News Digest: Bill to bar tainted from polls gathers dust

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, December 09, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Bill to bar tainted from polls gathers dust An analysis of affidavits submitted by the winners of 2014 Lok Sabha elections reveals 185 MPs in the current Lok Sabha have declared criminal cases against themselves. Rohtak sisters demand narco test for probe The sisters approached Rohtak range IG Alok Kumar Roy to press their request, in the company of their parents and lawyer Attar Singh Panwar. Amar Singh praises Modi, denies joining BJP Former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi yet again but denied he was joining the BJP. He said he would not take up any post or portfolio for the next 10 years. More India News»

		Business
		Infosys co-founders sell shares worth Rs 6,484 cr The storied co-founders of Infosys sold shares worth $1.05 billion (Rs 6,484 crore), together offloading a 2.8% stake (3.26 crore shares) in the company. This is the largest promoter sellout in India’s technology sector. CCI clears Sun-Ranbaxy deal with riders The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Sun Pharmaceutical’s $3.2 billion acquisition of rival drug firm Ranbaxy Laboratories, provided the companies divest some overlapping brands within six months. Aadhaar details not mandatory for PF transactions: Govt Submission of Aadhaar card details by subscribers is not mandatory for any provident fund transaction, Parliament was informed on Monday. More Business News»

		Environment
		Javadekar vows green bills in next session The environment minister on Sunday also announced that the government was planning to bring legislations in the next Parliament session to strengthen laws to protect the environment. 700-plus grossly-polluting industries asked to monitor effluent flow The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions to 794 grossly-polluting industries to ensure real-time monitoring of effluents by March next year, Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. Javadekar begins his bilateral round at Lima climate conference With countries fine-tuning their positions for the high-level segment of the climate conference, Indian environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday had a bilateral meeting with the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern where both the countries exchanged their views on issues concerning adaption, climate finance and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). More Environment News»

		World
		Sexual threats, other CIA methods detailed in Senate report Graphic details about sexual threats and other harsh interrogation techniques the CIA meted out to captured militants will be detailed by a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the spy agency's anti-terror tactics, sources familiar with the document said. 6 dead after plane crashes into Maryland home A small, private jet slammed into a house Monday, killing a woman and her young sons inside the home and three people on the aircraft, authorities said. San Jose State University evacuates classrooms over report of gunman San Jose State University in California evacuated a classroom building and adjoining faculty offices on Monday after authorities received an unconfirmed report of a gunman on campus, a spokeswoman said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'I used to beat myself up and cry for days' Recently in town for a global campaign on girls’ education, Freida Pinto tells us why women’s empowerment means so much to her Saif-Kareena spot tigers in Ranthambore Saif visited Sawai Madhopur with his family on Sunday for Sharmila Tagore’s birthday Dia Mirza: Lesser known facts More Entertainment News»

		Science
		New compound offers malaria cure in 48 hours A promising new anti-malarial compound tricks the immune system to rapidly destroy red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite without damaging healthy cells, a new study has found. Science proves high heels do have power over men The well-heeled Marilyn Monroe once said, ''Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.'' Australian researchers achieve highest solar power efficiency Australian researchers made a major breakthrough when they set a world record for the highest levels of solar power efficiency ever achieved, media reported on Monday. More Science News»

		Sports
		Roger Federer says I am still his idol: Pete Sampras The 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras richly praised the fans' knowledge of the racquet sport in India and called the country a 'great tennis town'. Federer-Djokovic's clash culminates IPTL's India affair India's exciting date with the legends of tennis world ended as Djokovic-led UAE Royals proved too hot for home team India Aces, winning 29-22 in the IPTL. We're determined to put up our best show vs Dutch: Raghunath India's experienced drag-flicker VR Raghunath said the hosts are keen to put up their "best show" in their last Pool B tie against the Netherlands on Tuesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Early investors in Indian e-commerce book huge profits Amid all the cash burn and eye-popping valuations, early investors in India's burgeoning e-commerce sector are beginning to book profits. Twitter suspends 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's account The suspension follows Saeed’s recent tweets against India after his vituperative rally in Lahore. 4 best smartphones under Rs 20,000 launched recently Gone are the days when one has to shell out big bucks to get top-end features in smartphones.Let's take a look at the four best smartphones under Rs 20,000 launched recently: More Technology News»

		Education
		Lure of money: IITians under parental pressure The hype over IIT graduates bagging Rs 1 crore-plus pay packages during campus interviews comes with its share of problems. Facebook offers IIT-Bombay girl Rs 2 crore package IIT-Bombay student Aastha Agarwal's Facebook job offer with Rs two crore package is perhaps the highest offered to an undergrad. IIT students turn down $125,000 offers for domestic firms Domestic offers seem to be gaining traction among some IIT Delhi students, who have turned down international offers with over $125,000 per annum packages to work within the home country. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Search committee for selection of Nagpur VC Maharashtra governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Monday announced the formation of a search committee for the selection of the Nagpur vice-chancellor. States' response sought on plastic national flags ban: Centre tells HC The Central government on Monday told Bombay high court that it has asked all States and Union territories to give their views on the proposal to ban on manufacture of plastic national flags. Will conclude probe into girl's death in a month: CBI tells HC Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday told Bombay high court that it needs further four weeks to conclude its probe into the alleged mysterious death of a Mumbai girl who died after partying in Pune. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		No stay on verdict, but HC will hear new appeal Refusing to stay its earlier verdict on nursery admissions, the Delhi high court, however, agreed to hear in detail an appeal filed by the Delhi government and an NGO. Mail suggestions to Tihar at PO box 9955 The Delhi Prisons administration on Monday set up a PO box to allow the public to submit suggestions and voice their grievances to jail authorities. Robbers kill 65-year-old bizman in east Delhi The man was retired and owned a business in Raghurpura market. Police said that the man stayed alone at his ancestral house after separating from his wife. Police suspect the incident to be a robbery-cum-murder. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Over 4,000 services now on your fingertips Citizens can access 632 government-to-citizen services and over 3,500 business-to-consumer services at their fingertips by downloading Karnataka MobileOne app K'taka bucks national trend, out-of-school kids up 67% State’s Rank Declines To 4th In 10 Months | 115% jump in Kerala, Andhra Sees 67% Dip Prez visit cuts short school hours With a fleet of 28 buses, 200 cars and other vehicles, Vidyashilp Academy closed three hours earlier than scheduled. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Greens up in arms against proposed Vinayak Sagar A day before Telangana government debates on the proposed Vinayak Sagar, an artificial lake within the environs of Indira Park, for Ganesh idol immersion and boating club, environmentalists and walkers’ opposed the ‘dangerous’ plan tooth and nail. Wakf board stops mosque demolition Reacting to the reports about the demolition of large portions of a mosque in Begum Bazaar on Monday, the AP State Wakf Board (APSWB) sprung into action to stop the illegal activity. Hyderabad women using cabs have scary tales to tell The horrific rape of a 25-year-old woman by a Uber cab driver in the national capital has left women in Hyderabad scared with several of them saying how they are unsure about using taxis in the evening when they are on their own. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Dravidian ideology is outdated, says Anbumani Anbumani Ramadoss, the putative next generation leader of Pattali Makkal Katchi, is planning a series of mass outreach programmes in a bid to shed the party's image as an outfit whose base is limited to the agrarian community of vanniyars. Pakistan boy gets a 'new face' in Chennai Arshad Ali and Raziya Arshad, a couple from Pakistan, sank into depression when their son was born with a severe cleft (a gap in the soft tissue and bone on his face). Corporation ropes in citizens to tackle litter Encouraged by citizen's initiatives to clean up neighbourhoods, the civic body is gearing for a campaign to prevent littering. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Rajkot one of 40 global cities to cut carbon emissions Gujarat’s ‘solar city — Rajkot in Saurashtra — is being globally recognized as a case study for reducing carbon emissions. Crackdown on sand mafia; 8 vehicles seized Ahmedabad Rural police on Monday cracked down on sand mafia in Fatehwadi area under the jurisdiction of Aslali police station and seized eight tractors full of sand mined illegally from the Sabarmati river. Amit Shah's lawyers fire at CBI 'loopholes' in Mumbai court Lawyers representing BJP's national president and former Gujarat minister Amit Shah on Monday highlighted 'loopholes' in the chargesheets filed by the CBI in fake encounter cases. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Shahjahan purchased temple land to construct Taj Mahal: BJP leader After Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's demand of handing over Taj Mahal to UP Wakf Board, state chief of BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpayi on Sunday dragged the famed mausoleum into another row by claiming that it was a part of an ancient temple. Muslim family preserves ancient art form The family of this 32-year-old Muslim from Dausa in Rajasthan is preserving the country's ancient folk art form of 'Bahurupiya'. They dress as Hindu mythological and other traditional characters. His family is engaged in it for five generations. Exam dates: Students sent memo to UPPSC chief The aspirants preparing for competitive exams on Monday forwarded a memorandum addressed to the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) demanding extension of the schedule of mains exams of Combined Lower Subordinate Examination. The memo was handed over to the commission officials. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Russian sorry for taking Puri temple snaps A tourist from Russia had a harrowing time while taking photographs of Jagannath Temple in Puri by climbing atop a watchtower on Friday. CBI keeps OCA men waiting Two Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) functionaries, summoned for interrogation in connection with Artha Tatwa (AT) Group scam, spent the entire day at the CBI office and were later asked to leave without being questioned. Angul used cycle pump to up tally Angul, which was caught using bicycle pump during sterilization surgeries on November 28, has lagged behind most other districts in conducting tubectomies this financial year. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		'Appraisal of colleges should be on NAAC lines' Higher and technical education minister Umashankar Gupta said that appraisal of all colleges should be ensured on the lines of NAAC. Bhutanese delegation praises schemes running in Madhya Pradesh A Bhutanese delegation is on a tour of Madhya Pradesh to study concept, process and progress of gender budgeting has lauded the schemes and results of schemes for all-round development of women as well as state’s political leadership and administrative efficiency. BCL, UNICEF to train MP teachers in English School education department will train teachers in English. For this the department has decided to launch a pilot project from Ujjain. The teachers will be trained in English with support of British Council and Unicef. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Power tariff raised by 17 paisa per unit Nearly a month after taking over reigns of the state, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government on Sunday gave electricity consumers a shock by increasing the tariff by 17 paisa, on account of fuel surcharge arrears (FSA). Khattar asks babus to be punctual, show results CM Manohar Lal Khattar has directed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police in Haryana to remain punctual and give maximum time in their offices to promptly redress the grievances of people. I-T department hosts Central Revenue Cultural Meet - North Zone Chandigarh and Delhi participated in the meet. More Chandigarh News»

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