News Digest: Cong, BJP target each other over dismal show in Delhi polls

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, February 26, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Cong, BJP target each other over dismal show in Delhi polls The Delhi election results echoed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday with parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu taking a dig at Congress for ridiculing BJP for its poor show. Pansare attack case: Three more teams formed to help with probe The Kolhapur police have formed three more teams to assist the 20 existing teams in investigating the attack on Govind Pansare and his wife Uma while the couple was returning from their morning walk on February 16. Aurangabad youth held for posts on Govind Pansare The Aurangabad police on Tuesday arrested a youth from their city for his controversial posts on Facebook and Whatsapp related to the attacks on veteran communist leader Govind Pansare and anti-superstition crusader Narendra Dabholkar. More India News»

		Business
		Morgan Stanley to pay $2.6B to settle charges over mortgages Morgan Stanley said Wednesday that it has agreed to pay $2.6 billion to settle with the federal government over its role in the mortgage bubble and subsequent financial crisis. DST may invest up to $500m in Ola at $2.5bn valuation Russian billionaire Yuri Milner’s investment firm DST Global has held talks with taxi-hailing startup Ola to lead a $400-500 million (approximately Rs 3,000-crore) financing round at a valuation of $2.5 billion, people familiar with the development told TOI. Use cheap crude to fix fiscal, trade deficits: RBI Three days ahead of the Budget, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has told the government that the fall in international crude price is too valuable an opportunity to miss in terms of getting fiscal deficit and trade deficit in place. More Business News»

		Environment
		Govt seeks ties with European nations on waste management While India was "cleaner than other countries" in term of climate change impact at this stage of economy, there is concern over hazardous waste management and the country was looking for cooperation from European countries in the area. Volkswagen undertakes environment friendly manufacturing Volkswagen Pune Plant, one of the 27 Volkswagen automotive manufacturing facilities worldwide, follows the 'Think Blue Factory' initiative to achieve environment-friendly manufacturing. Lucknow's water table falls at 2m in 2 yrs In two years’ time, between 2012 and 2014, Lucknow’s groundwater levels recorded an alarming fall and it’s the residents of posh localities who have exploited groundwater more. More Environment News»

		World
		US-Israel spat intensifies over Netanyahu speech The US and Israel escalated their increasingly public spat on Wednesday over Benjamin Netanyahu's Republican-engineered congressional speech next week, with the Israeli prime minister accusing world powers of rolling over to allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. '3 Al-Jazeera journalists held in Paris for flying drone' Three Al-Jazeera TV journalists were arrested in Paris on Wednesday after flying a drone from a park on the edge of the city, a judicial source said. Three New York residents arrested for planning to join IS Three New York residents from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been arrested for allegedly trying to join the Islamic State (IS) group fighting in Syria, officials said on Wednesday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Celeb traffic to see Hiroo Johar continues Sources say that the 11th floor of a suburban hospital has seen a number of celebrities in the last few days. 'Wish Sanjay and his family all the very best' Yesterday’s media headlines read that Rhea Pillai had sought that Leander Paes’ passport be impounded. As the warring couple fires salvos against each other, their nine-year-old daughter Aiyana continues to be the bone of contention between them. Bollywood actresses who wore bikinis in their debut films More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Now, a skin test to detect Alzheimer's A simple skin test can now help detect Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. New compound may treat HIV, drug-resistant TB Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have developed a new molecule that may treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and even HIV infection. Now, a daily pill cuts the risk of HIV infection among gay men by 86% In what is being called a game changer, British scientists have confirmed that a daily pill cuts the risk of HIV infection among gay men by 86%. More Science News»

		Sports
		'Dummy catch' to 'Fielding match', Team India does it all Innovation is the name of the game if one wants to beat drudgery of mundane training sessions as Team India showed during their fielding practice. At MCG, India showed they can blow away any side: Morkel Albie Morkel says India's hammering of the Proteas at the MCG demonstrated that the defending champions are capable of blowing any team away in World Cup. World Cup: Wilson, O'Brien seal Ireland's thrilling win Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien struck brisk half-centuries as Ireland held their nerve to clinch a thrilling 2-wicket win in their World Cup match against UAE. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Pan-India mobile number portability from May 3 Mobile subscribers from May 3 will be able to port their numbers anywhere in the country while changing service providers, as telecom regulator Trai has amended the regulation on it. After Google, now Reddit cracks down on porn content Reddit and Google are taking a tougher stance against nudity to prevent their services from turning into online peep shows. 9 biggest tech startups in the world Looking at recent media reports and the WSJ's "The Billion-Dollar Startup Club" list, here's a list of tech startups that are worth more than $10 billion -- or will be very soon. More Technology News»

		Education
		Nursery fee refund if admission withdrawn Months after the nursery admission process began in Delhi, the Directorate of Education has issued a circular on fee refund. Due process followed: DU Delhi University’s registrar in a press statement said: “The Executive Council of the university, in its meeting held on Tuesday, after following due process, resolved to terminate the services of Dr Sapna Jain, associate professor, department of mathematics, with immediate effect for gross misconduct including not taking classes amounting to an act unbecoming of a teacher. Exempt all educational products from central, state taxes: Assocham to Centre Apex industry body Assocham has suggested the government to exempt all educational products meant for use by school and college students from both central as well as state taxes to promote education and to make available educational aids at an affordable cost, particularly to the lower economic strata of society. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Sena's racecourse land plan has activists fuming Close on the heels of drawing up plans to develop Aarey Colony, the city’s green lung, the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled BMC now wants to take over the prime open space in the island city – the Mahalaxmi Race Course State govt academy to frame housing policy The state government recently appointed the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA), its administrative training institute in Pune, as the nodal agency for framing its housing-for-all policy. MP bats for development near defence land Member of Parliament Gopal Shetty on Wednesday asked the Central government to ensure that there are no hurdles caused by Ministry of Defence More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Are people getting passports on fake addresses: HC asks Centre, Delhi Concerned that Indian passports are being issued to citizens and foreigners on incorrect addresses, the Delhi high court on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Centre and the state government s on the issue. Errant driver mows down constable A 42-year-old Delhi Police constable was mowed down by a speeding car near northeast Delhi’s Welcome Metro station on Tuesday. Bizman killed, help a suspect A 55-year-old businessman was strangled in his office in north-west Delhi’s Maurya Enclave area on Wednesday afternoon. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Dekkoh can help you discover India Bengaluru is a functioning anarchy. At least that's how it appeared to Anupama Misra when she made it her home recently. 'Even paan-beeda shops keep better records than BBMP' Upa Lokayukta Subhash B Adi, who is investigating the illegal hoardings menace in the city, pulled up BBMP for not presenting proper documents on unauthorized hoardings and flex boards. HC asks state: Why can't you obey SC on language policy? The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday asked the state government to explain why it cannot follow the Supreme Court's verdict on language policy and why it cannot allow English-medium schools from classes 1 to 5. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Dr Reddy's Laboratories under US scanner Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) has received a letter from the US Congress seeking certain information on increase in prices of generic drugs. Robbers kill youth, injure girl A youth was killed and his female friend was left battling for life after unidentified robbers attacked them near Kotappakonda temple on Wednesday. Hyderabad girl kills self over marriage Angry with her parents for not allowing her to marry her lover, a 22-year-old graduate committed suicide at Hayatnagar. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Scientist: India has resources key for genome research For geneticists, India is a mine waiting to be explored. While other parts of the world are waking up to the importance of the role genes play in diseases, the country is yet to fully awake from its stupor. The cinematographer who redefined supernatural plots Long before teasers became perfect prologues for thrillers, a soft-spoken cinematographer launched his first venture as a director in 1964. Govt finds 18 H1N1 clusters in Chennai With no let-up in the incidence of H1N1 flu cases, the state government has stepped up vigil by identifying ‘clusters’ where most of the cases were reported from. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Delhi HC to Centre: Post Rajnish Rai in police Delhi high court has directed the Centre to give IPS officer Rajnish Rai a posting as an IG in a central police organization within three weeks. Ahmedabad district tops in malnourished kids The state government admitted in the assembly on Wednesday that there are 2.11 lakh underweight children in Gujarat. 26% posts vacant in 5 city government hospitals Around 26.37% posts in five government hospitals in the city are vacant. Even among the posts that are filled up, 33% are those occupied by fixed-salary earners. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Now, a software capable of voiceover, mimicry Gone are the days when scores of backstage artistes were required for voiceover and mimicry. Here comes a novel software which can give these artistes a run for their money as it has the capability of changing a single voice into that of various characters: from a female’s voice to that of a villain, politician or even similar to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and all this on the click of a computer mouse. Balkhadai seeks 'goonda tax' from contractors Making his presence felt in the badlands of Bundelkhand again, dreaded dacoit Sudesh Kumar Patel alias Balkharia allegedly sought “goonda tax” from the contractors working on a check-dam at Rasin Majra Mahadeva and damaged machines and building materials in Chitrakoot three days back. 285 CCTVs to guard AU campus Peeved over the repeated incidents of violence and other unscrupulous activities, the authorities of Allahabad University will be installing around 285 CCTVs on its various campuses and inside the premises of Women Hostel. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Boat making stays afloat, courtesy eco-tourism The winds of change are blowing in favour of boat makers at Mangalajodi village near Chilika in Khurda district. Sub Inspector shortage hits probe Crime control in the twin cities has been hit due to acute shortage of skilled sub-inspectors (SIs), who investigate most cases in police stations. Burglars striking during the day: Police Contrary to general perception that thieves strike only at night, the capital city has witnessed a spurt in ‘daytime burglaries’. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bhind at the top of poll violence heap Bhind, which has earned a tag of an area dominated by trigger happy people, pulling trigger at slightest provocation and jumping into ravines has been its history, once infamous for bandits. H1N1 2015 city's worst outbreak One more swine flu death was reported from the state capital on Tuesday. Away from shelter home, kids get to live dreams Make A Difference (MAD), Bhopal chapter, which work for betterment of underprivileged kids in the society brought smile on faces of children of deprived section of society on Monday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		SAD-BJP sweeps Zirakpur municipal council polls Diljot Singh | The SAD-BJP alliance won the Zirakpur municipal council elections with a comfortable majority on Wednesday. Teenager hangs self; no suicide note found Sumer Singh Brar - a class XI student of St John's High School and son of Fazilka deputy commissioner Manjeet Brar - was found hanging from the ceiling fan with his pet dog's collar at his room in his Sector 8 residence on Wednesday morning. SAD-BJP makes a clean sweep in Dera Bassi The SAD-BJP alliance won a clear majority in Dera Bassi in the municipal council elections, the results for which were declared on Wednesday evening, hours after the polling to five councils and two nagar panchayats ended in Mohali district. The alliance won all the 19 seats from Dera Bassi. More Chandigarh News»

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