News Digest: Nagma made general secretary of Mahila Congress

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, October 07, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Nagma made general secretary of Mahila Congress Former actress and Congress member Nagma was on Tuesday appointed a general secretary of Mahila Congress as part of new office-bearers. Pravasi Bhartiya Divas now to be a biennial event Indian government's outreach to the diaspora in the form of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) conference will now be held biennially instead of every year, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj announced Tuesday. SC to hear plea of jailed French woman accused of playing a part in murder of Chilean senator A 56-year-old French woman Marie Emmanuelle Verhoeven, who is wanted by Chilean authorities for her alleged role in the murder of a senator and was arrested while entering India from Nepal, on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging her imprisonment. More India News»

		Business
		Mercedes looks to topple Audi from No. 1 in 2015 Mercedes Benz India has reported sales of more than 10,000 units in the first three quarters of this year — close to the number it sold in the whole of last year, and Roland S Folger, the company’s new MD & CEO, said it will snatch the leadership position from compatriot Audi at 2015-end. Adidas India's top sports goods maker German sportswear maker Adidas has emerged as the top sport goods maker and one of the largest international brands in the country by revenue, surpassing direct rivals such as Puma and Nike. ICICI raises spread, offers new home loans at 9.6% Following a 35-basis-point reduction in its base rate last week, ICICI Bank on Tuesday increased the spread on its home loans. The bank now offers home loans at 9.6% and 9.65% (100 bps = 1 percentage point). More Business News»

		Environment
		Gas 'fingerprinting' may reduce emissions Carbon dioxide emissions from energy generation, in particular coal burning, contribute to the increasing pace of global climate change. Sneezing monkey, 'walking' fish found in Himalayas WWF has compiled a survey of wildlife discovered by scientists across Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, north Myanmar and southern Tibet in a bid to raise awareness of the threats facing the ecologically sensitive region. Over 50 species of butterflies spotted in Arunachal Ziro Butterfly Meet has been started as a part of its initiative to create awareness among the local people about the rich biodiversity of the place and the need to conserve them. More Environment News»

		World
		Ireland to investigate data transfer after FB ruling Ireland said it planned to investigate the transfer of data from European Facebook users to the United States, after an EU court ruled on Tuesday that national supervisory bodies have the power to do so. EU says US data transfers 'can continue' despite FB ruling The EU on Tuesday insisted that Internet companies like Facebook can keep transferring personal information to the United States while authorities work out a replacement for a transatlantic deal struck down by the bloc's top court. 5 'terrorists' to be stripped of nationality: French min French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Tuesday he had requested that five "terrorists" be stripped of their nationality. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Mumbai stands up for freedom of expression Agnes of God, an original play by John Pielmeier based on a true story, has been earlier made into a Hollywood film and has been performed many times across the world including at the Broadway. Meghna: It is not the black-and-white case It was fitting that the team of Talvar, the film based on the Aarushi Talwar murder case, were in the city of the crime, so to speak, when they discussed what the case revealed about Nyodda (this was supposed to be the film’s title initially). The movie shows, among other things, a fundamental cultural divide between the UPwallahs investigating the case and the upper middle-class, urban family they were looking at, in this uneasy suburban mingling of gaon and sheher. Dance to the beats of Prem Leela this Navratri Salman Khan-Sonam Kapoor-starrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP) is all set to launch its first song, 'Prem Leela', today. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		UV light-enabled catheter to fix holes in heart without operation Researchers have designed a specialised catheter for fixing holes in the heart using a biodegradable adhesive and patch, eliminating the need for open heart surgery. 14 elephants killed by cyanide poisoning in Zimbabwe In Kariba, poachers laced oranges with cyanide, she said, while in Hwange the poison was put on salt licks. Takaaki Kajita, Arthur McDonald win Nobel in physics Japanese scientist Takaaki Kajita and Canadian physicist Arthur B McDonald have won the Nobel prize in Physics 2015 "for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass". More Science News»

		Sports
		T20s in the US will help globalise the game: Tendulkar Come November, 'Sachin's Blasters' will take on 'Warne's Warriors' in a three-match T20 series 'Cricket All-Stars Series 2015'. Gavaskar a commentator, cannot decide on venue: OCA "Gavaskar is not the authority to take a decision about venue of international cricket matches. He is just a commentator," OCA secretary Behera said. ISL: Kerala Blasters thrash NorthEast United 3-1 Kerala Blasters FC got their campaign off to a rollicking start, recording a convincing 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League match. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Android 6.0 Marshmallow arrives: 10 new features Here we take a look at 10 of the features you can look forward to with the next build of Android… Microsoft launches Lumia 950, 950XL, 550 smartphones Microsoft unveiled two phones, the Lumia 950 and 950XL, with prices starting at $549 and $649 respectively. Buying second-hand smartphones? 7 things to remember Thinking of buying a used smartphone because it's an awesome deal? Keep the following 7 tips in mind before you buy a second-hand smartphone to get the best deal... More Technology News»

		Education
		MCI proposes common entrance tests The Medical Council of India (MCI) on Monday sent recommendations for a unitary Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to MBBS, postgraduate and super-specialty medical courses to the central government. IITs waive fee for physically challenged The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) council has decided to waive fees for physically challenged students. Texting behind poor academic results in girls Teenage girls who compulsively text are more likely, than their male counterparts, do worse academically, scientists have found. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Christian outrage stumps activist in Mumbai The lone “activist” who has been demanding a ban on the play ‘Agnes of God’ backed down under a hailstorm of criticism on Tuesday. Indrani denies suicide bid, says similar health incident happened when she was 13 Indrani Mukerjea has told the jail authorities that she never attempted suicide in jail and that she had not overdosed on medicines. Dahanu turtles get ambulance A hi-tech Turtle Rescue Ambulance designed for marine creatures and other wildlife was donated to the Dahanu-based Wildlife Conservation & Animal Welfare Association by activist Fizzah Shah on Tuesday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Witness woman raped, forced to convert A woman was allegedly forced to convert her religion and raped by a youth who had promised to help fight her sister's murder case in Rohtak, which she had witnessed. She teaches dance for a fee to gift schools books At 17, Rina Yaita is too young to vote in either of the countries she’s citizen of—the United States and Japan—but considers herself too old for a professional career in ballet. Still, she’s putting her training to use at the American Embassy School which she attends. Yaita has been teaching dance and will, from October onwards, donate her income to local schools. The September paycheck is fetching 40 books to Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya (SBV), Qutub-Mehruali. 12-year-old girl injured after firing in Krishna Nagar Panic struck east Delhi’s Krishna Nagar area on late Monday night when four people, including a 12-year-old girl, were shot by a group of 7-8 miscreants. The incident took place around 11pm, when a brawl over payment of some food turned nasty. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Student misses exam due to traffic curbs for Modi Athira Gopu, a mass communication and journalism student at the Center of Management Studies, Jain University, thought it would make sense to leave her home early for an exam to be held on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in town. Expert committee seeks report on the tempo traveler rape case The Expert committee on preventing sexual violence against women and children has sought for a report on the Tempo Traveller rape case in Bengaluru. Karnataka govt fails to implement safety guidelines for women commuters The gruesome gang rape of Nirbhaya had prompted the Centre in 2013 to issue unprecedented safety precautions across the nation for women travelling by public transport, but the Karnataka government has failed to meet the February 2014 deadline set for it. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		SCPCR seeks report on corporal punishment The State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has directed district educational officer (DEO) of Hyderabad to enquire into alleged illegal practices at DMRS International Educational Institution in Bhojagutta and submit a report within two weeks. Women break the glass ceiling in law enforcement agencies A change is sweeping the law enforcement as it is no longer seen as a male dominated agency with several countries like Australia, South Africa, Estonia and Belgium having women officers outnumbering men. No takers for senior citizen homes? Not too long ago, a niche group of developers gave the real estate sector a fresh concept ­ Senior Citizen homes. Complete with centralized kitchens, house-keeping staff, doctorambulance-on-call services and sufficient green spaces, these communities were seen springing up one by one, especially on the outskirts of Hyderabad. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Adequate antenatal care reduces risk of disease predisposition in preterm infants Rathna Kumari, president of National Neonatology Forum- Tamil Nadu pointed out that while the neonatal mortality rate globally was 44%, in India, it has gone up from 41% in 1990 to 59% in 2012. Alumni post 'confession' videos to shame engineering college under fire Just when Sairam Engineering College started tentatively considering the demands of its students who say the college has been inordinately strict, its former students have taken the battle to the digital field, posting videos that could more than embarrass the institution. 3D technology lets doctors fix broken hips with precision Pradeep, a 34-year-old local television channel proprietor, met with broke his hip in an accident in Trichy two years ago. He underwent multiple surgeries, but to no avail. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat University pushes back exam dates In a bit of good news for students, Gujarat University (GU) has postponed the first phase of semester exams till November 17. Gujarat: National Institute of Virology zeroes in on 3 dengue serotypes As the city continues to reel under the dengue onslaught, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has zeroed in on three dengue virus serotypes responsible for wide prevalence. Professor found killed at Gandhinagar college campus The body of a 72-year-old professor was found at his quarters on an educational campus in Gandhinagar late on Monday night. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Letter threatens to blow up Allahabad's Hanuman Mandir, investigations on Cops in Allahabad – the Sangam City – were on their toes after a letter threatening to blow up the famous Lord Hanuman temple located in Rambagh was found inside the temple premises on Tuesday evening. Allahabad high court restrains Prakash Singh from functioning as urban development secretary The Allahabad High Court on Monday restrained Sri Prakash Singh from functioning as secretary urban development and minority welfare, Uttar Pradesh. The court also directed the chief secretary to issue a direction in this connection to all the nagar nigams across the state. Residents protest erratic power supply Residents of Soraon, Kaurihar, Holgarh and Mauaima blocks staged a protest against erratic power supply on Monday. BJP workers too joined the protest and later handed over a memorandum addressed to chief minister to city magistrate highlighting their plight. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		21-Yr-Old Start-Up Entrepreneur Ritesh Agarwal Started By Selling SIM Cards In Rayagada Blame game starts over Barabati T20 fiasco Police and Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) were on Tuesday indulged in a blame game after an unruly crowd hurled water bottles on ground during T20 match between India and South Africa at Barabati stadium in Cuttack, 30 km from the state capital. Strike called off but trucks still stranded in Balasore Massive traffic jam on NH-5 and NH-60. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Man arrested for raping daughter Police in Morena arrested a man , accused of raping his daughter thrice in the past one month. Maternal uncle of the survivor accompanied her to a 'jan sunwai' (public hearing) at the office of superintendent of police on Tuesday and narrated her woes. Youth kills father for beating his mother in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district In a fit of rage a 22-year old youth killed his father who used to beat his mother in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. 2 killed after bus carrying students turns turtle in Madhya Pradesh A bus carrying 40 passengers, mainly students turned turtle killing two persons, including a 14-year student of class IX, and leaving 10 students injured, in Rajgarh district on Tuesday evening. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Clear squatters for 300m IAF zone, says HC The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday made it clear that it would consider the proposal of reducing restricted zone around the Indian Air Force (IAF) ammunition depot in Gurgaon from 900 metres only if the state government undertook to remove all encroachments in the 300-metre area. Punjab CM's principal secretary inspects paddy procurement Punjab chief minister's principal secretary SK Sandhu issued orders to procurement agencies to ensure the purchase of over 6000 tonnes of 1509 Basmati at Bhagtanwala Grain market besides directed them to complete the process within next two days to facilitate the farmers. No objection to transgenders as school bus conductors: Chandigarh education department Some schools however have expressed reservations over the idea. More Chandigarh News»

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