News Digest: Govt cold-shoulders Hindu outfit's no-jeans diktat for girls

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, October 30, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Govt cold-shoulders Hindu outfit's no-jeans diktat for girls Haryana finance minister Captain Abhimanyu said on Wednesday that no civilized society gave right to any organization to dictate social conduct and life of people. 'Anti-Hindu' YouTube video creates flutter A video clipping on YouTube showing a person propagating non Hindu beliefs in Tirumala created a flutter in Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD) on Wednesday. Farmer suicides: Telangana Congress meets Sonia The Telangana Congress on Tuesday urged party president Sonia Gandhi to put pressure on the central government to aid farmers in the state. More India News»

		Business
		Construction FDI norms eased, may boost projects The government on Wednesday eased rules for foreign investment in the construction sector by allowing inflows into projects spread over a smaller area. Tax refunds hit collection growth Getting tax refunds are a problem not just for the aam aadmi but even for top babus, including a former finance secretary, who should have received the money at least two years ago. India tops consumer index again India continues to be on top of the global consumer confidence index but, given the slowdown in discretionary spends, it has dipped by two points in the third quarter (Q3) of 2014, according to a Nielsen survey released on Wednesday. More Business News»

		Environment
		DU professor discovers 7 frog species The 'frogman' of India, Delhi University professor S D Biju, has another feather in his cap. Global meet on climate change in Kerala in February Tackling climate change, disaster management are among the issues set to be discussed at an international conference to be held here in February next year. Growth should not be at the cost of environment: Jairam Ramesh While India venerates and respects its biodiversity on one hand, the other hand it treats it with neglect and disdain by destroying it, said former environment minister Jairam Ramesh. More Environment News»

		World
		Mounting crises takes toll on Obama's foreign policy team She was peppered with critiques of the president’s Syria and China policies, as well as the White House’s repeated delays in releasing a national security strategy, a congressionally mandated document that sets out foreign policy goals. On that last point, Rice had a sardonic reply. Egypt demolishes homes for Gaza buffer One day after an evacuation order, Egyptian Army bulldozers began demolishing houses along the border with Gaza on Wednesday, the first step in establishing what officials say will be a buffer zone intended to stop the passage of militants and weapons across the frontier. Nato reports spike in Russian military flights Nato aircraft tracked Russian strategic bombers over the Atlantic and Black Sea on Wednesday and sorties of fighters over the Baltic in what the Western alliance called an unusual burst of activity at a tense time in East-West relations. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Is there a rift between Bipasha and Harman? There are several theories floating around on what caused the alleged rift. But then again, is there a rift? Exclusive: Sonakshi and Ajay Devgn in Action Jackson Check out Elvis Presley clones in white and red bell-bottoms and sporting the popular 70s hairstyle, sharing screen space with Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha Akshay Kumar takes a dig at himself Akshay Kumar is playing himself in The Shaukeens, albeit with a difference More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Now, an app to monitor tweets to spot suicidal pals Suicide prevention charity Samaritans has launched a service to help people spot whether their friends could be at risk of taking their own lives.  Key to happy married life: Plan your children late Couples who postpone chil8d8bearing to later in life experience the highest and most lasting levels of happiness following the birth of their children, new research has shown. High milk intake tied to early death? Drinking more than one and a half pints of milk a day could increase the risk of early death, a new study has warned. More Science News»

		Sports
		ISL: Delhi draw 0-0 against NorthEast United Young NorthEast United FC goalkeeper T P Rehenesh made three spectacular saves to deny Delhi Dynamos a win as the two sides settled for a goalless draw. Murray on brink of World Finals after defeating Benneteau Murray, who was absent last year after undergoing back surgery, overcame the challenge of Julien Benneteau and advanced to the last 16, 6-3, 6-4. Hat-trick of titles for Harinder, double for Dipika Pallikal Harinder Pal Sandhu helped himself to his third title and Dipika Pallikal her second on the trot in the four-leg JSW Challenger Squash Circuit on Wednesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: The most powerful phablet yet Should this phablet be your next buy at Rs 58,000? Find out in our Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review… Spectrum delay may hit Airtel, Vodafone services in Delhi, Mumbai Mobile networks in Delhi and Mumbai seem to be headed for major disruptions and outages as delayed allotment of spectrum by the government may impact coverage. 6 best Android smartphones under Rs 7,000 Here are six best Android smartphones in the sub-Rs7000 category. These devices offer value for money and come with the latest features and specifications. More Technology News»

		Education
		UGC overlooks rules in forming panel for inspection of deemed universities When the Supreme Court ordered inspection of seven deemed universities it had little clue how the University Grants Commission will dilute the process by disregarding its own rules. Innovation takes centrestage at IIT-Kharagpur When brilliant minds compete for a prize, the results are guaranteed to be astounding. Indian universities miss out on another global ranking Even as the ministry of human resource development readies an India-centric ranking of higher educational institutions, just four Indian institutions figure on another list of top universities in the world. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		TOI manifesto for new Maharashtra govt Maharashtra is politically the second-largest state in the country with 48 MPs in the Lok Sabha. But in economic terms, it towers above every other state—about 80% larger than the next state (UP) and more than twice the size of Gujarat. Shivaji-based theme to light up Fadnavis's oath taking In reminiscent of the glorious rule of Shivaji, the BJP has decided to recreate the coronation scene of the Maratha ruler as Devendra Fadnavis takes his oath at Wankhede Stadium tomorrow. Boy hangs self in Mumbai after parents reject demand to study in UK A 16-year-old boy allegedly hanged himself after his parents turned down his demand to go to London for studies. The incident took place on Tuesday night at a building at Clare Road in Byculla (W). More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		North Corporation to report on `illegal' mall A mall allegedly built illegally in Kirti Nagar came under the scanner of Delhi high court on Wednesday after it asked North Delhi Municipal Corporation to file a status report. Central govt offices in Delhi to shut early today After Delhi government offices remained closed on Wednesday in view of the holiday declared on Chhath, it is now the turn of some key central government offices to shut down early on Thursday. Memorial work to start on Nov 1 After a major controversy last year, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is all set to start work on construction of the “November 1984 riots memorial” on November 1 at Rakabganj Gurdwara premises. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Women more worried than men about slums Women don’t have starkly different responses from men when it comes to issues dogging Bangalore, but they certainly have their own set of priorities. BJP takes Rashmi case to governor The BJP on Wednesday took the attack on bureaucrat Rashmi V Mahesh and cases of child abuse in private schools to governor Vajjubhai R Valla. Fed up with constant fights. man kills wife He made elaborate plans to kill his ‘annoying wife’ and pass it off as a murder for gain committed by strangers. But the 62-year-old’s game was up when hardnosed cops smelt something amiss in the crime. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Telangana martyr's wife attempts suicide The issue of non-inclusion of all those who lost their lives in the struggle for creation of Telangana nearly claimed its first victim when Sabitha, the wife of Pradeep, who lost his life during the agitation, attempted suicide in Vikarabad of Ranga Reddy district. 'Tortured' wife kills husband Two persons were murdered in separate incidents in the city on Tuesday morning. Shias peeved at civic inaction for Moharram Shia groups on Monday decried the lack of initiative on the part of the government, civic bodies and police to put in place necessary arrangement for the smooth conduct of Moharram processions in the city. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Ministers in place, but no chief secretary now In an unusual case, the state administration seems to be functioning without a chief secretary, who is the head of the bureaucratic set-up. Woman murdered near Tiruttani was raped, say police Police have identified the woman who was found murdered at a stone quarry near Tiruttani, 100km from Chennai, on Tuesday. 5 surrender in murder of AIADMK man Five people on Wednesday surrendered in connection with the murder of AIADMK man Ezhumalai in Velachery early on Tuesday morning. However, police are still on the lookout for the main suspect. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		NRI accuses senior politician of duping him of Rs 95 NRI Roshan Shah, who was booked on complaint of a BJP supporter for posting obscene comment on a senior BJP politician’s granddaughter on Facebook, has now accused the politician, her daughter and their two NGOs of duping him of Rs 95 in connection with an online purchase from the NGOs. Sardar's banyan still stands tall in Ras A centenarian banyan tree in Ras village of Anand district is still standing tall with huge trunk and big roots. Gujarat high court orders probe into Charanka land deals Gujarat high court has asked the principal secretary of the revenue department to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged land purchase scam by the state government for its solar park project at Charanka village in Santalpur block of Patan district. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC seeks report on black bucks at Akbar's tomb Taking serious note of consistent deaths of black bucks in the garden of Akbar’s tomb at Sikandara in Agra, the Allahabad High Court has directed UP’s chief wildlife warden to prepare a plan in consultation with the National Board for Wildlife for protecting the endangered species and submit a report within six weeks before the court. Mysterious explosion in shop leaves 1 injured An explosion in a tea shop at Bangad Dharamshala near Madhwapur under the Kydganj police station on Wednesday morning turned into a major puzzle for the police. Till the filing of the report, the bomb disposal squad and forensic experts were struggling to ascertain the nature and cause of the explosion that left a labourer injured and damaged three adjacent houses. AU students can now access British history online Students and teachers of the Allahabad University’s arts faculty, who want to access the records or proceedings of the British and Irish history, can now get it online. The Central library of AU would soon be getting an online access to the English Historical Document (EHD), one of the most comprehensive collections of documents on British history. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Cops take triple murder accused on remand Police on Tuesday took Sneha Swakhyar Samal, the accused of October 14 triple murder at Khandagiri, on two-day remand for interrogation. Top CMAS leaderNachika surrenders Nachika Linga, who waged a relentless battle against liquor and land of tribal people allegedly occupied by non-tribals, surrendered before police on Tuesday. Stop-salary threat if survey data is not provided by November 15 The state higher education department has threatened university and college authorities to stop their salaries if they fail to provide data for their respective institutions as part of the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) sought by the Union human resources development ministry by November 15. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Doubting infidelity, man kills wife for saying no to sex Angry with wife not allowing him to consummate marriage and suspecting her of having an affair with someone else, a man murdered spouse on Tuesday. Beating Modi's jan dhan, MNREGS officials divert money to namesake accounts in Madhya Pradesh Babus often accused of corruption have found a unique way to beat PM Modi’s big-ticket financial inclusion programme — Jan Dhan scheme. MP BJP to gift Bhagwad Gita to party workers Taking the cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gifted copies of the Bhagwad Gita to US President Barack Obama and Japanese emperor Akihito, the Madhya Pradesh BJP will now gift the holy Hindu text to its party workers at a two-day convention to be held here starting Thursday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Cong activists begin 3-day 'silent protest' against police 'excesses' The protesters accused the state government of victimizing Congress leaders and workers by registering false cases against them. Theft-accused African students in judicial custody, police inform embassies The two African students, who were arrested by police on Tuesday after they were accused of theft by a shopkeeper and people tied them with a pole, were sent to judicial custody by a Jalandhar court on Wednesday. Trees to be pruned in all roads and markets The Environment and City Beautification Committee of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation discussed and decided that pruning of trees would be done in all the city roads, markets, and wherever required. More Chandigarh News»

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