News Digest: Ex-chief of open schooling guilty of sexual harassment

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, February 07, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Ex-chief of open schooling guilty of sexual harassment Former chairperson of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) S S Jena has been found guilty of sexual harassment by the complaints committee of the HRD ministry. AC trouble on Delhi-Milan flight leaves AI Dreamliner grounded in Milan An Air India Dreamliner flying from Delhi to Milan on Tuesday with over 120 passengers on board saw three of its four AC units’ components called cabin air compressors (CAC) — which supply air and maintain pressure in the passenger cabin — fail. Seamless transit across borders comes closer to reality Four member countries of Saarc - India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh — are likely to sign the agreement for seamless transit across borders of passenger, personal and cargo vehicles in the next three months. More India News»

		Business
		Govt explores new ideas to fund infrastructure The government is working on innovative ways of financing infrastructure projects to ensure that India moves into a trajectory of non-inflationary growth. RIL's 4G play helped seal tie-up with SBI Reliance Industries’ (RIL’s) nationwide 4G spectrum was a deciding factor in State Bank of India (SBI) agreeing to pick up a 30% stake in the payments bank that Mukesh Ambani’s flagship company plans to launch. Sahara scuttled deal, says Mirach Sources said Sahara group has begun looking for new investors to garner necessary funds and the Mirach deal was off the table, while it would soon take a call on initiating legal action against Mirach Capital, run by Indian-origin businessman Saransh Sharma. More Business News»

		Environment
		Forest officers to brain-storm on changes in green laws Government will take the view of forest officials from across the country before proposing amendments to key environment laws. Hilsa captive breeding hits roadblock as fries don't survive The research on the captive breeding of Bengal's favourite fish hilsa in saline tank water continues to hit roadblocks as the young fries are not surviving, said an official from the state's fisheries department. 'India, Russia working actively to save rare wildlife species' India and Russia are actively working together for protection of rare wildlife species, including tigers and leopards, and a working group, formed consequent of the bilateral cooperation signed over 10 years ago, will soon hold its next meeting in this regard. More Environment News»

		World
		109 Boko Haram fighters killed after attack in Niger: Minister Niger claimed troops killed 109 Boko Haram fighters when the Islamists carried out their first major attack in the country on Friday, while four soldiers and a civilian were also left dead. UAE likely to resume fights in US-led coalition against IS soon: US The United Arab Emirates is likely to resume air missions as part of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in the coming days. Merkel, Hollande arrive for Ukraine talks with Putin: Official The French president arrived in Moscow minutes after Merkel's plane touched down at Vnukovo airport and they headed straight to see Putin. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Dhanush is scared of still cameras Dhanush on Sonam’s beauty and traces of Rajinikanth in him Anushka's film has more producers than actors Anushka Sharma recently launched the trailer of her action thriller NH10 along with co-star Neil Bhoopalam, director Navdeep Singh and a team of producers. Funny mistakes in Bollywood blockbusters More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Study: Women with diabetes likely to die earlier than male diabetics A new research has found that women who are suffering from type 1 diabetes face a higher risk of dying early as compared to men. They are also twice more likely to die of heart disease as compared to men with the same condition. Human evolution is still going on Humans are still evolving even though modern housing and sanitation, medical science and a rich and varied diet appear to have largely insulated much of the population from the life-or-death struggle of natural selection, a study has found. Hubble catches rare 3-moon parade in front of Jupiter Nasa/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has recently captured a rare triple moon transit of Jupiter. More Science News»

		Sports
		2015 World Cup will be different from past editions: Sachin Sachin Tendulkar feels the upcoming 50-over World Cup will be different from its past editions because of changes in rules and the advent of Twenty20 cricket. Indian skipper MS Dhoni becomes father of a baby girl Just a week ahead of the cricket World Cup, India skipper MS Dhoni became a father after his wife Sakshi gave birth to a baby girl at a private hospital. Zidane could be future Real Madrid coach, says Ancelotti Zidane, who is currently coaching the Real reserve side Castilla, "has all the qualities" required to take the the helm of the club, Carlo Ancelotti said. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Vishal Sikka rejigs Infosys's top deck Vishal Sikka has undertaken the biggest restructuring in Infosys since he took over as the company’s CEO in August last year. How tech startups are 'changing' IIT placements Kishore Natarajan turned down an offer from a reputed multinational company during placements at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. 10 smartphones with 'best' battery life Here’s a look at 10 smartphones available in the Indian market that come with big batteries... More Technology News»

		Education
		Not many willing to recruit integrated graduates The popularity of integrated courses is high among students abroad and now they are gaining acceptance here as well. Colleges woo students with integrated courses Chennai-based B-school, Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), is setting up a university to offer integrated programme in engineering and management. IIM Trichy wins Annual CFA Institute Research Challenge he team will now compete for the Asia Pacific finals to be held in Manila, the Philippines, on March 11 and 12. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Three hurt, 14 houses gutted in Byculla blaze Three people were injured and 14 houses gutted in a blaze that broke out in a two-storey residential building near Byculla railway station around 8.45 am on Friday. GRP squad to combat mobile phone thefts The growing menace of cell phone thefts on the railways has prompted the GRP to launch a special squad of officers who will make rounds of train compartments in plainclothes from today. Indoors-only nod for today's Owaisi rally The city police on Friday asked the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to conduct their Saturday’s public rally, to be addressed by party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, indoors. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi assembly elections 2015: Number games: Who will come out swinging As Delhi heads for polls for the third time in a little over a year, can the numbers from the previous two elections provide clues to which way things will go?  Fog delays 30 trains, today may be cloudy It was another chilly morning in Delhi with minimum temperature dropping further and dense fog delaying over 30 trains. Priya Pillai offloaded after intelligence: Centre The Centre on Friday claimed before the Delhi High Court that Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was offloaded from an international flight because she was “involved in anti-national activities.” More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		HC upholds Praveen Togadia ban The high court on Friday refused to stay the Bengaluru police commissioner's order banning VHP leader Praveen Togadia's entry into the city till February 11. 'BJP govt's silence over church attacks baffling' Terming the Centre's silence on attacks on five churches in Delhi baffling, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, said here on Friday that the incidents are like terror attacks. A view from the outside Former English professor Susan Daniel has translated Devanur Mahadeva’s popular Kannada novel, Kusumabale, into English. Published by the Oxford University Press, the book was released recently at the Times Litfest. Daniel shares her experience of translating one of Devanur’s most powerful novels. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Senior MIM leader passes away at 64 Senior Majlis-e-Itthedaul Muslimeen (MIM) leader and former Karwan legislator Mohammed Muqtada Khan, popularly known as Afsar Khan, passed away on Friday. Miscreants damage activist's car in Old City Unidentified persons damaged the car of Sunitha Krishnan, a well-known social activist near Charminar in Old City on Friday morning. '23 villas in Indu Projects given to influential people' This was in clear violation of the agreement that Indu Projects entered into with the housing board, the witness said. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Sludge tragedy: Ranipet co asked to pay Rs 75 lakh The southern bench of National Green Tribunal has directed the company that operated a common effluent treatment plant at Ranipet SIDCO complex to pay a compensation of Rs75 lakh to the state government for causing pollution. Corporation gets transgenders, drummers to make hotel pay tax When a star hotel in the city defaulted on paying property tax, Chennai Corporation made a song and dance of it. Literally. And it paid off. To protect Rajini's rights, HC blocks censor-certified film The Madras high court has blocked the release of censor-certified Hindi film 'Main Hoon Rajinikanth' on the ground that it would hurt the 'personality rights' of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Pure vegetarian Gujarati kidney! Anita Gharat (42), battling for life since 2007 waiting for a kidney, got a new lease of life after she received an organ for transplant on Friday. Ahmedabad's pvt hospitals told to get 20% more beds for swine flu cases Ahmedabad municipal commissioner D Thara has asked private hospitals in the city to increase the number of beds available for swine flu patients by at least 20%. '70% H1N1 patients delay consulting a physician' Kantilal Patel, 40, from Datiwada in Banaskantha district, had a sore throat and running nose for a week.He assumed he had a common cold, but it was an error that cost him his life. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		IMFL smugglers' gang busted, 4 held A joint team of Cyber Crime Cell and SWAT (Special Weapons & Tactics) arrested four persons near Nehru Park on Thursday and claimed to have busted an inter–state racket involved in smuggling of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) bottles from Haryana. AU team raids hostels, moves out 76 illegal occupants The Allahabad University finally swung into action and caught and moved out 76 illegal inmates from Sir Sunder Lal (SSL) hostel during a raid on Thursday. Railways restores several trains as winter begins to fade Railways is planning to revoke cancellation of several trains during the month of February after a significant improvement in the weather. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Govt, Oppn ready for assembly fight With the opposition seemingly having no new issue to nail the ruling BJD in the Budget session, starting Friday, the Naveen Patnaik government is planning to turn the heat on the Centre by opposing the recent Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Ordinance and lack of assistance for the Puri Jagannath Temple’s Nabakalebara festival in July. Govt to set up 45 courts for speedy disposal of cases The state government on Thursday announced to open 45 more courts within a distance of 50 km of the other during 2015-16. Sub judice cloud over scam debates Will the Budget session see heated debates on major scams that have rocked the state government in recent times? More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Kalbelia dancers regale the audience at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal The ongoing Rajasthan Mohatsav 2015 at Bharat Bhavan saw a heart-stopping performance recently when traditional Kalbelia dancers from the desert state showcased their skills with daring stunts during the show. Basking in win, they get ready to straddle two worlds Women Corporators Spend Time Family Ahead Of Tougher Challenges Ahead Rebels show political parties they deserved better Last phase of urban civic polls have thrown up results that show that best candidates may not have been given tickets by political parties. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		NRI torture case: Video footage genuine, says CFSL In relation to an alleged torture of an NRI Amit Saini by police and then being framed for attacking a police party, the court of additional sessions judge Dilbagh Singh found the video of the torture - which was recorded on a mobile phone - to be genuine after confirmation from forensic experts. One more HC judge recuses himself from hearing One more high court judge has recused himself on Friday from hearing a petition filed by controversial advocate Mukesh Mittal's clerk Ajay Singh, seeking quashing of an enforcement case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Swamy sells Make In India at 'Harvard Class in PU' Once a Harvard faculty and an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) professor, Subramanian Swamy on Friday pushed for local innovation rather than looking at the West and emulating institutions like Harvard. More Chandigarh News»

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