News Digest: For fearless Freya, it's gymming in air

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, February 19, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		For fearless Freya, it's gymming in air Wingwalkers Stun Onlookers With Daring Air Stunts Policy to shape Modi's pet mantra Keen to flesh out PM Narendra Modi's Make-in-India campaign, the Centre is drawing up a separate policy, which is likely to be notified post-budget in April-May this year. Top gun Sukhoi rules the skies The deafening roar of soaring jets, agile aerobatic aircraft, hovering choppers... Aero India literally got off to a flying start, not seen during the previous edition's inaugural. More India News»

		Business
		When 'Cyrus Mistry' tricked Tata executives Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry is under cyber attack. RBI eases gold import norms In a move that will bring relief to jewellers and discourage smuggling, the Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to import gold in bullion form on a consignment basis and given them a freehand in extending gold loans. Munjals raise Rs 1.9k crore for Pipavav stake A sale of 70 lakh equity shares by the Brijmohan Lall Munjal-led Hero Group in its flagship Hero MotoCorp to raise Rs 1,865 crore on Wednesday led to two contrasting reactions in the stock markets. More Business News»

		Environment
		Some animals 'enjoy' music like we do Certain birds can learn how to produce song-like vocalisations, a pre-requisite to learning new songs. Millions at risk from rapid sea rise in swampy Sundarbans Seas are rising more than twice as fast as the global average here in the Sundarbans, a low-lying delta region of about 200 islands in the Bay of Bengal where some 13 million impoverished Indians and Bangladeshis live. Javadekar raps states for not acting on plastic ban Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday pulled up state authorities for not strictly implementing rules on plastic waste management and ban of plastic carry bags. More Environment News»

		World
		Obama: US at war with those who have perverted Islam "We are not at war with Islam," Obama said."We are at war with people who have perverted Islam.". New Iran-US nuclear talks to be held in Geneva US negotiators will meet in the coming days in Geneva with their Iranian counterparts for a new round of talks on reining in Iran's nuclear program, American officials said Wednesday. Prokopis Pavlopoulos voted as new Greek president Greece's parliament has elected a conservative law professor and veteran politician as the country's new president, after he received support from the new left-wing government and main center-right opposition party. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Bollywood's most followed celebs on Twitter From senior actors to the new age lot, from Amitabh Bachchan to Varun Dhawan, we look at India's most followed Bollywood celebs on Twitter. World Cup WAGs Young, effervescent and not afraid of PDA, they are the brave new faces of Bollywood and Indian cricket. She’s our perfect choice for one-down. Nana Patekar returns with 'Ab Tak Chhappan 2' Nana Patekar is back with Ab Tak Chhappan 2, which also features Gul Panag, Ashutosh Rana, Vikram Gokhale, Mohan Agashe, Govind Namdev and Raj Zutshi. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Divers find ancient trove of gold coins in Mediterranean Scuba divers have discovered the largest trove of gold coins ever found off Israel's Mediterranean coast - about 2,000 pieces dating back more than 1,000 years, the country's antiquities authority said on Tuesday. Now, a cream for painless removal of 'permanent' ink A researcher in Canada has developed a skin cream that allows people to painlessly get rid of tattoos. Indian space mission not a medium of one-upmanship: K Radhakrishnan Indian space mission is not a medium of one-upmanship (over Western countries), but a mode to use it for the Indians, noted K Radhakrishnan, former chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). More Science News»

		Sports
		India are a very dangerous side, warns Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting has rated India a "very dangerous side" and said the defending champions have got "too many class players" in their side to retain the title. I had to work the hardest to reach the top, says Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar said he had to work the hardest to reach the top, while adding that he always believed in letting his bat do the talking in his glorious career. Raina wants to emulate Yuvraj's 2011 World Cup exploits Suresh Raina wants to fill in the shoes of Yuvraj, the hero of 2011 edition, in the ongoing showpiece event being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung Galaxy A7 first impressions We took the all-new Samsung Galaxy A7 out for a quick test drive and here's what we think about the smartphone... Sony's Google Glass rival SmartEyeglass goes on sale Sony has began taking orders for SmartEyeglass internet-linked eyewear, moving ahead in the market as Google steps back to revise its Glass strategy. Buying a budget smartphone? 5 things to remember The budget smartphone segment has grown by leaps and bound. More Technology News»

		Education
		Class X Assam boards begin Over four lakh candidates will take this year’s Class X examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (Seba). The High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Assam High Madrassa (AHM) exams will begin from Thursday Mamata Banerjee announces Sanskrit university in West Bengal Bengal is getting its first Sanskrit university, but little else other than the name has been decided. Airtel, UNICEF pact for education in Africa Bharti Airtel has partnered with UNICEF to provide health, education and youth-focussed content to its customers in 17 African countries. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Actor Sanjay Dutt to spend four extra days in prison, Maharashtra home minister says Four more days of imprisonment would be added to actor Sanjay Dutt's prison term, as he spent extra days out jail when his furlough period ended and a decision on extension of his furlough was pending, Maharashtra minister of state for home Ram Shinde has said. Theatre celebrates pioneer playwright's birth centenary Tuesday evening at NCPA, the students of Mumbai University’s Academy of Theatre Arts performed ‘Aazar Ka Khwab’, an Urdu adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’. Russian ship shut electronic system to avoid surveillance The Russian flag cargo vessel, MV Sevastopol was brought back to Mumbai anchorage on Tuesday night. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		City temperature to remain above normal, says Met Delhiites can expect another week of warm days with the Met department predicting that both maximum and minimum temperatures will be 2-3 degrees above normal. Light rain and thunderstorms are also on the cards next week, likely between Monday and Wednesday. Child rape trial moving at snail's pace While justice is expected soon for the survivor in the recent cab rape case, another case of sexual assault that triggered widespread outrage is far from reaching its conclusion. App-based cab firms get 7 days to submit details A notice has been sent to app-based cab companies who have applied to register as radio taxi providers by the Delhi transport department to submit relevant details missing in their applications within seven days. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Feline beauties to strut their stuff It'll be a catfight between Mumbai champ Bella and namma Bengaluru's Chotu. Threat of shutdown sends ESIC medicos into a tizzy Students of ESIC Medical College and Research Centre, Rajajinagar campus, staged a protest on Wednesday demanding clarity on the future of the institution. Hoax bomb threat at Karnataka CM's house A call to the police control room on Thursday evening that a% bomb had been planted at chief minister Siddaramaiah's residence, Cauvery, sparked off an alarm in the Bengaluru police establishment. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Coal supply shortfall hits Andhra Pradesh's power plan The Andhra Pradesh government's grand plan to supply 247 electricity across the state faced its first litmus test on Wednesday as the power demand soared and the coal supplies dwindled. A filmmaker like no other... Veteran film producer Daggubati Rama Naidu made more than 155 movies and created a world record.But not many know that he also introduced as many as 20 directors, 11 heroines and four heroes to the film industry. Harassed by in-laws, 2 women commit suicide Two women of a family allegedly committed suicide at Gannavaram here on Wednesday unable to bear the harassment of their in-laws. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		2 officials in Lankan mission in Chennai recalled Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has recalled 51 diplomats, including two from the Deputy High Commission in Chennai who were seen as "political" appointments made by the former government, from across the globe. Rocket science of south In the 1960s, when children of coastal Thiruvananthapuram remained outdoors even after nightfall, mothers employed a scare: “Get in, Maadan would be flying now.“ Maadan, the not-so-friendly local god would fly with a mace at night, spewing fire and threatening to knock down those who disobeyed parents. Under pressure from locals, foresters shoot tiger in Gudalur Villagers of Pattavayal near Gudalur in the Nilgiris heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday afternoon after a male tiger, aged around eight years and declared a man-eater, was shot dead by special task force personnel. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		RPO helps wife of man assaulted by US cops The Regional Passport Office (RPO) on Wednesday helped resident of Pij village near Nadiad, Shakuntalaben Patel, in expediting her visa process so that she could go to her husband Sureshbhai, who was left partially paralyzed after a police officer assaulted him in the USA. 8-year-old raped in Ghatlodia, one arrested Ghatlodia police arrested Ashok Sharma, 41, a resident of Ghatlodia, for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl. Zip line, amusement park along Sabarmati soon Very soon water sports enthusiasts will have a chance to zip along the Sabarmati River. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Several injured in leopard attacks Leopards attacked and injured several persons including a forest officer in two separate incidents under Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary area on Wednesday. City girl tests positive for swine flu in Lucknow With a girl student of a city based engineering college testing positive for swine flu in the state capital, health authorities on Wednesday claimed to have intensified awareness campaign in the Sangam city and perked up preparations to tackle new cases. UP Board fails to implement plans While announcing the exam schedule, the UP Board had said that it would use social media, hologram on answer copies and CCTV cameras in galleries of examination centres to check copying. However, till Wednesday evening, merely 12 hours before the start of the exams, none of these announcements have been fulfilled. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Opposition ignored in proposed security panel, row erupts The Odisha Police Bill, 2015, which the state government recently introduced in the assembly, has sparked a controversy with the opposition on Wednesday seeking amendment in the proposed legislation. CMC procures pumps to drain out water The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has started procuring high-power motor pumps to check waterlogging in the city.Last month, the civic body got six pumps and another 10 will arrive on Thursday. Sorcery: 23 held for attacking man Police on Tuesday arrested 23 people, including three women, for allegedly attacking a 35-year-old man and feeding him excreta at Mayangi village in Ganjam district, accusing him of practising witchcraft. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Probe Digvijaya Singh's charges, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to SIT chief Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged the chief special investigation team (SIT) for MPPEB cases Justice (Retd) Chandresh Bhushan to immediately investigate the misleading complaint by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh regarding exams and appointment of contractual school teacher-2, contractual school teacher-3 and assistant grade-3 conducted by MPPEB, a state government release said. Governor humiliated in assembly, Congress demands resignation For the first time in history of Madhya Pradesh assembly, opposition members questioned integrity of governor when he was about to address the House on first day of budget session. Congress MLAs question MP governor's integrity, boycott address Opposition Congress MLAs boycotted Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav's address on the first day of the budget session on Wednesday and walked out of the assembly, accusing him and his family of corruption in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		In Moga, candidates try to pull in wannabe NRIs with IELTS In this 'Mecca of NRIs', candidates fighting the municipal corporation elections have come out with the USP of fulfilling the voters' foreign dreams by promising to regularlize IELTS (International English Language Testing System) centres and cracking down on illegal visa operators. Contestant from ward 10 files plaints A woman contestant from Mohali ward number 10 filled a written complaint with the returning officer, alleging that her opponents were removing her posters and banners. Get ready for a feast of roses A rosy treat awaits you.The municipal corporation, in collaboration with Chandigarh administration, will hold 43rd National Rose Festival from Friday. More Chandigarh News»

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