News Digest: AI pilot gets notice for 1-minute delay

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, March 20, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		AI pilot gets notice for 1-minute delay A minute’s alleged delay in reaching the cockpit may cost an Air India pilot dear. Agencies barred from hiring nurses for overseas jobs The Centre has banned private agencies from hiring nurses for overseas posts to clamp down on widespread recruitment malpractices and job fraud, especially by racketeers who target candidates seeking employment in Gulf nations. SC norms on axing cooperative body members The Supreme Court on Thursday laid down a slew of guidelines on removal of an office-bearer in a cooperative society, including that a motion of no-confidence against a person “shall” be moved only after two years of his assuming the office. More India News»

		Business
		Costly auction to spike telcos' debt The government may be reaping a record windfall from spectrum sale, but the auction across four bands is set to increase the debt burden on telecom operators from an estimated Rs 2.6 lakh crore at present to around Rs 3.4 lakh crore, an increase of around 31%. Ratan Tata to head panel to turn around railways Industrialist Ratan Tata will head the new innovation council of railways, called 'Kaya Kalp', formed to turn around the ailing state-run transporter. 'Market value of startups to soar 9-fold in 5 years' After a record deal-making year, the CEO of Avendus Capital is betting his larynx on India’s internet startups building a $300-billion market value in the next five years, or by the end of this decade. More Business News»

		Environment
		Will sparrows ever return to this temple? In the 1960s, late freedom fighter Govindasamy Naidu had a dream where a sparrow appeared and told him to build a temple for Goddess Kali near the North Masi Street in Madurai. Singapore's solar tariff to reduce fossil fuel reliance Singapore is taking steps to reduce its almost total reliance on fossil fuels in power generation by offering commercial customers the city-state's first dual solar and conventional electricity contract. Rare black turtles seized along India-Bangladesh border The Border Security Force (BSF), on Wednesday, seized 97 rare Asian black spotted turtles close to the India-Bangladesh border. More Environment News»

		World
		Libyan government forces bomb Tripoli airport Warplanes from Libya's internationally recognised government on Thursday bombed the only functioning commercial airport in Tripoli on Thursday, delaying the departure of a delegation from a rival parliament for UN peace talks, officials said. White House: US 'to reevaluate' backing for Israel at UN The White House today raised the prospect of withdrawing crucial diplomatic cover for Israel at the United Nations, following Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive election victory. Lufthansa strike leaves thousands stranded Thousands of international travelers were stranded on Thursday as a strike by Lufthansa pilots was extended to long-haul flights, and Germany’s largest airline said it was preparing for even more cancellations on Friday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Exclusive: Akshay Kumar's new look from 'Airlift' Akshay Kumar’s Airlift is an edge-of-the-seat entertaining thriller. Divyanka looking forward to a new beginning Actress Divyanka Tripathi’s breakup with her boyfriend of seven years, Ssharad Malhotra made headlines. Top 10 foreign actresses in Bollywood More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Artificial light hurts body's sleep/wake cycle Inadequate exposure to natural light during the day and overexposure to artificial light at night can actually mess up our body’s natural sleep/wake cycle, researchers say. Brain swelling tied to malaria deaths? When children die from a severe form of malaria, swelling of the brain is often what kills them, a new study finds. This insight will not change medical practice immediately, but it may lead to improved treatments, researchers said. Body posture may affect kids' learning Body posture is critical in the early stages of acquiring new knowledge, affecting memory and learning, a new study suggests. The study by Indiana University Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ offers a new approach to studying the way “objects of cognition,” such as words or memories of physical objects, are tied to the position of the body. More Science News»

		Sports
		All-round India outclass Bangladesh to book semis berth India outclassed Bangladesh in their ICC World Cup quarterfinal encounter by 109 runs in Melbourne to join South Africa in the semifinals on Thursday. Suspension, fine for Mortaza after team's exit from World Cup Captain Mashrafe's woes after Bangladesh's exit from World Cup were compounded by a suspension and fine for his team's slow over-rate against India. World Cup: Dhoni records 100th ODI win as Indian skipper MS Dhoni achieved the milestone of recording 100 ODI wins as captain after leading India to a big win against Bangladesh in the World Cup quarters. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Facebook sued for sexual harassment, racial discrimination A former Facebook employee is suing the social media giant for sex discrimination, sex harassment, race discrimination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Google chairman urges US govt to increase H-1B visas The executive chairman at Google urged Congress to increase the number of high-skilled work visas made available to foreigners. 7 simple solutions to your daily tech problems As the amount of tech in our homes increases, so does the complexity. More Technology News»

		Education
		CBSE calls principals to discuss 'tough' maths paper Amidst more complaints coming in over the "difficulty level" of Class XII mathematics examination conducted on Wednesday, CBSE has called select school principals for a meeting to discuss the matter. 4,000 careers hang on AICTE nod for BTech courses The four-year undergraduate programme isn't over for about 4,000 students.They had signed up when DU renamed its undergraduate courses in applied sciences 'BTech' from the humble 'BSc', in 2013. FYUP canned, VC on course for sack After a turbulent four years at the helm, Dinesh Singh could become the first Delhi University vice-chancellor to be sacked. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Fadnavis receives post-cards from 'sisters' in Mumbai to draw attention towards hygiene related problems Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has received 50,000 post-cards from "sisters" in Mumbai hoping to draw their '"elder brother's" attention to the immense problems they face due to a lack of clean, hygienic toilets in the city. Uniform policy for illegal, old buildings A uniform policy for regularising and redeveloping illegal, old and dilapidated buildings, will be submitted to the government by the end of this month. The government will then decide on the recommendations within a month, said CM Devendra Fadnavis Thursday. Duo cons Mhada home buyers of 3cr, arrested Two businessmen have been arrested for allegedly cheating several people of at least Rs 3 crore by promising them flats at discounted rates under the chief minister’s quota for minorities. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Activists want special task force to secure child rights under AAP's Delhi Dialogue Commission Seeking a special task force on issues related to children under the AAP led Delhi Government’s "think tank" the Delhi Dialogue Commission, voluntary organizations working for child rights express concern over growing violence against children and how they remain on the fringes of policy planning and implementation. There are 21 task forces on a range of subjects under the DDC but children don’t figure on the list so far. Officials in district panels, make a joke of consumer rights Beyond the high decibel campaigns on consumer rights, the reality of forums meant to protect their rights is alarming, if not outrightly shocking. 53-year-old woman run over by truck A 53-year-old woman was run over by a container truck on MB Road in southeast Delhi’s Pul Prahladpur area on Thursday. The vehicle has been compounded but the errant driver is on the run. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Ping-pong battle continues over Kannada The government brought in the lan guage policy in 1994, to introduce Kannada as the medium of instruction from classes 1 to 5 in all government schools. Each varsity to have 200 affiliated colleges Apart from the existing Bangalore University, two new universities will be established in two different zones of the city. Cabinet approves three-way split of BBMP, Bengaluru varsity After mulling over it for years, the Karnataka government on Thursday finally decided to split the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore University. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		'Special status for AP still under consideration' Unable to face the heat from NDA partner Telugu Desam Party and the opposition Congress over denying special status to Andhra Pradesh, BJP’s Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu claimed on Thursday that the issue of special status is still under consideration of the Centre. Bedlam continues in AP House Capping a day of high drama, the YSR Congress on Thursday moved a no-confidence motion against AP assembly speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao after eight of its legislators were suspended from the House for three days during the discussion on the budget. Wakf Board special officer 'banned' over funds row In what is snowballing into a controversy a day before Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Reddy is scheduled to visit Jamia Nizamia, the senior management has barred AP State Wakf Board (APSWB) special officer (SO) MJ Akbar’s entry into the 150-year-old institution. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Crusaders go the extra mile after 80 Defying age at 80 and 90, these crusaders are going the extra mile despite suffering ailments. Unregulated by govt and aided by some doctors, they fleece patients with impunity When asked to undergo an MRI scan for recurring headaches, Savitha, 28, went to a private lab in Royapettah, which her neurologist recommended. Who'll cure these diagnostic labs? Scans and other diagnostic tests are becoming prohibitively expensive because almost 85% of the equipment used is imported. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Admit poor under RTE or face action, pvt schools told Gujarat high court on Thursday took a serious note of private schools denying admission to poor children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Rs 500cr cricket betting racket busted in Vadodara When India was playing Bangladesh in the crucial quarter final match at Melbourne on Thursday, the Ahmedabad zonal unit of Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a search operation in Vadodara and unearthed an international cricket betting racket worth more than Rs 500 crore. Diamond roughs theft cracked, 3 held Cracking the sensational rough diamonds theft from Shree Ramkrishna Export (SRK), city police arrested three persons, including the main accused Sagar Kapuriya, and recovered the booty worth Rs 2.07 crore. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Allahabad's Ansari chases high school dream at 6 When 65-year-old Akhtar Ansari entered the classroom at Nara School Examination Centre in Kaushambi, the examinees present mistook him for an examiner. Dist lawyers to collect Rs 1 cr for killed lawyer's family The District Court Bar Association will collect Rs 1 crore to help family members of lawyer Nabi Ahmad who was allegedly killed by sub-inspector Shailendra Singh on court premise. Automatic weather station to come up at MNNIT Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) – the lone NIT of the state – will soon get a state-of-the-art remote automatic weather station on its campus. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		12-hour bandh paralyzes life Opposing the corporation status to Rourkela, tribals on Wednesday blocked traffic at several places in the city during the 12-hour bandh.The protestors, however, made no attempt to stall train services. No Nabajouban darshan this year Devotees will not be allowed to see the deities in the Jagannath Temple during Nabajouban Darshan this year. 3.70 cr to protect Puri sweet water zone The state government sanctioned Rs 3.70 crore to build a fence around government land in the 316-acre sweet water zone at Chakratirtha Road in Puri.The fence will check encroachment and pollution. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bhopal royals with Pak passport struck 'illegal' deals After 'vesting control' over some 40 personal properties of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, the Madhya Pradesh government is now tracking deals and declarations made by erstwhile royal family members who migrated to Pakistan. Lovelorn youth, girl end life by throwing themselves before train A youth and a girl he was in love with ended life by throwing themselves before moving train on Tuesday night. Govt, opposition console hail-hit farmers From state capital to New Delhi and from ruling-BJP to Congress-opposition, Madhya Pradesh political leaders were each trying to do their bit to assure hailstorm affected farmers that all was not lost. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		AAP terms Punjab budget directionless HS Phoolka a senior lawyer and spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) labeled the Punjab Budget 2015-16 presented in the Punjab Assembly as very disappointing. Former takht jathedar Nandgarh seeks his appointment letter from SGPC A close associate of former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh arrived at Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) office seeking a copy of Jathedar’s appointment letter or resolution passed by SGPC’s executive body through which he was appointed Jathedar of Takht in January 2003. Punjab Congress to protest against alleged dilution of land acquisition legislation by Centre Punjab Congress will gherao the state assembly on March 24 to protest against the alleged dilution of the land acquisition legislation by the Centre. More Chandigarh News»

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