News Digest: India-Pakistan martime boundary may be a major drug transit route

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, April 23, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		India-Pakistan martime boundary may be a major drug transit route Several similarities exist between the seizure of over Rs 600 crore worth of heroin from Pakistani smugglers on Monday and the controversial sinking of a suspected Pakistani terror boat in January. Agra church attack: Cops detain 3 Agra police on Wednesday detained three men on suspicion that they were involved in vandalising St Mary’s Church at Pratappura in the cantonment area of the city on April 16. '26/11 accused have set up Karachi-style control room in jail' Pakistan-based terror group LeT's technology chief Zarrar Shah and his fellow militants continue to direct terrorist activity from behind bars under ISI's watch, setting up in jail a control room like the one in Karachi to oversee the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a report said. More India News»

		Business
		Capgemini likely to acquire $3.6bn Igate Europe’s biggest IT services company Capgemini is likely to acquire Nasdaq-listed Igate, multiple sources told TOI. GST Bill in Parliament in couple of days: FM Aiming for GST rollout by April 2016, the government will move the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament within a couple of days, even as compensation and revenue loss to manufacturing states lacked consensus at a meeting held on Wednesday. Facebook profit down but revenues, user base grow Facebook said Wednesday that profit in the first quarter plunged 20 percent from a year ago but revenues got a lift from robust growth in mobile advertising. More Business News»

		Environment
		MP tigress sets record of giving birth to 22 cubs With four cubs in its sixth litter, Collarwali – the tigress fondly called to by visitors to Pench Tiger Reserve because of her radio collar – has apparently set a record of giving birth to highest number of cubs in wild in Madhya Pradesh. India can show way to mitigate climate change: PM On the occasion of Earth Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India can show the way to the world in mitigating climate change as caring for the environment is an integral part of the country's ethos. Year on, China air cleaner: Study A Greenpeace East Asia analysis of air pollution levels in 360 Chinese cities has revealed that air quality in the coastal cities and Beijing has considerably improved in the last one year. The analysis is based on government data for the first quarter of 2015. More Environment News»

		World
		Yemen rebels demand end to all attacks as talks condition Yemeni rebels demanded a Saudi-led coalition completely end its attacks as a condition for UN-sponsored talks, as the alliance launched new air strikes today, a day after declaring its month-long campaign over. US House passes cyber-threat information bill The US House of representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would make it easier for private companies to share information about cyber security threats with the government without fear of lawsuits. Chile declares emergency as Calbuco volcano erupts Southern Chile's Calbuco volcano erupted on Wednesday for the first time in nearly half a century, spewing a giant funnel of ash high into the sky and prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Farhan- Priyanka's 'Dil Dhadakne Do' surprise After becoming showstoppers for fashion shows, many of our Bollywood stars today have started singing for themselves. 'Still not ready to play mother to a hero' Juhi Chawla talks about her love for Bollywood, new age actors and more in a chat with Ahmedabad Times Anushka Sharma took four hours to 'jazz it up' Anushka Sharma, who plays a jazz singer from the 60s in Bombay Velvet, had to put in a lot of time and effort to get the correct look. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		This atomic clock will be accurate for 15 billion years Physicists said on Tuesday they have fine-tuned an atomic clock to the point where it won't lose or gain a second in 15 billion years - longer than the universe has existed. Is forensic medicine on its deathbed in AP? Forensic medicine may be a highly interesting and challenging branch of medicine but new doctors in Andhra Pradesh seem reluctant to specialize in it. Lethal liver cancer can be spotted early Liver cancer is life-threatening because it is generally diagnosed in the later stages. Now, scientists have identified a diagnostic biomarker of the disease and a potential way to reverse the damage done. More Science News»

		Sports
		Ashish Nehra bowls Chennai to victory against Bangalore Ashish Nehra's best ever Twenty20 career figures of 4/10 bowled Chennai Super Kings to a 27-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL game. Sports ministry suspends Paralympic Committee of India The sports ministry on Wednesday suspended the Paralympic Committee of India with "immediate effect" for "poor management" of the 15th National Para Athletics Championships. Full blown revolt in Boxing India ahead of EC meet Indian boxing could be thrown into turmoil with speculation rife that the sport's governing body, Boxing India, is on the verge of disintegration. More Sports News»

		Technology
		8 best cameras of 2015 TIPA awards are only given to products which have been tested and reviewed by the magazines, and are voted on annually by TIPA members. Here are some of this year's winners: First impressions: Micromax Canvas Spark @ Rs 5K We’ve been using the Canvas Spark since the last few days and here are our first impressions of the phone… Rahul Gandhi, Ravi Shankar Prasad spar over net neutrality in LS "The Modi government is trying to carve out the net and hand it over to the corporates," Rahul Gandhi said. More Technology News»

		Education
		Now, UGC wants varsities to celebrate yoga day The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities under its jurisdiction to celebrate June 21 as Yoga day on campus as well as across all affiliated colleges. No NAAC stamp, many West Bengal colleges face deaffiliation At least 172 colleges in West Bengal may lose affiliation and fund support from UGC because they have never applied for NAAC certification, which will be mandatory from 2017. CM to hold first meeting with vice chancellors Chief minister Anandiben Patel will hold her first meeting of all the vice chancellors of the Gujarat to understand the issues related to the Universities in the state. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Recovery of bad loan crucial for success of Make in India: Shiv Sena The Shiv Sena has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch a special drive to recover outstanding loans to mobilize funds for the successful implementation of the Make-in-India mission. Vile Parle college shines at Nasa contest 5th time, bags awards For the fifth time, Vile Parle’s Mukesh Patel School of Technology, Management and Engineering, rocketed into the stars at Nasa’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge held in Huntsville Alabama on last Friday and Saturday as a team of its students walked away with two prizes. Rahul, Kejri bag Golden Ouch awards Subramanian Swamy and Rahul Gandhi, among others, received the Mumbai Press Club’s inaugural ‘Golden Ouch’ Awards. The awards are in 14 categories for the craziest moments in media. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Govt fighting to retain transferred bureaucrats Bureaucrats in East Delhi Municipal Corporation are likely to be reshuffled soon to steer the civic body out of its financial crisis. 360kg poppy straw seized, two held The son of a retired Army captain and his driver were arrested with 360 kilograms of poppy straw in his car while he was transporting it from a drug dealer in Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. FIR against woman cop for demanding bribe The Anti Corruption Branch of the Delhi government has registered an FIR against a woman inspector for allegedly demanding a bribe after it received a complaint on the anti-graft helpline 1031. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		After strike call, CET put off to May 12, 13 The Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) for professional undergraduate courses has been put off due to a strike called by the KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation and a coalition of central trade unions on April 30. BEML pops up in ore export scam The mining scam that haunted Karnataka and many of its politicians is back in the news. This time public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) appears to be involved. Engineering students shine on road, build solar-powered car Four years ago, 27 engineering students with a love for automobiles put their heads together and came up with the seemingly far-fetched idea of building a solar-powered car from scratch. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		TRS charm working wonders Marching from strength to strength ever since it romped home in Telangana state's maiden assembly elections in May 2014, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has stumped both the Telugu Desam and Congress with its operation `akarshan.' Birds face the heat as Kolleru goes dry With inflows from both Godavari and Krishna deltas dipping, the famed Kolleru lake is drying up.Feeling the heat this summer are none other than the winged wonders, which flock to the lake in large numbers during OctoberApril every year. Falling revenue fuels VAT war between Andhra Pradesh, Telangana After the tussle over interstate vehicle tax, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are set to lock horns over tax rates on petrol and diesel. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Training aims to bridge language gap R Saritha, a teacher of Olcott Memorial School in Besant Nagar, teaches theories of hard core economics to children of fishermen and daily wage workers who are students of class 11 and 12. Govt hikes DA by 6% The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday increased the dearness allowance of its employees and teachers by 6% with effect from April 1. Central team visits Erode district to check on proposed site for AIIMS project A central team to inspect the five proposed sites for setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Tamil Nadu visited Erode district on Wednesday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		A K Sharma made joint director in CBI Gujarat cadre IPS officer of 1987 batch, AK Sharma, has been appointed joint director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of five years. Rs 1,000 crore push for local infrastructure Chief minister Anandiben Patel subtly sounded the poll bugle on Wednesday, with an eye on the statewide municipal elections, scheduled in October. BMB races past Rs 7 crore in deposits in 18 months Few months back Sabarmati based Ramaben applied for a micro credit loan of Rs 20,000 in Bharatiya Mahila Bank’s (BMB) for setting up a shop to sell vegetables. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Free wi-fi facility at Civil Lines Bus Depot soon The Civil Lines Bus Depot of the city would become the first public place to be equipped with wi-fi services. Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, in collaboration with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has came out with the proposal to equip the depot for better internet connectivity. Traders to marry off daughters of ruined farmers Traders’ community will extend a helping hand to grief-stricken kin of farmers, who allegedly committed suicide after their crop was washed away in rain and hailstorm. V-SAT to rescue of seven police stations Seven police stations based in remote areas of the district are battling a different problem. Owing to lack of intranet connectivity, they are neither able to issue computer generated FIRs nor send details to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). This has also hampered maintenance of crime record at national level through Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS). More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Man gets 2 years' rigorous imprisonment for forging marksheet A court here on Wednesday sentenced Manoj Pradhan to two years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) for forging his graduation marksheet and certificates.The court slapped Rs 5,000 fine on him. Check dams to tide over water problem The Kandhamal administration has decided to construct check dams over springs and nullahs near residential schools functioning under the ST and SC welfare department to ensure water supply. No takers for Netaji light & sound show in Cuttack The light and sound show at Netaji Birthplace Museum here is waiting for audience. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Tigress 'Queen of Pench' delivers 4 cubs With four cubs in its sixth litter, Collarwali – the tigress fondly called by visitors to Pench Tiger Reserve because of her radio collar – has apparently set a record of giving birth to highest number of cubs in wild in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan lauds mass marriage functions, calls it Mahakumbh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has described mass marriage functions as Mahakumbh of social equality. He was addressing a mass marriage function at Garhakota in Sagar district on Wednesday. The function was held under guidance of panchayats and rural development minister Gopal Bhargava. Lado Abhiyan gets PM's award Prime Minister’s Excellence in Public Administration Award for 2013-14 has been conferred to MP’s Lado Abhiyan. Under the campaign 52,000 child marriages have been prevented through counselling from April 2014 to February 2015. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		AAP rebels in state gear up for 'Swaraj Samvad' Not caring about possible action by the party leadership, many senior leaders of Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana have prepared for initiating ‘Swaraj Samwad,’ a campaign launched by the Yogendra Yadav-Prashan Bhushan camp in the country. Farmers to get full MSP for low grade wheat Farmers will not suffer despite the Centre on Wednesday deciding to cut minimum support price (MSP) for damaged wheat as Punjab government came to their rescue by declaring to give them full MSP and bear the financial burden. Poster-making competition at Sec 25 school PGI's School of Public Health celebrated World Earth Day by organizing a poster-making competition at Government Model High School, Sector 25. More Chandigarh News»

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