News Digest: 24% of Goa beaches severely damaged: Report

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, March 08, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		24% of Goa beaches severely damaged: Report Goa's beaches, which attract a million tourists every year, are gradually reducing with erosion gnawing away nearly one-fourth of the state's coastline. Saibaba linked Indian rebels with outfits abroad Works Spread From Jungles Of Abujmadh To Nepal, Lanka Petrol pump owners, LPG dealers under lens The I-T department is likely to impose severe penalties on petrol pump outlets found laundering demonetised currency by manipulating accounts besides launching prosecution against them. More India News»

		Business
		India fastest growing domestic air travel market, 22 months in a row India has been the world’s fastest growing domestic air market for 22 months in a row, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Tuesday. Indian economy to grow 7.1% in FY17: Fitch The US-based agency, however, termed the 7 per cent GDP growth for the October-December quarter as "surprising", a tad lower than 7.4 per cent in the previous quarter. The rating agency said it expects the policy interest rate to stay at its current level of 6.25 per cent. India announces new licensing policy to boost oil output India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, will conduct auction of oil and gas blocks under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) twice a year, with the first round being held in July this year, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. More Business News»

		Environment
		In a first, Centre launches survey to ascertain Gangetic dolphin numbers The survey will create a baseline scientific data for the govt to take suitable measures to improve quality of the river water, the National Mission for Clean Ganga has said. The 1st leg of the census was launched on March 1 from Narora in UP to Bijnor, covering nearly 165 km. Here's why pandas became black and white A study has found that most of the panda - its face, neck, belly, rump - is white to help it hide in snowy habitats. The arms and legs are black, helping it to hide in shade. This dual colouration stems from its poor diet of bamboo & inability to digest a broader variety of plants. Won't stop public display of penguins at Byculla zoo: HC More Environment News»

		World
		Trump backs healthcare plan, eyes drug price cuts The unveiling of the plan marked a key step toward carrying out pledges by Trump and Republicans in Congress to dismantle the Obamacare law even as lawmakers face pressure from constituents not throw America's healthcare system into chaos. Donald Trump: Different strokes Iraqi forces retake government HQ, museum in Mosul Iraqi forces said Tuesday they had seized the main govt offices in Mosul and its famed museum as they made steady progress in their battle to retake the city's west from jihadists. News of the advances came on the third day of a renewed offensive against the Islamic State group in west Mosul. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Varun: Alia has made the most of her life Priyanka Chopra: Grief is my companion now Watch: Amitabh Bachchan is fierce in the 'Angry Mix' from 'Sarkar 3' More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Life on Mars 'more likely than previously thought' Social media is full of sad, lonely people pretending they're OK Nevertheless, researchers at Pittsburgh studied 1,787 adults aged 19 to 32 over the use of 11 social media sites: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Plus, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Vine and LinkedIn. A magnetic shield around Mars may make it habitable More Science News»

		Sports
		India beat Australia by 75 runs to level series 1-1  India put in one of their best bowling performances under pressure in recent times to defend a total of 188 in the second India v Australia Test at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Day 4, beating Australia by 75 runs. Kohli stops short of calling Aussie captain Smith cheat Indian captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday stirred up a major controversy by virtually accusing the Australian captain Steve Smith of cheating in the usage of DRS, flaring up the tensions between the two sides. I'll quit Delhi if players are unhappy with me: Gambhir With Delhi's torrid domestic season coming to an end, coach Bhaskar Pillai and senior most player Gautam Gambhir have got into an ugly tangle with accusations floating against Gambhir abusing the coach. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Now buy iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus at a discount of up to Rs 31,200 Offer is valid on exchange of iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, 6s Plus and SE. Samsung Galaxy S8's market launch delayed by a week The report, however, says that no particular reason has been given for the delay in the release date of Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ smartphones. Samsung Galaxy S8 did 'show up' at MWC 2017, albeit behind closed doors: Report According to a report in Korea Herald website, Samsung showcased the upcoming smartphone to select partners at MWC 2017. More Technology News»

		Education
		4000 medical PG seats added to streamline medical education: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government has streamlined the medical education field and created 4,000 new post-graduate seats in medical colleges which would resolve the problem of lack of doctors. In a first, IISc makes it to top 10 global varsities ranking IISc has been ranked 8th in the Times Higher Education or THE Rankings, 2017 in the "best small universities" category, joining the elite list that includes California Institute of Technology from the US, Ecole Normale Superieure from France and Pohang University of Science and Technology, S Korea. Asked universities to include Environment Studies in curricula: Govt tells Supreme Court The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it has asked universities across the country to include 'Environment Studies" in the college curricula as directed in a judgement delivered in 1991. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		State official shunted weeks after questioning cheap land to Ramdev Last year, the Maharashtra government made a decision to give a 75% discount on land for a food park in Nagpur, which eventually was awarded to Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. Barring 50-minute delay at one centre, smooth start for SSC examinations Amid the anxiety of HSC paper leaks, SSC examination in the city was off to a smooth start, except for four instances of copying and a delayed start at a centre. Mumbai: 20 per cent hike in school bus fees from next year The School Bus Owners Association has decided to hike fees by 20% to bear the costs of higher traffic fines, increased insurance and maintenance charges and increased salaries of drivers and women attendents. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Four-year-old girl witnesses mom hammer dad to death the girl saw her mother bludgeoning her father to death with a hammer two dozen times in his sleep. As her father bled through the night, the girl remained tucked in a corner of their small house. Cops reunite abducted kids with their families Two children who had been abducted by two women in separate incidents were reunited with their families by the northeast district police. Panel visits landfill after NGT order A committee, led by the urban development secretary, on Tuesday visited Bhalswa and Ghazipur landfill sites on directions of National Green Tribunal. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Women are only one-third of labour force in Karnataka Women comprise just one third of the labour force in Karnataka. As per 2014-15 data from the director of employment and training in the labour department, of the 23.85 lakh employed citizens in the state, only 7.72 lakh are women. ​ Women feted for donating their kidneys for children Though paediatric kidney transplant is still a challenge in India, Priyanka, 31, has broken stereotypes to give a new lease of life to her ailing four-year-old daughter. She donated one of her kidneys to save the child who was suffering from Nephrotic syndrome. Government moots developing new city in KGF to decongest Bengaluru Call it an over-ambitious or non-implementable project, the Karnataka government is thinking of developing a new city in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) to decongest Bengaluru. The plan is to relocate at least 20 lakh of the state capital's population to the new city. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		City's first female Ola driver out to break conventions Startup 'angels' to make a difference State to make space for women leaders in key nominated posts More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Minister's 'Pakistani' remark sparks row A rooftop solar DC power system developed by IIT M gets award Temple extension on Chitlapakkam lake razed More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		SVNIT lecturer has taught 10k slum kids for free Girl archer hits bullseye From 'body shy' to 'body positive' More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		View poll results on EC website after every round of counting Holi gets sweeter for diabetics Women netas here are 'daughters' and 'bahus' More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Difficult time for children in world, says Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi Few takers for Odisha adventure tourism Odisha Crime Branch to launch awareness drive against witchcraft Shaken by March 2 killing of a college girl during a practice of witchcraft in Jharsuguda district, the state Crime Branch (CB) has decided to launch awareness campaigns in least 80 tribal villages in Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Keonjhar, Rayagada and Ganjam districts that are vulnerable to the social evil. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Private schools lament delay in payment of RTE dues More than 450 private schools, which admitted students under the RTE in 2015-16 session, are up in arms against the delay in reimbursement of their dues from the state government. These schools admitted the students under the RTE, but are not yet paid their dues for the last one year. 5 held, give ATS info about terrorist in Lucknow Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained five suspects in connection to the twin blasts in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train that left nine persons injured, at Jabri station in Shajapur district on Tuesday. 10 injured as blasts rip through coach of Bhopal-Ujjain train At least 10 persons, including five women, sustained injuries on Tuesday in a low-intensity blast inside the general coach of Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train at Jabri station in Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh, around 150 km from Ujjain. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Slain Major's widow to don army uniform A fighting man was killed in action almost a year ago. Now, his widow is preparing to expend sweat and blood at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai so she can carry forward his legacy. Haryana vigorously pursues strengthening of digital infrastructure: CM Haryana has vigorously pursued strengthening of Digital Infrastructure and ensured rollout of National Optic Fibre Network to 4051 Gram Panchayats, connected 1277 offices to State Wide Area Network, provided Wifi in 119 Gram Panchayats and connected all police stations with district and state headquarters through Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System. Nawanshahr DC channelises CSR to enhance infrastructure in schools Channelizing Corporate Social Responsibility towards providing infrastructure of amenities in government school, Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal has got a major corporate in the district to provide as many as 850 desks and 65 RO Systems to government primary schools in the district. More Chandigarh News»

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