News Digest: Geelani faction hands over 'confidential' letter for Sharif to Pak envoy

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, September 03, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Geelani faction hands over 'confidential' letter for Sharif to Pak envoy A three-member Hurriyat delegation from the hardline Syed Geelani faction met the Pakistan high commissioner, Abdul Basit, Tuesday. The delegation also handed over a letter from Geelani to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. Money trail in VVIP chopper scam takes ED to UK, Switzerland The Enforcement Directorate’s money trail in the alleged AgustaWestland VVIP chopper bribery case has moved to Switzerland. Oz minister: South China sea militarization a worry Visiting Australian defence minister Kevin Andrews on Wednesday said India’s role was critical in the stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the wider global order, even as he obliquely attacked China’s “intimidation and aggression” in the contentious South China Sea. More India News»

		Business
		TV ad spends increase by 21% in Jan-June 2015 "Such a growth rate is unprecedented and has not been achieved in the last five years," says Sam Balsara, chairman and MD of Madison World. Audi gears up for fresh investment in India German auto major Audi is set to pump in fresh investment and enhance its manufacturing set-up in India as the company eyes sales of over 50,000 cars by 2020. Singapore's GIC invests 2k cr in 2 DLF projects Singapore's sovereign wealth funds GIC and DLF Home Developers, a subsidiary of India's largest real estate developer DLF, entered into a joint venture to invest in two upcoming projects in Delhi's Moti Nagar. More Business News»

		Environment
		Doon to have world's first centre for conservation of natural heritage India on Wednesday signed an agreement with the Unesco to establish the world’s first centre for the conservation of ‘natural’ World Heritage sites at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. PCMC appreciates waste pickers contribution to solid waste mgmt Over 400 waste pickers, all members of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) received their identity cards from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Bhitarkanika a congenial habitat for sparrows The picturesque wetland and meadows of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district has emerged as a congenial habitat for house sparrows. More Environment News»

		World
		China to flex military muscle in WWII parade A huge military parade rolls through Tiananmen Square on Thursday as Beijing commemorates the 70th anniversary of Japan's WWII defeat, but major Western leaders are staying away from the show of strength. Russia rejects French proposal to limit UN veto Russia on Wednesday dismissed as "populist" a French proposal to limit the use of the veto at the UN Security Council and said it would oppose it. Obama secures Senate support for Iran N-deal Much after the world – barring hardline elements in Israel and US – applauded his outreach to Iran through a nuclear deal, President Barack Obama clinched adequate support for it in the Senate to prevent Republicans and other domestic opponents from derailing it. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Rani will deliver in South Mumbai hospital It is confirmed that Rani Mukerji is pregnant with her first child. Close family members, like her sister-in-law Jyothi Mukerji have reportedly confirmed the news to the media. Real murder cases make for compelling films The Sheena Bora murder mystery throws up shocking new developments with each passing day. Priyanka Chopra's interesting Instagram pics More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Robotic suit helps paralytic man move In a first, a robotic exoskeleton device has enab ed a 39-year-old former athlete, who had been completely para ysed for four years, to control his leg muscles and take thousands of steps, scientists in thUnited States said. Emails more romantic than a phone call: Study Emails are more likely to get you a date than a text, voicemail or a phone call, a new study suggests, contradicting previous research. Found: Oldest leukaemia case in 7000-year-old skeleton Scientists have discovered what may be the oldest known case of leukaemia in an approximately 7,000-yearold skeleton of a woman from a Neolithic graveyard in Germany. More Science News»

		Sports
		Young India cricketers not bad players of spin: Dravid Ranagana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal made life tough for the Indian batsmen in the recently concluded series, which India won 2-1. Ishant's behaviour pathetic display of aggression: Bedi Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi has said Test skipper Virat Kohli needs to control his own belligerence and be a role model for his players. India report card: Ashwin, Mishra carry India TOI Sports runs the rule over India's squad across the 2-1 series win. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Here's what you can earn working at Facebook Using data from Glassdoor, we compiled a list of the highest salaries you can earn while working at Facebook, ranked from highest to lowest. Google's new logo: All you need to know The internet numero uno has unveiled a new logo just weeks after a surprise reorganization under a newly-formed parent company called Alphabet. PM Modi to meet Google's Pichai, Adobe's Narayen Modi will meet with some of the Valley's top CEOs, many of them of Indian origin, including Google's Sundar Pichai, Adobe System's Shantanu Narayen, and Sandisk's Sanjay Mehrotra. More Technology News»

		Education
		ISI to set up campus in Tezpur, Assam Plan is to carry out local research Kerala mulls setting up private universities Chief minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday that the government will discuss whether it should set up private universities in Kerala. Kejriwal exhorts students to 'clean up' DU politics About 5,000 turned up for Aam Aadmi Party's "DU Rocks" concert, organized, essentially, to support its student wing, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti's maiden effort at contesting the Delhi University Students' Union elections. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Is state govt willing to pay for Metro III land, asks HC The Bombay high court on Wednesday asked the Maharashtra government whether it was willing to deposit the compensation amount for around 101 acres of land in Kanjurmarg that the state needs for the Metro III project. Law student alleges sexual harassment by classmate A 23-year-old woman from a Chembur based law school has alleged that a male class mate had “forcibly hugged her and pulled her hair”. Sadan case: ED attaches 17cr assets of Bhujbal 'aide' The attached properties include five flats in Mumbai, a farmhouse on the outskirts of the city and several fixed deposits. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		4 MCD babus get 4 years' jail, first in CWG scam In the first conviction in a case related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, a trial court on Wednesday sentenced four officials of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to four years in jail, saying they had committed “serious offences”. 'Police can prevent illegal slaughter' Illegal transport of animals resulted in slaughtering of animals in Qasabpura area of the city, North Delhi Municipal Corporation told the high court Wednesday. Sisodia seeks report on CNG fitness scam probe Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has questioned the reported move to “sanction” filing of a chargesheet in connection with the alleged multi-crore CNG fitness scam. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Lokayukta may get reprieve The split verdict in the BBMP polls seems to have come as a blessing in disguise for Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao. Public transport comes to a grinding halt, but there's no stopping Bengaluru Wednesday's transport strike was strategically planned and executed. With public transport and autorickshaws certain to be off roads, transport hubs were expected to grind to a halt. Babus work, BBMP workers stay away State government offices recorded 90% attend ance on Wednesday, while BBMP offices saw a poor turnout of employees. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		'OGH belongs to people of the city' Govt’s Plan To Pull Down Heritage Structure Unacceptable, Say Activists Facing flak, KCR does a U-turn on cheap liquor Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday announced that the government has shelved plans to introduce cheap liquor in the state. Three die in bike mishap Three teenagers died after their two-wheeler crashed into a road median at Moula Ali in the wee hours of Thursday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Stalin as CM pick will spell doom: Alagiri Slamming recent survey that put DMK leader M K Stalin ahead of his father in the race for the chief minister’s post, DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s rebel son M K Alagiri on Wednesday said the party would not win if his younger brother was projected as CM candidate in the 2016 assembly polls. Every third child is bullied in school, shows study When R Karthika, a Class 10 student of a school in Kodungaiyur complained of bullying, virtually nobody took her seriously. On Monday, when her mother stepped out of the house, Karthika ended her life in a noose. Jaya TV staff held for leaking video of CM meeting Cho Police on Wednesday arrested a visual editor of Jaya TV for circulating a video clip that showed chief minister J Jayalalithaa meeting Tughlak editor Cho Ramaswamy in a private hospital on Greams Road. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat HC's 17-day delay rebuke comes 17 yrs later Gujarat high court recently rebuked the state government for delaying the filing of an appeal since it had lost trace of a file for 17 days. Five MLAs move high court against eco-tourism norms Five legislators from the constituencies around the Gir sanctuary have approached the Gujarat high court raising objections to the newly formed eco-tourism policy for the last abode of the Asiatic lions. No timeframe for vigilance depts probing graft plaints If you have been complaining to the vigilance departments of the state or even the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) regarding failure of officials to ensure quality civic services then you will surely hit a roadblock. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		No Tricolour in madrassas? UP gets HC notice The Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the UP government to file a reply (counter affidavit) in response to a PIL alleging that madrassas in the state do not hoist national flag on Independence Day and Republic Day. Teachers slam delay in PRAN allotment The teachers in secondary schools affiliated with UP Board have expressed resentment over the 'apathy' shown by the district inspector of school (DIoS) office in allotting permanent retirement account number (PRAN) to the teachers who have joined after April 1, 2005. Census-2011 throws up challenges for 'smart city' Sangam city, first among the 100 cities proposed to be made 'smart' by the Central government, is planning to go high-tech with 74.7% households using either firewood, crop residue or coal as fuel for cooking and 55.4% houses using kerosene as main source of lighting. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha to set up data centre at Infovalley-II For storage of crucial government data in a digital format, the state government on Wednesday announced to set up a data centre at Infovalley-II in the city. Danish businessman seeks action against Odisha spiritual leader As controversy surrounded several spiritual leaders in Odisha, a Danish citizen on Wednesday demanded action against another baba, identified as Swami Shankarananda Giri for having cheated him nearly Rs 2 crore. Fact-finding team of doctors blame lack of intensive care behind high infant deaths in Cuttack hospital Two days after a central team of experts led by additional secretary Arun K Panda pointed out glaring lapses at Sardar Vallabhbhai Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishu Bhawan), Cuttack, which witnessed 56 deaths in past two weeks, another joint fact-finding team of various professional medical bodies on Wednesday blamed token intensive care facilities behind the deaths. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Vyapam complainant chargesheeted Police have submitted a chargesheet against cyber expert and Vyapam scam complainant, Prashant Pandey for violation of IT Act, forgery and cheating, more than a year after his arrest from a hotel in Bhopal in connection with possession of call detail records (CDRs). Chouhan looks beyond caste, talks of equality Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shviraj Singh Chouhan is talking about equality, at a time when debate over caste-based reservations is raging across the country. No decision yet on discarding gown in BU convocation A committee formed four months ago to decide whether candidates will be wearing gowns on Barkatullah university’s convocation ceremony is yet take a final call on the issue. The delay has added to speculations that the varsity will not be able to organize the function on its scheduled date of September 18. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Haryana Advocate General gets cabinet rank The Haryana government has accorded the rank and status of a cabinet minister to Advocate General (AG) Haryana, Baldev Raj Mahajan. Farmers block national highway, Delhi - Amritsar, Jammu rail track Thousands of farmers, mainly sugarcane growers, have blocked National Highway 1 and Delhi – Amritsar, Jammu track at Jalandhar. On 128th b'day, youthful dream as gift When the birth anniversary celebrations of Le Corbusier kick off from October 6, visitors to Capitol Complex will be able to see a life-size model of Museum of Knowledge near Open Hand monument - the exact spot where the Swiss-French architect envisaged it to be. More Chandigarh News»

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