News Digest: Efforts to resurrect Janata Parivar gather steam

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, March 28, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Efforts to resurrect Janata Parivar gather steam Efforts for the resurrection of the Janata Parivar by merging SP, JD(U), RJD, INLD and its other offshoots have been revived, with a “rumour” about RSS’s interest in Bihar CM Nitish Kumar acting as the trigger. Janata Parivar to oppose land bill, but not under Cong's leadership Days after opposition parties marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan under the leadership of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the Janata Parivar has decided to launch a separate agitation against the BJP government’s controversial land acquisition bill. TN parties stand together on dam row, adopt resolution in House On the eve of an opposition-sponsored state-wide bandh over the Cauvery dispute, political parties in Tamil Nadu came together on Friday to demand the Centre’s intervention to stop Karnataka from building two reservoirs across the river near Mekedatu. More India News»

		Business
		Vedanta slaps claims notice on govt London-listed Vedanta group of NRI metals-to-mining tycoon Anil Agarwal has slapped a ‘notice of claims’ against the government of India, challenging a Rs 20,497 crore tax claim against its Indian subsidiary, Cairn India, using retrospective law. Lenders woo cabbies of tech-backed taxis As tech-based taxi services like Ola, Uber and Taxiforsure pick up speed in India, banks and other lenders are targeting a growing army of driver-entrepreneurs with tailor-made financing options and flexible repayment schemes. Emcure's antibiotics recalled in US Two different types of antibiotic injections manufactured by India's Emcure Pharmaceuticals sold in the US by Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc are being recalled following concerns over quality control processes. More Business News»

		Environment
		Norway joins race of rich nations for a global climate deal Joining race of rich nations including Switzerland and European Union (EU) countries in submitting their respective ‘climate action plans’ well in time, Norway on Friday submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UNFCCC promising to cut at least 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030 compared to 1990 level. Four leopards die in Tripura zoo Four common leopards have died in Tripura's Sepahijala wildlife zoo and sanctuary since Monday due to Felina babesiosis, a tick-borne malaria-like illness, an official said here on Friday. India ready to impart training to conserve tigers: Javadekar India is ready to impart training and even donate tigers to other countries as part of efforts for the conservation of the endangered species, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Prakash Javadekar said today. More Environment News»

		World
		Amanda Knox acquitted of murder by Italy's top court Italy's top court on Friday annulled the conviction of American Amanda Knox for the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher and, in a surprise verdict, acquitted her of the charge. Time for Iran to make tough decisions in nuclear talks: US Negotiations between six world powers and Iran over its nuclear programme have been "tough and very serious" and the next few days will show whether Tehran is ready to make the necessary hard decisions, a senior US official said on Friday. Kamala Harris gets head start in California Senate race Kamala Harris is on track to become the first Senator of Indian origin – and the first black Senator from California – having gotten a head start by way of endorsements from key Democratic leaders and organisations. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Mohit about RGV: He is not bisexual Mohit Ahlawat, 32, was Ram Gopal Varma’s blue-eyed boy when he launched him in 'James' a few years back. Then hell broke loose in Mohit’s life and he went through a separation and got into drugs. Even though he comes from a wealthy background and his father owns a Bentley and Ferrari, he always wanted to make it on his own, just like his father had done. Rashami Desai and Nandish Sandhu in 'Nach Baliye' Rashami Desai and Nandish Sandhu will be part of Nach Baliye’s next season. India's defeat: B'wood rescues Anushka The knee-jerk reaction of trashing Anushka Sharma for India’s loss at the semis had a bigger and opposite reaction from those who jumped to her defence. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Patients looking for quick fixes, chemists & quacks spur antibiotics resistance Growing all-round abuse gets CMC Vellore started on a study Wearable device to help vision-impaired navigate Researchers have developed a new pocket-sized wearable device to keep vision-impaired people from colliding with high-level obstacles. Antarctic ice shelves rapidly thinning: Study The thickness of Antarctica's floating ice shelves has decreased by 18 per cent in certain areas over nearly two decades, warns a study that provides insights on how the ice sheet is responding to climate change. More Science News»

		Sports
		Mature fans accept end of India's World champion reign India's notoriously volatile fans showed rare maturity in accepting the end of their team's reign as world champions after semifinal defeat against Australia. Saina Nehwal storms into maiden India Open semifinal Saina Nehwal sailed past Hana Ramadhini to make her maiden semifinals at the India Open while H S Prannoy and RMV Gurusaidutt went down fighting. India vs Australia generates 24.5m interactions on Facebook Globally, 8.8 million people drove 24.5 million interactions around the match on Facebook. In India, 6 million people had 17 million interactions. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Infosys gives average pay hike of 6.5% Infosys has given an average salary increase of 6.5% to employees for the year starting April 1, like last year. Moto Turbo review: The costliest Motorola phone Moto Turbo is the perfect smartphone for you if you want a long-lasting battery and ultra-smooth performance and don't go into the details of the camera too much. Countries with world's fastest internet Curious which are the countries that offer highest internet speeds and where India stands? Here’s a look… More Technology News»

		Education
		Shivaji university focuses on better research facilities in its new budget The Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK) presented its budget for the upcoming academic year 2015-16 in the annual Senate meeting on Friday. The budget showed an expenditure of Rs 319.11 crore, compared to the Rs 314.73 crore deposits. Panjab University to introduce 'third gender' category Panjab University (PU) will soon introduce a column for transgenders (TG) under 'gender' category in all its application forms, academic testimonials and other relevant documents that are processed or issued by the university. Colleges, varsities must encourage research: Gadkari Emphasising on the importance of research, shipping minister Nitin Gadkari today said research is the only means to convert waste into wealth and it should be the top priority of education institutes. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		IITians' 2nd Mars rover a hit at fest Almost two years after completing the first Mars rover, Mars Society India, which is based at IIT-Bombay, has come up with a second hi-tech one. Partial relief for accused in Wadia deposition The sessions court has in a conditional order rejected a plea made by Kirti Ambani for an in-camera deposition by industrialist Nusli Wadia as a witness in a 25-year-old case of a murder attempt on his life. Cyber legal eagles to review IT sections Following the SC verdict scrapping section 66A of the Information Technology Act, cyber law advocates and activists will meet soon to review its other provisions. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Driving curbs in CR Park from next week With a surge in the number of vehicles in Greater Kailash-II and Chittaranjan Park over the past few months, Delhi Traffic Police has come up with a traffic circulation plan for the area. Cheque bounce case: Man jailed, asked to pay Rs 1.6 lakh damages A man was sentenced to two months in jail in a cheque bounce case by a city court, which noted that he had opportunity to pay but failed to do so. Mumbai don aide had 15 days to kill businessman Had it not been for swift police action, the owner of Relaxo Footwear would have been shot by the hired guns of Mumbai don Ejaz Lakdawala, sources have said. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Karnataka HC: How can headmaster work for Rs 13,600 per month? The Karnataka High Court on Friday asked the education secretary to appear before it on Monday to explain the rationale behind the fixation of school fees as well as the salaries and emoluments of teachers of private schools. An instrument for Lord Shiva Bringing the veena to the forefront is what inspired Pandit Salil Bhatt to create the Satvik Veena New voices raised in song Choral singing in Bangalore is going beyond chamber and gospel music to embrace different musical cultures More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Council poll debacle rattles Hyderabad TRS leaders After the TRS losing out to BJP-TDP combine in the MLC elections from Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar graduates constituency, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has come under pressure from his party cadre to lay down a fresh strategy for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls. Octopus pitches for UAV to handle terror attacks The Organization for Counter Terrorist Operations (Octopus) wants to procure an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to boost its capacity in effectively handling terror attacks in Telangana. ED attaches Rs 216cr worth plots of Ramky The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the Jaganmohan Reddy assets case, on Friday attached plots worth Rs 216 crore belonging to Ramky Pharma City India Ltd under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Students design device to alert gas leak Water purification using a banana peel, running a bike engine on hydrogen fuel, heavy metal extraction using prawn skin and a solar powered machine for farming– those were among the environment-friendly innovations by engineering students at the ‘innoWAH’ challenge of pan-IIT alumni leadership series (PALS) that kicked off on Friday. Rs 5-cr worth narcotic drug seized in Red Hills Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths on Thursday arrested four people and seized 50kg of narcotic drug amphetamine worth Rs 5 crore from a car near Red Hills. Couple travel miles with 'Poster Hatao' campaign For the last few weeks, retired Colonel Shivraj and his wife Laxmi have been travelling to Trichy, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, and Dindigul, talking to local people and tearing down posters that deface public walls. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		'BJP men damaged properties to make us scapegoats' Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Shankersinh Vaghela, on Friday said: "BJP men damaged the properties to make us the scapegoats.We condemn the move of registering a police complaint against us on Thursday. Pay damages, speaker tells Cong MLAs Speaker Ganpat Vasava on Friday directed that the damages will be recovered from Congress MLAs involved in vandalism in the assembly on Thursday.The speaker was acting on a motion moved by minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja. Rules flouted to give Abad land to private firm: Cong Shaktisinh Gohil, senior Congress MLA and the party's national spokesperson, alleged that there was a major financial scam by chief minister Anandiben Patel's Gujarat government. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		CCTVs, guards must for banks, ATMs, say cops The police pulled up the banks in the city for laxity in making adequate security arrangement at their premises. The cops have instructed the banks to install CCTV cameras sets in and around its premises within a month. 19 AU teachers bunk exam duty, show-caused Around 19 teachers of the Allahabad University, including national president of Samajwadi Mahila Sabha, have been show-caused for ‘bunking’ invigilation duty during the ongoing annual examination. Copycats hurl bombs on CMP college proctor A group of students in Chaudhary Mahadeo Prasad (CMP) Degree College on Thursday hurled crude bombs and bricks on college proctor's car for stopping use of unfair means in final examination. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Amit Shah to visit Odisha in May BJP president Amit Shah will visit Odisha again in May for strengthening party organization, a senior party leader said on Thursday. It would be Shah’s second visit to the state after taking over reins of the party. Free medicine service disrupted in Sishu Bhawan Patients at Sishu Bhawan here are left in the lurch as supply of free medicines to the state’s biggest government-run pediatric hospital has been stopped since Wednesday. Opposition nails govt in House, Patro outside it Opposition political parties on Thursday paralyzed the assembly for second consecutive day, demanding rollback of electricity tariff hike. Outside the assembly, former energy minister and BJD leader S N Patro embarrassed the government by endorsing the opposition’s view. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Fresh spell of relief: It could rain tomorrow City could witness a third spell of rain and thundershowers between March 29 and March 30. Officials of meteorological department, Bhopal circle, said moisture incursion from Arabian Sea and an upper air cyclonic circulation over south Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Gujarat would lead to showers. IIT aspirant raped, filmed & blackmailed A 17-year-old IIT aspirant was raped, filmed in the nude and blackmailed for months by owner of a hostel, where she resided. A case was registered in Govindpura police station on Friday. The accused is yet to be arrested. Wanted by FBI, cyber fugitive employed in state IT dept Shivraj Singh Dabi, who was declared a 'wanted' Indian-origin cyber fugitive by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a 2007 case, was clandestinely working as consultant in Madhya Pradesh government’s IT department. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Nobel Laureate's talk floors school pupils at PU campus Over 300 school students from the city and around received exposure of a unique kind at the Panjab University campus on Friday morning. Chandigarh's heritage items auctioned in US for Rs30 lakh The heritage items of the Chandigarh Administration and the Punjab and Haryana High Court were auctioned in USA on Thursday night for $48,750 (approximately Rs30 lakh). Mohali kids write to HC chief justice As the civic authorities failed to address the stray dog menace, five students of a private school in Mohali wrote to the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana high court highlighting their problems in using public parks on the account of increasing number of canines. More Chandigarh News»

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