News Digest: Giving land to govt? Get more money

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, July 24, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Giving land to govt? Get more money In an effort to ensure that land is available for public projects in cities, urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake tabled a bill in the house on Thursday to increase the compensation to twice the market value of the total area notified for the purpose. Maharashtra seeks speedy implementation of fee waiver scheme in region The state government has asked the education departments and respective district administrations to expedite process for executing examination fee waiver scheme for students for the academic year 2014-15. Identity in crisis: Marriage? not for 'keeps' Despite a liberal law, courts have come down heavily on a woman living with a married man while absolving him of all responsibility. More India News»

		Business
		Draft seeks to remove RBI guv's veto power The government has proposed to have a dominant say in deciding how interest rates are set in the revised draft Indian Financial Code, which was unveiled on Thursday and also seeks to remove the proposed veto power of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor. Hyundai plans to invest 4.5k cr for new plant Nearly two decades after setting foot in India, Korean car major Hyundai has decided to pump in fresh investment of over Rs 4,500 crore for a new factory to boost its production capacity to over a million vehicles. Maruti to roll out 'YRA' from Nexa outlets After the S-Cross crossover, Maruti Suzuki will launch another premium compact car, codenamed YRA, through the company’s top-end retail outlets Nexa. More Business News»

		Environment
		Tree with 40 types of fruit entering harvest season As if plucked from the pages of a fantastical children's book, sixteen trees especially cultivated by an artist in the US will soon be heaving with forty different types of fruit as they enter their harvest season. Kiwi bird genome decodes growth of nocturnal animals In a first, the genetic code of the endangered Kiwi bird, identifying several sequence changes that give insights into the evolution of nocturnal animals has been discovered. El Nino has affected monsoon adversely: Government The El Nino has adversely affected the monsoon in the country so far and is expected to further affect the rainfall in coming months, government today said. More Environment News»

		World
		Critics of Iran deal spinning 'fantasy': Kerry US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday mounted a furious counterattack against critics of the Iran nuclear deal, telling skeptical lawmakers it would be fantasy to think the United States could simply "bomb away" Tehran's atomic know-how. Sharif to meet Obama in White House in October Barack Obama is inviting Pakistan beleaguered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the White House in October, raising the prospect of a second such visit in two years despite the US President reneging on his pledge to visit Pakistan during his second term. Obama to visit Kenya, his father's homeland, on Friday Barack Obama embarks on Friday on his first visit as President to his father’s homeland Kenya – wishing he were not the President. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Bang Bang had the best action scene of 2014 With its slick Hollywood-style action, Hrithik Roshan’s water sequence in Bang Bang was the clear winner in this category. Watch: Sonam Kapoor's workout session! Khoobsurat actress Sonam Kapoor likes to stay fit. When Tina Munim turned down Anil Ambani More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Drug companies eye 'superhuman' genes Steven Pete can put his hand on a hot stove or step on a piece of glass and not feel a thing, all because of a quirk in his genes. Peter Higgs gets world's oldest scientific prize Nobel prize winner Peter Higgs has joined the ranks of Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein by winning the world’s oldest scientific prize, the Royal Society’s Copley Medal, for his pioneering work on the theory of the Higgs boson, which was discovered in 2012. Soon, smart windows to control heat, light Researchers are developing new smart windows that could allow people to control the heat and sunlight entering their houses. More Science News»

		Sports
		We feel this is the best pace attack: Patil differs from Dhoni The selection committee chairman Sandeep Patil in a polite yet firm manner made it clear that his point of view on team's pace attack is different from MS Dhoni. Leggie Amit Mishra makes Test comeback after 4 years The national selection committee, headed by Sandeep Patil, announced the Indian squad for the three-Test series vs Sri Lanka starting August 12. Pragyan Ojha picks three, Australia A 185/4 at stumps Bowling with a rejigged action, Ojha finished the day with figures of 3/52 as he had at one stage reduced Australia A from 57/1 to 75/4 in a space of 23 deliveries. More Sports News»

		Technology
		5 new WhatsApp features you don't know about WhatsApp has just released a new update for Android smartphones that brings a bunch of new features for the popular app. Though the update has not been pushed to the Google Play Store, you can still download it from the company’s website and check out the new features. Micromax Yu Yureka Plus vs Lenovo K3 Note Apple grows faster in India than China India is proving to be quite a strong growth engine for Apple, the world’s most valuable company that sells the iPhone smartphones, iPad devices and Mac line of computers. More Technology News»

		Education
		Ragging norms to cover racial bias Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity or for being transgender and stalking will come for stricter punishment and will be part of the anti-ragging regulation in education institutions. Lucknow varsity's 15-yr-old prodigy to now pursue PhD She has secured the seventh rank in the University Research Entrance Test in environmental microbiology. Maharashtra government to withdraw circular allowing schools to cancel RTE quota for pre-primary classes Paving the way for smooth implementation of the Right To Education this year, the state government Thursday told the Bombay high court that it would withdraw a controversial rule and revive its earlier norm that set two levels of entry for admissions under RTE quota. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Mumbai man gets life term for killing son A sessions court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing his son over an alleged property dispute last year. Jahid Ansari, 50, attacked his son Mohsin Ansari, 24, with an iron rod, causing severe head injuries. 'State can't decide coaching class fees' Even as the state government talks of a law to regulate coaching classes, a similar attempt in 2000 failed after tutorials moved court and the Act was struck as being “too harsh”. Delay housing society elections if term ends in monsoon season Elections to your housing or credit cooperative societies is likely to get postponed if the tenure of the existing managing committees ends in the monsoon season or amid any natural calamity. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		NGT ire: Volunteers take load off transport department staff Lack of personnel has meant lax enforcement, and Delhi’s transport department is facing the ire of National Green Tribunal as it has only 166 members in its enforcement team. Kejriwal blinks, sends Maliwal file to Jung After courting major controversy over the appointment of Swati Maliwal as chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women without first getting the go-ahead from the lieutenant governor, the Delhi government on Thursday finally sent him the file saying it did not want “to make an issue of it” I've been locked out of office: Swati Maliwal A day after the lieutenant governor of Delhi declared the appointment of Delhi Commission for Women chairperson “ultra vires” and “infructuous”, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s appointee Swati Maliwal stayed away from office, claiming that her office had been locked, nameplates removed and her staff denied access. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Mandya youth's heart beats in Patna Busy B'luru stretch halts as 22-year-old brain-dead man's organ is transported for 63-year-old patient Fear of oppn backlash forces govt to defer Lokayukta bill The government didn't introduce the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015 aimed at diluting the powers of the Lokayukta and bringing the anti-corruption watchdog under its ambit. Court quashes bail granted to Reddy's aide The high court on Thursday quashed the bail granted by a city CBI court to Kenche Mahesh Kumar alias Karapudi Mahesh, an associate of former minister G Janardhana Reddy, and accused in the illegal mining case. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		`Egg'tremists on the rise! The streets of Hyderabad, post-midnight, are being taken over by a notorious, home bred `criminal syndicate'. Godavari brims with life Heavy rains in the catchment area for the last three days brought copious inflows into river Godavari forcing officials to deploy more number of divers and expert swimmers at bathing ghats in AP and Telangana for protection of pilgrims attending the Pushkaralu. No highly polluting industries in Amaravati The seed capital area of Amaravati will have no space for ‘red’ industries that fall under the highly-polluting category. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		It's been over a year, but CWC remains headless One chair, two names and no face. The web site of the state department of social defence shows two former members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) as the chairperson on different pages, even as the position continues to be vacant for over a year now. More teens held for serious crimes The incidence of juve niles being booked for heinous crimes, includ ing murder and rape, in Tamil Nadu is growing and the law enforcement agencies are concerned. Just one govt psychologist for juvenile homes in Tamil Nadu For around 1,000 juveniles in correctional facilities in the state, there is only one government-appointed psychologist. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		2 Gulbarg case accused seek narco-analysis Six years after the trial commenced and now when it is in its final stages, two persons accused in the 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre case have requested the special trial court to permit them to undergo narco-analysis so they can prove their innocence. 'Op Rakshak' to protect citizens in eastern part of city Finally, the city police has swung into action to crack down on the menace of gangs operating in eastern parts of the city, especially in areas like Khokhra, Odhav, Amraiwadi, Ramol, Naroda and Vatva. Did threat letter to women cops probing Asaram came from Meghaninagar? The alleged threat letter received by women cell police officials probing the Asaram and Narayan Sai rape cases is suspected to have been posted from Meghaninagar area of the city. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Taj city roads claimed most lives in state: NCRB Agra's streets have turned out to be one of the biggest killers among the KAVAL towns claiming almost 492 lives. 2 headless bodies found in Kachar Panic gripped Mubarakpur village and adjoining areas under Nawabganj police station on Tuesday following recovery of two beheaded bodies in Kachar area on bank of Ganga. Lack of coordination hits mid-day meal's milk plan Mid-Day Meal authority’s initiative to replace kheer with milk every Wednesday faced a major roadblock on the day of inception on July 15. Reports revealed that only 42% students received protein diet on the first day. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Sanctum sanctorum in bad shape: SJTA The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday said the sanctum sanctorum is not in a good shape. Zoo to exhibit melanistic tigers on Tuesday The Nandankanan Zoological Park will celebrate the first birthday of melanistic (black) tigers on July 28. Puri servitor allows devotee on chariot, suspended The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday suspended a servitor of Jagannath Temple and served show-cause notice to another for allegedly allowing a woman onto the chariot of Jagannath on July 20. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Chouhan begins heart-to heart public meeting to shed off Vyapam blot In order to plead his innocence in Vyapam maga scandal, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan resorted to public meetings, through his state-wide Sadbhavna yatra which began from Bhabhra, the birth place of martyr Chandrashekhar Azad, in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. Burglar willing to reform if wife agrees to live with him Day after a four-member gang of burglars, in possession of valuables worth Rs 50 lakh, was busted by Habibganj police, cops on Wednesday said prime accused, during interrogation, said he was ready to earn his livelihood from a pushcart if his wife agreed to live with him. 3 medicos nabbed for ragging junior Three students of People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre were arrested for allegedly assaulting a junior for months at institute’s hostel in a suspected case of ragging. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Suggestions for smart city: Mohali MC meets residents Mohali municipal corporation officials held a series of meetings with city residents on Thursday to know their opinion and seek suggestions on the smart city project. Muslim councillors protest against no holiday on Eid Two Muslim municipal councillors from Chandigarh municipal corporation, Shagufta Parveen and Jannat Jahan-ul-Haq, on Thursday met Vijay Dev, UT advisor to the administrator, to lodge their protest against non-declaration of holiday on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitre on July 18. Punjab eyes 2,000MW solar vault With over 5,000 acres of land offered by farmers and NRIs across the state, Punjab's solar energy generation has jumped from mere 9 mega watt (MW) in 2012 to 541MW at present. More Chandigarh News»

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