News Digest: Policy on child malnutrition uses old data

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, March 11, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Policy on child malnutrition uses old data Prime Minister Modi said child malnutrition would be tackled on a “mission mode“, his predecessor called it a national shame. Sonia, Modi in global most-admired list Sonia Gandhi and her party may have been drubbed by the BJP in the recent general election, but the Congress supremo is still most revered Indian woman across the world. On March 18, it will be Virbhadra Singh's 18th state budget On March 18, when chief minister Virbhadra Singh (80) presents the budget, he would create a record of presenting it for the 18th time. More India News»

		Business
		Spectrum bids drop to Rs 92,200 from 94k Spectrum sale bounty for the government surprisingly dipped a shade on Tuesday as telecom operators reduced their proposed exposure to the expensive but more efficient frequency of 900 MHz and trained their sights on the cheaper bands. Cairn Energy gets $1.6 billion tax demand Income Tax Department today slapped a Rs 10,247 crore (USD 1.6 billion) tax demand on Cairn Energy Plc, which termed the action as “very disappointing” and said it would contest the order. Reliance Infra announces open offer for Pipavav Defence Anil Ambani led Reliance Group firm Reliance Infrastructure on Tuesday announced the open offer to acquire up 26% stake in Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering from its shareholders at price of Rs 66 a share aggregating to Rs 1263 crore. More Business News»

		Environment
		Wild elephants wreaking havoc in Koraput villages Wild elephants have been wreaking havoc on human habitations and crops in three Koraput villages since Saturday night, Forest officials said today. Rs 82 lakh petrol used for patrolling in Gir forest The 309 bikes used for patrolling in Sasan Gir and adjoining forest areas have consumed fuel worth Rs 81.98 lakh in the last two years. Indian Skimmer finds new home in Satpura National Park Endangered Indian Skimmer, which is fighting for its survival, seems to have found a new home at Satpura National Park. Around seven birds of the endangered species were recently spotted along with big flock of River Terns near Pattan area of Madhai range. More Environment News»

		World
		University of Oklahoma students expelled over racist video The University of Oklahoma's president expelled two students Tuesday after he said they were identified as leaders of a racist chant captured on video during a fraternity event. Republican senators steal foreign policy powers from Obama At the best of times, the US Capital is a fractious city, with political power, including on certain foreign policy matters, delicately split between the White House and Congress. Private email broke no rules: Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday she should have used a government email account as U.S. secretary of state, though she said she violated no rules, in her first public remarks over a controversy that could cloud her expected bid for the White House. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Deepika Singh slaps Anas Rashid They play the lead characters Sooraj and Sandhya in television’s popular show, 'Diya Aur Baati Hum', but actors Anas Rashid and Deepika Singh have been at loggerheads for a while now Girish Kumar marries long-standing girlfriend Krsna Mangwani Girish Kumar marries long-standing girlfriend Krsna Mangwani quietly in front of close family and friends Tillotama Shome to marry Jaya Bachchan's sister's son? Tillotama Shome will soon be a part of the Bachchan household More Entertainment News»

		Science
		1st law of attraction: Gulp a glass of wine Consuming alcohol equivalent to about a glass of wine can make the drinker appear more attractive than when sober, according to new research. However, the effect disappears when more alcohol is consumed. Plugg-age: Here's welcoming the smart bag It wasn’t long ago that the main selling point of a piece of luggage was its durability — think American Tourister and its rather excitable gorilla. Drug testing on 'heart-on-a-chip' gets a step closer Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have created a ‘heart-on-a-chip’ loaded with human cardiac muscle cells that mimic the real organ to serve as a novel tool to screen medicines. More Science News»

		Sports
		India register record 9th successive World Cup victory Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma stitched a record 174-run opening stand to help India register an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Ireland in Hamilton. World Cup: Sunil Gavaskar says bowlers deserve all credit Former captain Sunil Gavaskar has credited the Indian team's bowlers for raising their game at the big stage after India thrashed Ireland by eight wickets. Ashwin knows his game, Shikhar prepared well, says Dhoni MS Dhoni, meanwhile, seemed unperturbed having surpassed Sourav Ganguly led Indian team's record of eight consecutive wins in World Cup. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple Watch to debut in April, priced $349-10,000 Apple on Monday took the wraps off its much-awaited smartwatch, while making key announcements on Macbook range and a health-focussed initiative called ResearchKit. Moto E second-generation launched in India: Hands-on We used Motorola's new low-cost smartphone at the event to bring to you the first impressions, and what we think about the model. Apple Watch: All you want to know As the Apple fans get ready to welcome the watch here's a ready reckoner on the Apple's newest device. More Technology News»

		Education
		Vocational subjects at UG level from next session in Odisha The government has decided to introduce 10 skill-based (vocational) subjects in undergraduate courses from the next academic year. Are PhD scholars harassed in state-run universities? The alleged rape attempt on a PhD scholar from Sambalpur University has brought to the fore various kinds of exploitation these scholars face. IIM-Udaipur may coordinate admissions of six proposed IIMs Ambiguity over admission procedure at six new proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) may get cleared soon. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Lane to be blocked for Metro-III work in SoBo Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) said it will go ahead with its plans to temporarily acquire 20-30% of Colaba Woods to undertake work for the underground station for the 32.5km Metro-III project. CM: Party offices to go; Metro-II contract off A contract with Reliance Infrastructure for the second Metro line (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd) has also been scrapped as there has been no progress in the project since 2009. Aarey Metro office attacked, 2 guards assaulted A political party’s supporters barged into the proposed Metro-III car shed premises at Aarey colony and assaulted security guards on Tuesday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Water-sharing can't be resolved so fast: Khattar A breakthrough in the water dispute with Haryana seems remote despite a proactive chief minister in Delhi. After Arvind Kejriwal wrote to the Haryana chief minister, suggesting he would travel to Chandigarh to discuss the water-sharing issue, the latter has sent a noncommittal response. Delhi misuses Munak water: Haryana to HC In a fresh twist to the tussle between Delhi and Haryana over water sharing, the neighbouring state has moved an application in Delhi high court accusing Delhi of wastage and misuse of water supplied through Munak canal. Qutub Minar shooting: He stopped by for a tea break Stopping over at a local tea stall en route work cost 31-year-old Sonu Sejwal his life. Accidentally killed in Monday’s shootout near Qutub Minar, he was the only support for his family. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Prabha's murder linked to earlier sexual assaults in Sydney park? Australian police are probing whether the murder of 41-year-old Prabha Arun Kumar, who was stabbed in a Sydney park on Saturday night, has any links with a series of sexual assaults in the area in November last. Governor Vala walks off as National Anthem is played In a major faux pas, Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala walked off the stage when the National Anthem was being played at the swearing-in of a Karnataka High Court judge at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Vintage photos give a peep into India's silver-tinged history Late photographer Sunil Janah shot India at its starkest best More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Cricket betting shifts to paan shops from star hotels in Hyderabad A man saunters to a paan shop and buys a pack of cigarettes. But there is much more than just cigarettes in the pack. Hidden inside are the details of the betting rates for the Tuesday’s World Cup match between India and Ireland. Chittorgarh Fort cracks under illegal mining in its vicinity In 2013, when six hill forts of Rajasthan got serial nomination on Unesco's World Heritage List, the state rejoiced. Two held for illegal possession of firearm Two persons were arrested for the possession of a country made pistol with four live rounds in the Shahalibanda police station limits on Monday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Writer Murugesan to relocate to Thanjavur under threat After author Perumal Murugan and his wife took refuge in Chennai leaving Namakkal in the wake of protests against his book 'Madhorubhagan', it's now the turn of another author, Puliyur Murugesan, to leave his hometown Karur and relocate to Thanjavur with his family. House painter kills girl over chatting with men online Police arrested a 22-year-old house painter on Monday for murdering his girlfriend last Saturday. IITians revisit forgotten narrative on Indian science If you have been watching the television since 1980s, you must have seen 'Bharat Ki Chhaap', a Doordarshan programme on the history of science and technology on Indian subcontinent. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Sacked gardener reinstated after 25 years Twenty-five years ago a forest gardener Ashok Rathod was dismissed from service just because he remained absent for four hours from duty! On Tuesday Rathod, a resident of Bapunagar reported back to duty at Antharsubha range office in Kheda, after fighting a protracted battle for justice in the high court and getting his job back. 44th National Police Science Congress begins The three-day National Police Science Congress would commence on Wednesday at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. Ahmedabad epicentre of H1N1 casualties in Gujarat Six more people died of swine flu, taking the death toll to 353 in the state since January 1 this year. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Pending dues: Teachers threaten to boycott evaluation work Teachers, who evaluated UP Board’s class X and XII answer-sheets in 2014, have decided to boycott the work this year if their pending dues were not cleared by the end of the ongoing board exams. Hindustani Academy's project hits fund crunch Fund crunch has put paid to Hindustani Academy’s ambitious plan of digitization of rare books in its library. The Academy had launched the project to facilitate research scholars, including young readers, from across the world and was hoping to revive its lost glory. CBSE directs schools to form anti-bullying committee In view of the increasing cases of physical and cyber-bullying of students, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directed all its affiliated schools to form an anti-bullying committee. It has also recommended strict actions, against anyone found bullying, ranging from a written warning to even rustication of the student. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Brakes on speed limit in Bhubaneswar soon To minimize accidents in the capital city, the state transport department has decided to restrict the speed limit on National Highway 5 and state roads. 'PPT-government land dispute resolved' The Paradip Port Trust (PPT), in a statement, said the prolonged land dispute between the state government and the port has been amicably settled. Bhubaneswar's airport parking lot operator axed Under fire for spurt in incidents of harassment of visitors at Biju Patnaik International Airport parking lot here, the airport management has decided to cancel the licence of the operator. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Pollution control board won't act, errant banquets make merry State pollution control board is yet to take action against errant marriage gardens as directed by National Green Tribunal (NGT). There are 98 marriage gardens which are running without proper authorisation and flouting environmental norms. Pollution board yet to act against errant banquets despite NGT order State pollution control board is yet to take action against errant marriage gardens as directed by National Green Tribunal (NGT). Nail-biting finish to BJP vs BJP fight at janpad Factional feud within ruling BJP came to fore on Monday during election of janpad president in Burhanpur when son of state BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan and brother of party MLA and former minister Archana Chitnis came face to face in support of respective candidates. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Revenue loss from civic lapses: CAG A CAG report of technical audit carried out from 2011 to 2013 has highlighted serious lapses on the part of Haryana's urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj departments. Police rescue minor boy, kidnapper arrested Police rescued the 14-year-old son of an architect in Gharounda from his kidnapper, who had abducted the boy from near his house on Monday night. Hukum Singh's death: Health minister wants PGIMS director, senior professor out Taking note of the "negligence" shown in the treatment of former Haryana chief minister Hukum Singh in PGIMS, Rohtak recently, health minister Anil Vij has recommended suspension of the director and a senior professor of the institute. More Chandigarh News»

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