News Digest: Exit policy mandates highway developers to plough back money in infra sector

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, August 27, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Exit policy mandates highway developers to plough back money in infra sector Highway developers, who divest their 100% equity in projects two years after their completion, will have to plough back the entire amount for completing any existing or new national highway work. Patidars' U-turn on quota bites the BJP Three decades ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party had adroitly exploited the passions against reservation of jobs for the socially backward castes by the then Congress government to gain a toehold in Gujarat politics. Hardik blames police for violence, urges followers to maintain peace The Prime Minister’s appeal for calm in Gujarat on Wednesday was followed by calls for peace from many spiritual leaders revered by the Patels. More India News»

		Business
		Desi startup valuations face scrutiny Weighed down by bubble talk as M-cap of listed peers in US, China falls ICICI offers home loans with guarantee Those who have not managed to buy a house until middle age can now get a long-term loan with ICICI Bank introducing a product for this segment. Dubai financial centre woos desi insurers Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) - which aims to be a global platform for financial institutions - is inviting Indian insurers to set up reinsurance office there and build south-south cooperation. More Business News»

		Environment
		CSE welcomes Delhi govt move to use recycled C&D waste A green body today welcomed the Delhi government's decision to mandate recycled products from construction and demolition (C&D) waste for its building projects in future and urged it to to announce a composite policy on such wastes for improved collection. J&K govt launches beautification, cleaning of Dal Lake The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has launched a beautification and cleaning drive of the Dal Lake shoreline to attract tourists to Kashmir valley. Project to make Queen of Hills clean and green West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today announced that 50,000 toilets would be built in the hill district. More Environment News»

		World
		Hacker for IS killed in US drone strike: Sources A British hacker who US and European officials said became a top cyber expert for Islamic State in Syria has been killed in a US drone strike, a US source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. TV shooting: White House seeks action on gun control The White House on Wednesday issued a rapid call for Congress to pass gun control laws, after two journalists were shot to death during a live television broadcast. Obama will raise cyber security concerns with China's Xi Obama will host Xi at the White House in September for a state visit. The United States has alleged Chinese hackers have stolen information from US computer servers. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Akshay Kumar's alleged love affairs Khiladi Akshay Kumar has had a colourful history as far as his love life is concerned. Starting from Pooja Batra to his wife Twinkle Khanna and Priyanka Chopra, the actor has had a series of alleged love affairs. 10 cliches used in Bollywood Varun holidays in Maldives with girlfriend Varun Dhawan has always told us that like his father and older brother Rohit, he will never marry an actress. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, solid-state batteries that can last forever New batteries could hold much more charge, last pretty much forever and not be liable to blowing up like existing technology, according to researchers. Black holes are a passage to another universe, says Stephen Hawking Humans could escape from black holes, rather than getting stuck in them, according to a new theory proposed by Stephen Hawking. Indian scientists discover Alzheimer's dark secrets In a major breakthrough, Indian scientists have managed to get a glimpse of the protein fragments known as amyloid beta, which hallmark Alzheimer's disease. More Science News»

		Sports
		Rahane not ideal long term No.3 batsman: Manjrekar The right-handed batsman played an impressive knock of 126 runs in the just concluded second Test against Sri Lanka. HC issues notice to govt, Sania on Khel Ratna issue Karnataka high court found substance in the claim of Para-athlete Girisha challenging the recommendation of Sania Mirza for the prestigious Khel Ratna award. Lalita finishes 8th in world 3000m steeplechase final Indian middle distance runner Lalita Babar gave an impressive performance to finish eighth in the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships on Wednesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		10 startups that may become billion-dollar firms So which startups are next to reach the Unicorn level? Why top executives are leaving startups A number of senior managers at India's top consumer internet companies are heading for the exit door, with many citing a mixture of low job satisfaction and poor work-life balance. WhatsApp for Android gets 5 new features Not only do you get more control over your messaging options with the new update, it also gives you more emojis and decreases the amount of data used in WhatsApp calls. More Technology News»

		Education
		'Allahabad HC order an opportunity to improve standard of education' Uttar Pradesh government today welcomed the Allahabad High Court order asking politicians, bureaucrats and judges to send their wards to primary schools run by the government and termed it as an opportunity to improve the standard of education. Higher education is our priority: Jharkhand CM The Jharkhand government on Wednesday said higher education is its priority and results can be expected in its development in five years' time. TCS donates $35 million to Carnegie Mellon Twice on either side of 1900, Jamsetji Tata traveled to the United States, looking for technologies that would put steel in India’s industrial frame. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Indrani killed daughter, not sister: Police The case involving the arrest of Indrani Mukerjea (43), the high-profile co-founder of a broadcast company, for the murder of Sheena Bora in 2012 took a bizarre twist on Wednesday as it emerged that the murder victim was not Indrani's sister but her own daughter. Panchgani & Mahabaleshwar get new, improved eco-shield Ten years after it sought objections and suggestions on the regional development plan for the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani eco-sensitive zone (MPESZ), the state government has finally approved it. Senior cabinet member says ACB's Balganga FIR is weak Even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday claimed that the anti-corruption bureau was moving in a right direction, a senior cabinet member observed that the first information report lodged by ACB in the Balganga irrigation project scam is very weak. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Dera Mandi: A pristine forest in city is a birdwatchers' paradise When someone suggests a trek in a south Delhi forest, one is most likely to think of Asola or Bhatti. However, when the vehicle veered off the known path and proceeded through broken roads and a farmhouse-lined avenue towards a totally new destination, the thrill of exploring a new part of the city took over. Dera Mandi forest, the lesser known cousin of Asola and Bhatti, does not lie very far from them and is probably not even as green. But it stands out because it is the only alluvial forest in the city, home to flora that cannot be found anywhere else in the Ridge or even in Delhi. More Metros on busy lines for off-peak hours in Delhi Your wait for a Metro during off-peak hours is likely to be cut short from August 31. Father-son duo ran fake taxi firm, duped 300 of Rs 6 crore A father-son duo running a fake radio taxi company that had duped more than 300 people of Rs six crore was arrested along with their business partner by the economic offences wing of the Delhi Police. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Govt move to recover 430 acres of industry land in Bengaluru flouts HC orders At a time when the government is under criticism for not being industry-friendly, it has come to light that the revenue department's May 2, 2015 action of handing over 711 acres of land in Kadugodi, Whitefield, to the forest department is against court orders. PM quizzes cops in video interaction In a first of its kind in the country, Modi interacted with three police stations, including the Cubbon Park one, through video-conference. Poll over, city left without power Bengalureans have begun feeling the pinch of power cuts, just a day after BBMP poll resutls. On Wednesday, several parts of the city went without power supply during peak hours. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Chain-snatching spree goes on in city Cocking a snook at the Cyberabad police, who are on the roads to prevent snatching offences, a lone biker snatched away 2.5-tola gold mangalsutra of a housewife, pillion riding on a bike, at Batasingaram on Wednesday afternoon. 2 more held in Big C robbery attempt case Task Force sleuths apprehended two more offenders involved in Big C armed robbery attempt and handed them over to the Jubilee Hills police on Wednesday. Two smugglers conceal gold in shoe cushions, nabbed at RGIA Customs sleuths arrested two smugglers who arrived from Dubai at the RGI Airport in the wee hours of Wednesday and seized 3.3 kilo gold worth Rs 80 lakh from their possession. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Dinesh Karthik sues sports car designer Cricketer Dinesh Karthik has moved a consumer forum in the city seeking compensation from automobile designer Dilip Chhabria for his failure to refund the booking amount for a sports car worth Rs 35 lakh. Man chops off wife's hand, city doctors fix it When 35-year-old Indupilli Rajeshwari and her husband had a tiff a week ago neither of them expected that he would get so angry that he would take a sickle and chop off her left hand at the wrist. Madras university suspends pol science classes It was a frenzied afternoon for students of Madras University on Wednesday after a circular issued by the university suspended classes indefinitely for the department of politics and public administration. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Quota stir hits business hard: Industry players estimate daily loss at over Rs 20,000 crore As Gujarat erupted, business came to a standstill. Industry as well as trading was hampered causing losses worth Rs 20,000 in a day , according to sources. Patidar warpath cuts through city: Ahmedabad witnesses widespread violence for second day Indian Army personnel carried out a flag march in four areas of the city as Ahmedabad simmered throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday. Over 10 cases were filed in various police stations for arson and rioting. Patidar community attack Gadh police station in Palanpur A mob consisting of 300-400 people from Patidar community attacked Gadh police station, 10 km from Palanpur. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC seeks reply on HESC chief's appointment The Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the state government as well as chairman of Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Service Commission (UPHESC) to file their respective replies (counter affidavits) within two weeks in response to a PIL challenging the appointment of UPHESC chairman Lal Behari Pandey on certain grounds. Docs back awareness, prevention to tackle dengue Dengue is slowly spreading its tentacles in the city with the number of positive cases touching 23 by Monday evening. Following the outbreak, even patients suffering from mild fever are queuing at diagnostic centres and hospitals to get their blood sample tested for the disease. Now, the doctors are advocating a mass awareness programme on preventive measures and risk factors. Dacoits kill couple in Soraon Around six masked and armed dacoits killed a couple at Malaq Har Har village in trans-Ganga area in Soraon during the wee hours of Tuesday. The seven-year-old son of the couple called villagers on Tuesday morning after the dacoits escaped. Senior police officials, including the SP (trans-Ganga) and forensic experts reached the spot and carried out investigations. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Naveen condemns the Maoist attack Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday condemned the Maoist attack on BSF jawans in Sarkubandha Reserve Forest area under Chitrakonda police limit in Malkangiri district. Smriti Irani to attend IIT Bhubaneswar convocation on September 12 Human resource development minister Smriti Irani will attend the fourth convocation of IIT Bhubaneswar scheduled on September 12, institute's director R V Rajakumar said on Wednesday. Govt denies Sarathi link, rejects CBI probe The state government on Monday denied any links between BJD and Sarathi Baba (Santosh Raul) while rejecting demands for a CBI probe into the controversy surrounding the self-styled godman. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		NGT asks 85 Bhopal builders to deposit 10% property value for dumping sewage in open As more than 90% housing projects in the city are dumping their sewage into the open without any treatment, National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed errant developers to cough up 10% of their developed property value as solvent security for flouting environmental norms. Crimes on trains: MP up in hall of infamy Train travel is not safe for passengers in Madhya Pradesh, so it seems from state's climb into hall of infamy, catapulting it among four states which registered highest incidence of railways crimes in country. Visually impaired collector's car hit by truck in Madhya Pradesh, assistant dead In a shocking incident, a truck rammed into the car in which visually impaired district collector of Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, KG Tiwari and his assistant were travelling. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Colleges toast their winners in style Independent candidates along with Students Organisation of India (SOI), INSO, Hindustan Students Association (HSA) and other parties swept the polls in colleges held under tight police security on Wednesday. Once again, the big departments have their say As the hands of the clock in the Panjab University (PU) Gymnasium Hall moved forward, representatives of student groups that were falling behind waited for the ballot boxes from the traditional departments to be opened - hoping that would turn the tables in their favour, or at least decrease the margin of their losses. Sound and light show set to return In an endeavor to pay tribute to the architect of the city, the UT administration will organize a series of events to commemorate 50th death anniversary of Le Corbusier. More Chandigarh News»

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