Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, February 25, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Gadkari files defamation suit against Manish Tewari Former BJP national president Nitin Gadkari on Monday lodged a criminal defamation complaint against Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari over three years after alleged libelous remarks were made. DU professor with disability harassed at Hyderabad airport The confrontation with security officials — the latest in a string of such encounters between differently-abled passengers and airport officials — lasted about 20 minutes before the officials capitulated. 'Abducted' Bangalore girl found in Delhi, accused held The Karnataka police team had arrived in Delhi on Sunday after tracking the mobile number used by the accused to make the ransom call. More India News»

		Business
		Power monitor faults gas pricing policy Many state discoms are turning away from gas-fired sources even now as they find gas-fired power tariffs of Rs 4-4.50 per unit costly. Essar Energy rejects Ruias' offer Shareholders of London-listed Essar Energy on Monday rejected a $1.5-billion takeover bid by its Indian promoters. Parliament should set inflation target for RBI: Rajan Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said on Monday that Parliament should set the inflation target and the central bank should be given the mandate to deliver on the objective. More Business News»

		Environment
		Migratory birds leaving Okhla Sanctuary, opting for drains If you are planning to visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Yamuna for bird watching, you may return disappointed. Andamans to throw open 3-4 more islands for tourists The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) administration is planning to throw open 3-4 islands soon to attract more tourists. This will involve creation of infrastructure on these islands and will generate employment. How citizens' welfare is hurting the environment Despite an increasing awareness among the world community about reducing carbon footprints while sustaining development, nations are not doing too well, a study finds. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine calls for urgent Western aid Ukraine appealed for urgent international aid on Monday after the fall of Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovich cast doubt on a bailout deal with Moscow, saying it needed $35 billion over the next two years. Israel bombs Hezbollah base on Lebanon-Syria border Israel bombarded a Hezbollah position on the Lebanon-Syria border on Monday, a Lebanese security source and a Syrian NGO said. China rejects US move to mediate on Tibet China has rejected a US move to appoint a State department official as a coordinator for Tibet. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Hrithik Roshan continues to stay married to his in-laws It is often jested and suggested that in India, we do not marry the man or the woman alone. We end up marrying his/her family as well. That is precisely how it works in Bollywood too Dark secrets about Geetika Tyagi revealed Actress Geetika Tyagi, who has accused director Subhash Kapoor of molesting her, has an ugly past. PICS: 20 reasons why we love Big B More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Scientists solve malaria mystery Scientists have solved the long-standing mystery of how the malaria parasite initiates the process of passing from human to human. Heart grown in lab to beat in body Watching tiny cells grow into a human organ in a lab is no longer in the realm of science fiction. Scientists across the globe have managed to grow tissues and organs, and regenerative medicine is now one of the most promising fields in medical science. PIO develops cheap paper test to detect cancer An Indian-American scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a cheap, simple, paper test that can detect cancer, circumventing expensive approaches such as mammograms and colonoscopy. More Science News»

		Sports
		Virat Kohli: India's captain in waiting There's a sense of déjà vu to the Asia Cup. One can't help but hit the rewind button to September 2007 when Indian cricket was going through a tough time. Young India shows the way after HIL The most heartening thing about this year's Hockey India League was the performance of young Indian players. But the tournament had its share of glitches. DDCA curator complains against Gauti Kotla chief curator Venkat Sundaram has lodged an official complaint to DDCA against captain Gautam Gambhir after an altercation over pitch preparation. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung unveils water-resistant Galaxy S5 The Galaxy S5, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, will be available in around 150 countries, including India, on April 11, 2014. Samsung steals the spotlight from Nokia, Sony Samsung's glitzy announcement during the MWC made it harder for other phone makers to get noticed. WhatsApp's worth is more than $19 billion: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his huge $19bn takeover of free mobile messaging service WhatsApp, saying it is actually worth much more. More Technology News»

		Education
		Medical students in Mauritius stare at uncertain future Indian educational institutions continue to earn disrepute in Mauritius. After the case of Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) that continues to function without UGC permission, comes DY Patil Medical Institute. Burning midnight oil burns out your power to perform In the fourth part of the series, TOI interacts with school principals on what they undergo at the time of board examinations, their concerns and apprehensions and most importantly how they encourage students to score well. IIM-A placements completed The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) has completed its placement process for the graduating batch of 2014. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'Apply existing laws to rescue declining Bandra' The swift transmogrification of H-West ward from a quiet corner of the city into a cultural, shopping and nightlife hub has brought with it an adjunct set of problems. Young but restless after metamorphosis Sixty-five-year-old Daphne Warapen remembers the time when she used to cross rice fields and expanses of greenery while walking from her home at Union Park to St Theresa’s Church on Bandra’s 24th road for the Sunday mass. Compensation within 3 months The cost of developing the land, which will be returned to the affected villagers, will be borne by Cidco, which is the developing agency of the new airport; under the central law, the cost is supposed to be borne by the affected persons themselves. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi struck by freak incident of fog Delhi was struck by a freak incident of fog on Monday morning. DDA offers penalty relief In its board meeting on Monday, DDA decided to launch a one-time relief scheme for those who stayed away from the leasehold to freehold conversion camp conducted recently. Archaeological Survey of India concerned about flight path near Qutub Minar ASI sources said they were planning to write to the aviation ministry so that flights flew outside the safe zone. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Air and sound pollution hurts cops most: HC Who will be affected seriously by air and sound pollution? It is police officers, a division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela observed on Monday. Jailbirds to get meals for Rs 75 The Planning Commission's definition of poor is applicable to those who consume goods and services worth less than Rs 33 per day. Congress faces caste conundrum in Bagalkot The Congress high command may be considering IT/BT minister S R Patil for the Bagalkot Lok Sabha seat.But two other aspirants and caste equations have made the task difficult for the party. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		State bifurcation to spell more trouble for Andhra road transport body The state-run transport giant APSRTC is likely to stop nearly 1500 daily services to Hyderabad and other Telangana districts after bifurcation, plunging the already bleeding public sector company into further trouble. Unemployed man commits suicide Upset over his financial problems, a 28-year-old unemployed man committed suicide by hanging himself at his house at Balanagar on Monday. Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority to monitor master plan Staking strong claim to become the capital of the residuary Andhra Pradesh, the board of Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTM-UDA) has decided to closely monitor the preparation of master plan. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Upset by inaction in wife's rape case, man immolates self A 45-year-old man immolated himself in front of the Secretariat on Monday morning and died in hospital later in the day. Make public list of poll officials: DMK Close on the heels of the Election Commission directing state governments not to engage officials due for retirement before June 30 on election duty, DMK has asked the commission to post the list of officials being drafted for election duty on its website. Cry over creaky coaches The interim railway budget presented by railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge recently has not focused much on safety despite several ills plaguing the railways. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Intelligence Bureau listing Narendra Modi admirers in Congress The Congress high command is understood to have sought the services of the Intelligence Bureau to identify possible defectors to the BJP in Gujarat. Dated ideas blunt kids' competitive edge The social science textbooks of classes 6, 7, and 8 published by the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) seem to skimp on quality and the range of ideas. RTI queries surge in Gujarat The use of the Right to Information (RTI) rose dramatically in Gujarat in 2012-13 compared to the previous year - translating to an increase of 142%. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		MLA seeks road repair Peeved over dilapidated condition of roads in various localities, City (North) MLA Anugrah Narayan Singh has decided to raise the matter on the floor of the house. Congmen flay Jayalalithaa The activists also took out a procession which ended at Peepal Chauraha, where they burnt the effigy of Jayalalithaa.The activists were shouting slogans against her. Tantrik makes bid to rape girl A tantrik and his accomplices tried to rape a 15 years old girl and beat her up badly when she raised an alarm.The incident took place at a village in Bisheshwarganj on Friday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		State tourism road show in Chennai The Odisha state tourism department organized the fifth road show in Chennai on Friday.The show was attended by a number of tour operators, travel agents, journalists, travel writers and airlines of Chennai. Rehabilitation package for Satabhaya villagers Revenue and disaster management secretary Taradutt on Sunday visited sea erosion-hit Satabhaya gram panchayat in Kendrapada district. Pugmark scare on city outskirts Panic gripped several villages, on the outskirts of the city, after pugmarks of an animal were found near human habitation in the last few days. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		AIIMS students to meet Sushma Swaraj Protesting students of All Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal will meet leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj here on Monday. General VK Singh at Barkatullah University today Former Chief of Army Staff General V K Singh who is pursuing PhD from Barkatullah University will appear in viva here on Monday. Railway robber gang bust triggers GRP-RPF faceoff The arrest of a Haryana-based gang that robbed passengers on 22 trains between New Delhi and Madhya Pradesh has pitted the state's government railway police (GRP) against Centre's Railway Protection Force (RPF). More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Grand bash to celebrate his 100th birthday The Sector 21 house of B L Mohan is alive with activity.For, the family is busy making preparations for a grand birthday bash for Mohan as he turns 100 on Tuesday. Wife, in-laws booked for abetting man's suicide Two days after the decomposed body of Tarun Bhatia, 30, a native of Delhi, was recovered from his house in Zirakpur, the police booked his estranged wife and in-laws on the charge of abetment to suicide on Monday. Panjab University students launch stir against fee hike Led by the outfit Students for Society (SFS), the youngsters on Monday began an indefinite day-and-night protest outside the vice-chancellor's office in a 'campaign to mobilize students' against the increase. More Chandigarh News»

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Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, February 24, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Romila Thapar, Ashis Nandy urge Penguin to fight suit in 'The Hindus' case After Penguin India withdrew the copies of the controversial book 'The Hindus: An Alternative History', a group of eminent authors and historians today asked the publishing house to contest the suit against the book in a higher court for "holding up the freedom of expression." Dalit activist Udit Raj to join BJP Dalit leader and activist Udit Raj will join BJP on Monday, party sources said. Raj is also expected to contest Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. Three PSUs producing vaccines at snail's pace The three public sector units producing primary vaccines might have resumed operation, but they are hardly making any contribution to the vaccines procured for the Universal Immunisation Programme. More India News»

		Business
		Emirates set to get more flying rights In a farewell ‘gift’ to Gulf carriers at the cost of desi airlines, the aviation ministry is set to grant Dubai additional flying rights of 10,000 seats a week — up almost 20% from the current capacity of 55,000 seats. FY14 growth may fall to 4.7% Is the government overestimating the GDP growth rate for the current fiscal? Some of the top economists believe it is. MNCs work to accelerate startups in India The success of the Microsoft Accelerator programme for Indian startups now looks to be encouraging other global companies to start similar initiatives, a trend that could provide more fuel to the emerging startup ecosystem here. More Business News»

		Environment
		World's largest oyster discovered A 14-inch long giant Pacific oyster found off the coast of Denmark has been confirmed as the world's largest by the Guinness Book of World Records. Kutch pastoralists claim grassland community rights under FRA Pastoralists of Banni area of Kutch region in Gujarat have claimed community rights under ‘The scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006’ which was passed on December 18, 2006. The claim is over entire Banni grassland covering 2,400 sq km. Yamuna remains dirty despite huge costs to clean it: Panel Interceptor sewers along the major drains of the city are crucial for curbing pollution of the Yamuna as they would keep untreated sewage from flowing into the river. More Environment News»

		World
		US warns Putin against Ukraine grab In addition to any economic assistance the EU might offer, the US has also promised help. Syrian rebel who was Osama's friend killed Al-Soury's death will fuel the infighting among jihadis fighting President Bashar al-Assad, a violent rivalry that has killed hundreds of fighters in recent months, rebels said. UK boost to oil and gas to keep Scotland The British government said on Monday it would enact sweeping measures to make it easier to unlock hard-to-extract North Sea gas and billions of barrels of oil as it tries to persuade Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. More World News»

		Entertainment
		5 shocking facts about Shah Rukh Khan In Pics: Hrithik Roshan-Arjun Rampal controversy 'Temptations are there, but I follow Buddha' Ali Zafar and Yaami Gautam are like yin and yang. For Ali’s cheeky answers, you have Yaami’s bashful hesitation. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Coming soon: Lettuce-based self-growing electric wires Scientists may be able to use lettuce to create ‘self-growing’ electricity wires in the future, paving the way for biological computers and ‘bio-robots’. Bacteria from baby poop used to make probiotic sausages Scientists have found a bizarre way of making sausages healthier — by using baby poop. Vertical film screens offer a new reality In the beginning, it was black and white. Years later, it was colour, followed by 3D glasses and Imax. But could the next big development in cinema be vertical screens? More Science News»

		Sports
		India short of finishers sans famed trio For the first time since January 24, 2004, the famed finishing trio of Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni won't feature in an Indian line-up in Asia Cup. Nadal proves his form with Rio Open win Rafael Nadal shrugged off the injury concerns that wrecked his Australian Open bid as he dismantled Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov to win the Rio Open. Brooklyn Nets sign openly gay Collins Jason Collins signed a 10-day contract with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets to become the first openly gay man playing in a major US professional sports league. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung launches Tizen-powered smartwatches The Gear 2 will be available in two variants, namely the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, with the latter being an economy version. How to get a job at Google Google attracts so much talent it can afford to look beyond traditional metrics, like GPA. Meet the Google trekker photographing Indian monuments Google created a tool specifically build to do one thing – photographing a monument in a way that captures a 360-degree view. More Technology News»

		Education
		B-school challenge Prospective full-time MBA students applying to the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, have an opportunity to win scholarships by taking part in a contest organised by the school. Shark migration Like salmon in reverse, longsnouted Bandringa sharks migrated downstream from freshwater swamps to a tropical coastline to spawn 310 million years ago, leaving behind fossil evidence of one of the earliest known shark nurseries. Mastering biology Infection biology is an area of biomedical sciences. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'Apply existing laws to rescue declining Bandra' The swift transmogrification of H-West ward from a quiet corner of the city into a cultural, shopping and nightlife hub has brought with it an adjunct set of problems. Young but restless after metamorphosis Sixty-five-year-old Daphne Warapen remembers the time when she used to cross rice fields and expanses of greenery while walking from her home at Union Park to St Theresa’s Church on Bandra’s 24th road for the Sunday mass. Compensation within 3 months The cost of developing the land, which will be returned to the affected villagers, will be borne by Cidco, which is the developing agency of the new airport; under the central law, the cost is supposed to be borne by the affected persons themselves. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		3-yr-old gets hand back after 10-hr operation A Haryana farmer’s quick thinking helped save the life and limb of his three-year-old boy, whose arm was severed from the chest wall while playing in the farm land. Man arrested for rape A 55-year-old woman has alleged that she was raped by a neighbour at the railway colony beside DDU Marg in central Delhi on Saturday night. Yamuna dirty despite efforts to clean it: House panel A parliamentary panel has noted that the river Yamuna seems “dirtier” than before despite Rs 6,500 crore having been spent on its clean-up even as a project to lay interceptor sewers along the three major drains of Delhi suffers delays. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Ambareesh is on the path to recovery, wife says Fans of actor-turned-politician and housing minister M H Ambareesh heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after his wife made a public announcement that her husband is recovering. NSG, police security drill from today Don’t panic if you see armed commandoes donning fatigues and find yourself in the thick of action on your way to work on Monday. Bangalore scores low on walkability score Pedestrians are nothing short of sitting ducks for speeding and wayward motorists in Bangalore city. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Protest outside IIIT after student commits suicide About 8,000 IIIT students at Basara staged a ‘rasta roko’ in front of the institute accusing the authorities of not allowing an ambulance into the campus immediately after one of its students jumped off the hostel building around 7.30am on Sunday. Will minorities get a better deal in two states? With the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Parliament, the minorities find themselves split into two states, like their counterparts from the majority community. Property registrations show a decline in Andhra Pradesh After the Centre gave enough hints that the creation of Telangana state was certain, property registrations in the city, especially surrounding areas, dropped significantly in the last two months. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Inspector suspended, CB-CID handed techie murder probe Chief minister J Jayalalithaa ordered that the case be transferred to the CB-CID and police offered a reward of up to Rs 2 lakh for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. Goal in sight for leprosy victims' daughters As 15-year-old Monisha propels a football with perfect control in a ground at Kancheepuram, she seems to be dribbling past the obstacles of life. Police give tech firms safety brief, promise to patrol OMR The murder of a 23-year-old software engineer with Tata Consultancy Services and subsequent pressure from the government appears to have jolted police out of their complacency. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Left to fight alone, she defeats malignant fate At 40, Sridevi Yagnik was fighting the biggest battle of her life — stage two breast cancer. Woman from Kalol found dead in Pirana, police register case of murder A team of Danilimda police found the body of a woman on Pirana road late on Saturday night with multiple stab wounds.The victim was later identified as an orchestra singer from Kalol having relatives in Ahmedabad. Safe space marked for cyclists, pedestrians at Vijay Crossroads Harikrishna Patel, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said they have partnered with the civic body and NGO for 'Right Steps' initiative to emphasize adequate planning and management of traffic flow. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		MLA seeks road repair Peeved over dilapidated condition of roads in various localities, City (North) MLA Anugrah Narayan Singh has decided to raise the matter on the floor of the house. Congmen flay Jayalalithaa The activists also took out a procession which ended at Peepal Chauraha, where they burnt the effigy of Jayalalithaa.The activists were shouting slogans against her. Tantrik makes bid to rape girl A tantrik and his accomplices tried to rape a 15 years old girl and beat her up badly when she raised an alarm.The incident took place at a village in Bisheshwarganj on Friday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Demand for Odia varsity and research centre They also demanded the use Odia as an official language at all government offices and to make it a compulsory subject at all schools and colleges. EC asks for campaigners' list Speaking to representatives of various political parties, Sharma said the district election officers will notify costs of different materials to be used during campaigns to set the limit of the candidates expenditure. Mass Rapid Transit System: Hyderabad agency to prepare plan The state government has selected Hyderabad-based consultant Balaji Rail Road System Limited (BARSYL) to prepare detailed project report (DPR) for proposed mass rapid transit system (MRTS) between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		After cloudy day, cold winds sweep Bhopal After overcast conditions throughout the day on Saturday, there was a change in weather condition.By night, cold winds swept and the city experienced drizzle. Electoral reforms bill discussed at MANIT's mock parliament Students of Maulana Azad National Institute (MANIT) organised a mock parliament on Saturday, where students from various colleges discussed a bill drafted by intellect browsers consortium (IBC) on electoral reforms. Bags with jewellery stolen from car Travelling bags with jewellery and clothes kept inside a locked four-wheeler were stolen on Hathi Khana Road in Budhwara here on Friday night.The case was later registered at Talaiya police station of the city. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Anti-Sikh riot victims protest land grab Giving details, Darshan Singh said Giani Sant Singh Maskeen had purchased the land with offerings from the community to help the victims to settle down but the land had been grabbed by some influential persons. Take steps against Punjabi-speaking ban in school, DCs told Following a report of several private schools, especially of those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE, prohibiting students from conversing in their mother tongue Punjabi, the Punjab government has asked deputy commissioners and education department officials to take appropriate steps and stop the school managements from imposing such a ban. Costly coal to push up power rates in Punjab, Haryana However, Haryana government has recently promised that there would be no tariff hike for the power consumers of the state in election year as it has agreed to financial restructuring plan of Government of India. More Chandigarh News»

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