News Digest: Goa govt beefs up minorities' plates

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, March 21, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Goa govt beefs up minorities' plates Far from joining the BJP governments of Maharashtra and Haryana in banning beef, Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told TOI on Friday that his government has taken adequate steps to import beef to mitigate any shortage. Celebrating India's sports heroes Few things can lift a nation and send its spirit soaring like a proud moment in sport. It can make old men erupt in joy like teenagers. It can make strangers embrace each other on the street. Such moments are freeze-framed in our feelgood memories. Centre promises facilities for Ayodhya pilgrims The Centre on Friday assured the Supreme Court that it would consider providing facilities for pilgrims who have to walk 4-km to reach the makeshift temple at Ayodhya without any basic amenities like drinking water and toilets. More India News»

		Business
		Bid prices of 800 MHz band top 900 MHz on 4G drive The 4G factor is spinning magic for spectrum in the 800MHz band - earlier dubbed as expensive by telecom operators - with bid prices surpassing the money offered for the coveted 900 MHz band in certain key circles such as Delhi and Mumbai. Pass on rate cut benefits: RBI deputy governor RBI deputy governor S S Mundra on Friday said that banks should move on interest rates as the central bank has already cut policy rates twice in quick succession. Natural resources now go the auction way A few years ago, it was difficult to expect natural resources to be auctioned. After all, each sector had its own concerns. More Business News»

		Environment
		Fresh air calls for polio-like drive As air pollution continues to choke city-dwellers across the country, including Delhiites, the central government appears to have sensed an urgency to deal with the chaotic situation on the ground. House sparrows flying away from cities Loss of nesting sites and absence of food, particularly insects, are leading to fast reduction in the number of house sparrows (passer domesticus), most commonly spotted bird, in cities and urban areas. 'Man-animal conflict can be predicted' Pioneering research led by a Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India Program scientist and three collaborators has established a reliable approach to predict when and where human–wildlife conflicts are likely to occur. More Environment News»

		World
		2-Car bombs kill 25 at Syrian Kurdish new year celebration Two car bombs killed at least 25 people and wounded 80 celebrating the new year festival of Nowruz in the mainly Kurdish city of Hassaka in northeastern Syria, state media said on Friday. UN commission blames Israel for plight of Palestinian women The UN Commission on the Status of Women approved a resolution Friday blaming Israel's ongoing illegal occupation of Palestinian territory for ''the grave situation of Palestinian women.'' US ambassador: Russian veto 'extremely disruptive' on Syria The US ambassador to the United Nations says Russia's vetoes against holding Syria's government accountable are ''extremely disruptive'' to the UN Security Council's ability to restore peace in the conflict, and have emboldened President Bashar Assad to do ''almost whatever he wants.'' More World News»

		Entertainment
		Preity Zinta to judge Nach Baliye? Preity Zinta has been approached to judge the upcoming season of dance show Nach Baliye, say sources. Rishi Kapoor did not want to marry Neetu Zeenat Aman's troubled marriage More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Key to better sex life: Sleep longer A new study could have a simple answer to enhancing your sex life — just get a good night’s sleep (if you are a woman at least). China rolls out world's first hydrogen-powered tramcar The world’s first hydrogen-powered tramcar has rolled off the assembly line in China’s eastern Shandong Province. Soon, a pill that boosts compassion Imagine a pill that makes you more compassionate and more likely to give spare change to someone less fortunate. More Science News»

		Sports
		Australia beat Pakistan to set up semifinal with India Steven Smith and Shane Watson scored fifty apiece to help Australia survive early scare and beat Pakistan by six wickets in the World Cup quarterfinal. We will have to bat better against India, says Clarke Australia set up World Cup semis clash against India but the skipper Michael Clarke said his players will have to bat better against the defending champions. BCCI asks Kamal to raise 'umpiring' issue at ICC meeting The BCCI asked ICC president Mustafa Kamal who criticised "poor umpiring" in India-B'desh World Cup quarterfinal, to raise issue before the world body. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Moto E (second-generation) review Though the camera is a downer, the second-generation Moto E overall is pretty good to use despite not too many changes. Review: Lamborghini 88 Tauri @ Rs 4.3 lakh The phone not only features premium materials and a unique design but also boasts top-end hardware specifications unlike most other luxury phones. Buying a TV? 11 things you must keep in mind A new TV is a pretty expensive purchase, along with being a long-term investment. More Technology News»

		Education
		Class XII exams: After tough maths paper, economics brings relief After a 'tough' mathematics exam, the Class XII economics paper came as a relief to the students on Friday.The paper was application-based and not a direct lift from textbooks. DUSU asks for ban on Khalsa college's 'anti-Hindu' play Student members of more than six theatre societies in DU have taken up religion as the topic this year. 'Bizarre campaigns and comments from fringe groups this year has been such that religion as an issue needs to to be addressed urgently,' students had told us earlier this year. No plan to teach Gita in BMC schools, says Maharastra education minister Vinod Tawde The Maharashtra government on Friday made it clear that there was no plan to teach Bhagwad Gita to municipal school students in Mumbai schools. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Women in private jobs doubled in 3 years in state Women constitute 31% of the state's total workforce of 59.3 lakh across both public and private sectors but they are more likely to be employed in private firms than in government sector, reveals the state's economic survey. Shops can now stay open 7 days a week With a view to generate employment and give businessmen more flexibility, the state government has allowed all retail shops, commercial establishments to remain open seven days a week, 365 days a year. GRP helpline gets 12K texts, many discuss family matters A Whatsapp-based security helpline started by the GRP for women commuters has logged over 12,400 messages since its inception less than two weeks ago. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Safety of women cops a concern The home ministry’s decision to reserve 33% of police jobs for women has got a mixed reaction. Yogendra Yadav, Bhushan score on PAC minutes too Conceding half-heartedly to demands of dissident leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, AAP on Friday made decisions of the March 17 political affairs committee public. Late-night joyride by minors ends in death of Class X girl A late-night joyride went horribly wrong for two minors in south Delhi when the 17-old-year boy at the wheel lost control of the speeding car and smashed into a tree, killing his 16-year-old friend and leaving him with serious head injuries early Friday morning. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Karnataka Govt pushed to a corner by protests, oppn onslaught After staving off widespread demands over the past three days to hand over the probe into the myste rious death of IAS officer DK Ravi to the Central Bureau of Inves tigation, Karnataka chief minister minister Siddaramaiah on Friday reportedly decided to hand over the case to the top probe agency following the Congress high command's intervention. Death of an officer - Selective leaks and delays may be botching up investigation Five days after the death of IAS offi cer DK Ravi, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday said the investigation into the case is still in a preliminary stage. Headmistress loses Rs 1.5 lakh to conmen in Bengaluru Two persons diverted the attention of a government school headmistress and robbed her of Rs 1.5 lakh which she had drawn from a bank in Chamarajpet, west Bengaluru, on Friday. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Telangana sentiments run high in T'wood's meet with mantri Telugu film industry's maiden meeting post division of the state with cinematography minister T Srinivas Yadav on Friday witnessed many speakers whipping up Telangana sentiments, demanding that those belonging to the new state should get encouragement from the government. Female genital tuberculosis on the rise In what could be a new cause for concern, female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is fast emerging as a major health issue that affects fertility levels in women. Naidu vows to complete Pattiseema in one year Even though the YSR Congress party boycotted the AP assembly on Friday , the agenda set by the opposition dominated the proceedings of the House. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Old TN netas set gold standards in politics Age for them is a number, not a limitation. At 80 and 90, these Tamil Nadu politicians, bent on going the extra mile, defy ailments, confinement to wheelchairs and take to the streets campaigning vigorously against corruption and on other national issues. Usury victim gets bail after 24 days A victim of usury, who fought a strongman in the trade and got him booked under Goondas Act, landed in jail after the loan shark with another person lodged a complaint against him. Technical snags persist, three power units trip Many parts of the state suffered a black out on Friday morning after the grid suffered a 1,700MW drop in power supply. Two units of North Chennai thermal power plant and Vallur third unit went out of operation. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		International cricket betting racket worth Rs 4,000 crore? The international cricket betting racket unearthed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday has swelled to over Rs 4,000 crore. Gujarat cops hunt down gangster Goswami from UP Vishal Goswami, extortionist and gangster accused in 12 murder cases across five states, was arrested by Gujarat police on Friday from Mathura-Naroli highway in Uttar Pradesh. Rs 9,000 crore hole in KG basin but no trace of gas The state government has spent Rs 9,608.69 crore over the past six years on exploration for gas in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin in Andhra Pradesh but it has no idea when commercial production will begin. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Allahabad:New technique to consume less wood for cremation Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) plans to cut down the use of wood for the last rites for making the cremation ghats eco-friendly. AU moves ahead to make campus WiFi enabled Students and faculty of the Allahabad University would soon be able to use the facility of WiFi as MHRD, which would bear 75% of the cost for the facility, has given the work to ERNET which has in turn asked the varsity authorities to furnish several details needed to install the facility on the campus. 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. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Re-checking of last year's Plus II answer sheets incomplete The re-checking of Plus II answersheets for the examinations conducted in 2014 is yet to be completed even though the examinations for 2015 are nearing completion. Primary edu in mother tongue: RSS The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Odisha unit, on Thursday said it is planning to add more members through 'Join RSS programme' to strengthen the organization in the state Plus II to come under school education The state government has decided to remove Plus II from the higher education department and bring it under the school and mass education department. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		MDG: Gender inequality, child deaths pull state back Madhya Pradesh not only lags behind in poverty and education indicators, but also fails miserably in promoting gender equality and curbing child deaths. FM Malaiyya & wife robbed of cash, jewellery on running train to Delhi Bhopal/ Finance minister Jayant Malaiyya and his wife, Sudha, a former BJP national secretary, were robbed by four armed miscreants while travelling from Jabalpur to New Delhi in AC first coach of Shriram Express. EC rejects Narottam Mishra petition in paid news case Election Commission of India (EC) rejected state health minister Narottam Mishra's petition in which he requesting the EC to stay hearing in a case against him over alleged use of paid news during assembly elections of 2008. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab hikes CM, MLA salaries The SAD-BJP government in Punjab hiked the basic salaries of the chief minister, ministers and the MLAs. 'Cool dudes' land in Burail jail In a significant development, a local court framed criminal charges against three members of the "Cool Dude" gang, including the kingpin, Rattan Labana on Friday. Parties blame student council president as strike continues Sticking by his allegations of a financial fraud in Panjab University (PU) hostels, the president of its students' council continued his hunger strike for the third day on Friday. More Chandigarh News»

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