News Digest: Now, BJP steps into Section 8 duel between AP and Telangana CMs

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, June 29, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Now, BJP steps into Section 8 duel between AP and Telangana CMs The BJP has finally stepped into the battle between the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the cash-for-vote and phone-tapping cases. ACB zeroes in on bribe money financiers in cash-for-vote case After preliminary analysis of call data records (CDR) of the accused, including jailed TDP MLA Revanth Reddy, in the cash-for-vote case, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials have identified certain people, mostly financiers, who might have arranged the Rs 50 lakh bribe paid to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson. CBI must probe cash-for-vote, Congress says The Congress party on Sunday demanded a CBI investigation into the cash-for-vote case and even threatened to file a public interest litigation (PIL) if the two warring governments failed to recommend a probe by the central agency. More India News»

		Business
		PE exits may create 2 new IT unicorns Private equity deal counters are buzzing at two of India's fast emerging IT companies, both being valued at around $1 billion each. Tata Sons caps group cos' brand fee at Rs 75cr Tata Sons, owner of the Tata brand and promoter of Tata companies, has capped the royalty payment from group entities using the Tata name at Rs 75 crore. Staff acquire VINCI's stake in infra co NAPC At a time when the world's largest construction company — VINCI of France — did not see potential in India and pressed the exit button, in a giant leap of faith, the employees of the company have stepped in to acquire the French company's stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based infrastructure company. More Business News»

		Environment
		Conservationists squirm as thousands of fish are stunned, killed in bizarre ancient ritual In a bizarre ritual which has evoked the ire of environmentalists, almost eight to ten thousand villagers of Jaunpur, almost 85 km from Dehradun, participated in the Maun mela on Sunday. Researchers develop eco-friendly oil spill solution Researchers, including those of Indian-origin, have developed an eco-friendly biodegradable green "herding" agent that can be used to clean up light crude oil spills on water. Panel on Yamuna suggests ban on use of fresh water A committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal has suggested that use of fresh water should be prohibited and made an offence in order to maintain the minimum environmental flow of Yamuna river. More Environment News»

		World
		County clerks can refuse gay couples: Texas attorney gen County clerks in Texas who object to gay marriage can refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite last week's landmark US supreme court ruling requiring states to allow same-sex marriage, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton said on Sunday. Solar Impulse plane departs Japan, headed for Hawaii A solar-powered plane attempting to circumnavigate the globe without fuel has taken off from Japan after an unscheduled, month-long stop. Five dead in suicide blast at Nigeria leprosy hospital At least five people have been killed and 10 wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a leprosy hospital on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, emergency services said on Sunday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		PIC: Kajol joins Ajay in London on a break Post the first schedule of their film shoot in Bulgaria, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol flew to London. Salman-Ash should never have broken up? Though they have moved on, we certainly think some celebs looked great with each other. When Arjun opened up about Sridevi It was in KJo's chat show that Arjun opened up about this aspect of his life. In a candid conversation, the actor said that his relationship with Sridevi would never be normal. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Plastic LEGO plans to go eco-friendly The LEGO Group is planning to replace its iconic plastic bricks with pieces made from sustainable and environment friendly materials. Artificial blood transfusion may be reality by '17 The world's first human trial of artificial blood grown in a lab from stem cells is set to take place in the UK by 2017. Will tweaked microbes make Mars Earth-like? US defence scientists are planning to use genetically engineered algae, bacteria and plants to radically transform the climate of Mars and terraform it into an Earth-like planet. More Science News»

		Sports
		HWL: India lose to Australia 2-6, finish 2nd in Pool A India crashed to their first defeat in the Hockey World League Semi-Final 2015 losing to Australia 2-6 in their final Pool A game at Antwerp, Belgium. ICC confirms receiving Lalit Modi's email in 2013 The ICC confirmed that it had received a letter from Lalit Modi in 2013 in which ex-IPL chief alleged that 3 players were bribed by a business tycoon. India likely to rest key players for Zimbabwe tour India are likely to field a second string team for the tour of Zimbabwe and senior players such as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni might be given a break. More Sports News»

		Technology
		5 tablets with unique features Some device makers are endowing their tablets with special features to stand out.We take a look at five unique tablets… Sony Xperia Z3+ first impressions Almost nine months after launching the Xperia Z3 in India, Sony is back with a new high-end smartphone. 8 cool smartphones coming to India soon Smartphone makers from China are making a beeline to India, heading to the market in droves More Technology News»

		Education
		`It fulfilled all expectations' VIDHI LOHIA BA (hons) economics (graduating this year) St Xavier's College, Mumbai. ​More UG seats After admitting PhD students for more than a hundred years, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, opened its doors to 83 enrolees for a four-year undergraduate programme in science in 2011. What do employers want? Fresh graduates should be able to think beyond their core discipline and possess people skills, say experts More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Morning peak hour services may be affected on WR The morning peak hour train services may be affected on Western Railway as the restoration work for getting the affected coach back on tracks and clearing platform number 3 at Chuchgate was still going on, sources said. Pawar stumps Uddhav at MCA polls For Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, it was a huge disappointment when his nominee Vijay Patil, son of education baron and former Bihar governor DY Patil, lost the crucial Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections to NCP founder president and former agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. Malwani tragedy: Widowed mom of six had sought solace in hooch The Jadhav sisters haven't spoken much since they lost their mother in the Malwani hooch tragedy two weeks ago. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		11kg gold seized at IGI replaced with yellow metal Officials were in for a surprise when 11kg of gold seized from passengers, who had tried to smuggle it through Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in five different incidents, were found to be metal pieces when the packets were opened before a departmental committee for disposal. 17-year-old kidnapped, gang-raped A 17-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by a man, whom she befriended on Facebook, and his accomplices. Convicts to learn farming In a new initiative by Tihar Jail authorities, life convicts with good conduct in the past 12 years will be shifted to a semi-open jail. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Rainbows fine, what of clouded minds? "I'm coming out. I want to be honest." Good marks, but little progress Students are setting new records for the highest marks in board or competitive exams every year. By invitation: The grand old alumna from Bengaluru had many firsts While at school she was a mathematics wizard and a painter. At IISc, where she did her MSc and PhD in the 1930s, she was a tennis champion and bridge player. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Nearly 50% voters to be struck off rolls in Hyderabad district This is happening in our Hyderabad. Believe it or not, the electoral registration officers (EROs) under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have marked out the names of 18.30 lakh voters for deletion from the electoral rolls in Hyderabad district on the ground that they have shifted residence or their houses were found locked. Spirituality, fitness go hand in hand for youth during Ramzan in Hyderabad Ramzan may well be a month of fasting or even feasting. A big, fat Iftar get-together in Hyderabad A big, fat Iftar get-together in Hyderabad More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Chennai goes on metro map, Jaya to launch service today Come Monday, Chennai will have one more attraction to flaunt — the metro rail. Drunk cop gropes woman, crowd blocks traffic on Arcot Road A drunk special sub-inspector of police created a furore by groping a woman pedestrian on Arcot Road near Kodambakkam on Saturday night, following which her colleagues and passersby gathered in protest and blocked traffic on the busy thoroughfare. 'Gold-plated' idols new telesale con Telemarketing swindles may not be new but the city police have recorded a new version of the scam, receiving a complaint about a man tricked into buying a fake Dhan Lakshmi yantra, a gold-plated pendant or idol that is supposed to bring wealth and prosperity. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		GIFT's reservoir plan put on hold for now Planning a common 15-day water reserve for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad cities is proving to be a big challenge for the state Urban Development Department (UDD). Just recently Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), which had started issuing tenders for work on its own massive Samruddhi Sarovar, was put on hold. Ahmedabad passport office to get more officers The regional passport office in Ahmedabad is set to get more than 50 officers from central government which in turn is expected to increase the number of passports issued in the state by 10%-15% this year. Humidity saps Ahmedabad but no rain likely this month High humidity levels will continue to discomfort Amdavadis in the coming days and no rain is likely till early next month. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Space crunch at AU hostels a blessing in disguise for pvt lodges At a time when Allahabad University had started admitting students for academic session 2015-16, there could be hundreds of admission seekers from other cities, who may face accommodation crunch. AU scientists develop herbal oil for fungal infections High humidity has led to spurt in cases of fungal infection. The easy remedy to the problem comes in form of oil extracted from various herbs. Cattle hold roads hostage, commuters struggle for space Stray cattle continue to hold Sangam City to ransom. Herds occupy busy thoroughfares and footpaths making commuting a Herculean task. Garbage littered on roads provide fodder to these stray cattle and herds can be found around garbage bins. Allahabad Municipal Corporation’s cattle catching squad has failed to break the sway of these animals on roads. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Congress ups ante against Naveen in Nabakalebara mismanagement Buoyed by the overwhelming response it received during Friday’s statewide shutdown, Congress has constituted a seven-member fact-finding committee to examine the circumstances, leading to Nabakalebara mismanagement, particularly after the recent Brahma Paribartan (soul transfer) fiasco in Puri. Congress ups ante against Naveen in Nabakalebara mismanagement Buoyed by the overwhelming response it received during Friday’s statewide shutdown, Congress has constituted a seven-member fact-finding committee to examine the circumstances, leading to Nabakalebara mismanagement, particularly after the recent Brahma Paribartan (soul transfer) fiasco in Puri. Now, BJP readies for stir against Puri ritual lapse A day after the Congress organized a successful Odisha bandh over the Nabakalebara mess, the BJP on Saturday got down to preparing a blueprint for a weeklong agitation, touching all districts, on the issue. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		More than 500 trains cancelled till July 3 Due to fire at route relay interlocking (RRI) cabin at Itarsi recently, more than 500 express and passenger trains would remain cancelled from June 29 to July 3. Major fire beaks out in SBI in New Market, furniture burnt A major fire broke out in State Bank of India at ground floor of Panchanan building at New Market on Sunday evening, triggering tension in heart of the city. No homework in home minister's remission vow to 'yogic' convicts Madhya Pradesh minister of home and jail, Babulal Gaur, made a foot-in-mouth announcement on June 21, granting a month’s remission to prisoners practising yoga on International Yoga Day. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Many Satnams, few playgrounds Many of Punjab's sports heroes have come from its villages, but Indian- born NBA player Satnam Singh Bhamara's village still lacks adequate facilities for its residents. Punjab sends rescue team for stranded pilgrims in Uttarakhand The Punjab government has dispatched a high-level rescue team to oversee the evacuation of the pilgrims stranded at Hemkund Sahib, Uttarakhand, due to heavy rains and reported damage to bridges and roads. FB hacker booked The Chandigarh police on Saturday registered a case against an unknown person on the complaint of a woman that her Facebook account was hacked.Sources said the accused sent messages from the complainant's account. More Chandigarh News»

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