other shops in the campus. Students have also started an online and offline campaign to save these shops. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Businessman wins passport case, gets Rs 4.75 lakh compensation A civil court in Guwahati , Assam , has ordered the external affairs ministry to pay Rs 4.75 lakh as compensation to a Bangalore-based businessman . He was slapped with a ‘deported’ tag six years ago due to an error by the ministry’s passport section . Good faculty, exposure make toppers pick Bangalore Medical College When Girija Agarwal secured first rank in CET2014,shezeroedin on Bangalore Medical College (BMC). The reasons are not far to seek — vast clinical exposure and experienced teaching faculty . Now, pay 10 more to visit Mysore Zoo on weekends From July 1, a visit to Mysore Zoo will cost more during weekends and holidays . More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Now, June is the cruelest month With the first monsoon month all set to come to an end, albeit without any rainfall, worried weather experts dubbed it as the ‘worst June’ in many years. Port city calling With the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, members of the Vizag IT industry are demanding that the IT secretariat be set up in the Port City. Flying high! After plush offices and sprawling bungalows, it’s a swank chopper that’s coming the two new chief ministers’ way. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		9 detained after rape, murder of dalit girl in Karur Police investigating the rape and murder of a 17-year-old dalit girl in a village in Karur district on Monday night have picked up nine people on suspicion. Police said the suspects are being questioned and seven teams have been formed to crack the case. 2 killed in Sivakasi fireworks unit blaze ​Two workers were killed and one suffered serious injuries in an accident at a fireworks unit in Venduvarayapuram near Sivakasi on Wednesday. 2 killed, 27 injured as fireworks explode in Villupuram temple Two devotees were charred to death and 27 others sustained burns when fireworks exploded during a temple festival in Villupuram district on Tuesday night. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat willing to set up national e-governance campus Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Gujarat science and technology minister during his recent meeting with the Union minister for communications and information technology (ICT), Ravi Shankar Prasad discussed various ICT related issues of the Gujarat state. Sadiq Jamal fake encounter: High court adjourns hearing on CBI plea Gujarat high court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing for two more weeks in connection with CBI’s objection to the lower court’s order to the prosecuting agency to part with the IB’s secret report prepared by the Maharashtra unit to the accused cops about the handing over the custody of Sadiq Jamal Mehtar, who was killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2003. Commercial tax department drive to nab bill dodgers The state commercial tax department has begun a five-day drive against the dealers who either do not issue bills for the products brought from their shops or godowns or do not issue proper bills. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Traders criticize hike in import duty on sugar Trader associations of the city have flayed the decision of the central government of increasing the import duty on sugar from 15% to 40% on Tuesday. Police suspicious over fire in trade tax office, but no FIR yet The outbreak of fire in the trade tax office located in the second floor of Indira Bhawan has raised many eye brows .Police officials too claimed the incident to be a suspicious one. Plan to dispose of viscera preserved for over 2 years As many as 79 samples of viscera preserved by police in cases of suspected poisoning or where the actual cause of death was unknown and lying unattended since 2012, will be disposed of soon. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Four affected by anthrax in Koraput Four persons have been affected by anthrax in a tribal village of Koraput district.They are Hari Bhagatayat, 55, Sunadhar Sisa, 45, Bulu Kirsani, 48, and Samara Sisa, 30, of Lugum in Lamataput block. 'Bhubaneswar Development Authority silent on illegal buildings' However, Bhubaneswar Development Authority has not touched 4,025 of them even five years after the orders were issued. BDA gets applications before it asks Seventeen people had applied for a BDA housing scheme even before the agency published any notice about it, exposing lack of transparency and equity in the allotment process, the CAG has pointed out. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Tight security measures for President's visit A massive security blanket would be thrown over the city in view of President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit on June 27. Debt-ridden contractor ends life A debt-ridden 45-year-old contractor was found hanging at his nephew’s place at Atal Ayub Nagar in old city on Monday evening. Man attacks wife, in-laws over petty issue A man along with few others attacked his wife and in-laws with rods and sticks on Sunday night. The incident came to fore on Monday when the victim’s brother lodged a complaint with Kolar police. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		online update A 25 member bikers team was flagged off for "Motor Biking Expedition" from Chandigarh to Leh-Ladakh being organized by PTU and Aryans Group of Colleges, Chandigarh. Bypassing official delays, Baba Seechewal raises bundh in Kala Sabghia drain After official apathy and fund crunch were delaying the diversion of polluted water from Kala Sanghia drain to sewerage treatment plant with polluted water rather flowing into river Satluj, volunteers led by Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal took a task in their hands and raised a bundh in the drain diverting the dirty water to STP. GGDSD students documentary best at film fest 'Ankahi Ansuni', a documentary produced by students of department of journalism and mass communication, GGDSD College, Sector 32, has been adjudged best documentary in the third Bangalore Short Film Festival. More Chandigarh News»

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