News Digest: HC seeks CDs of Amit Shah's 'hate' speeches

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, April 10, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		HC seeks CDs of Amit Shah's 'hate' speeches Hearing two writ petitions filed by BJP leader Amit Shah seeking a stay on his arrest in connection with two FIRs lodged against him for alleged hate speeches in Bijnor and Shamli districts, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the case until Thursday and directed the state counsel to produce CDs of the speeches. The tussle in UP is around SP, BJP, Modi: Akhilesh Yadav  Barely 24 hours prior to voting in 10 important seats in western Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the “fight in UP would essentially centre around SP, BJP and Modi,” as if acknowledging that the BJP prime minister pick had an image bigger than his party. Chances of El Nino in 2014 put at over 70% In what could be bad news for Indian agriculture , conditions in the Pacific Ocean seem to be increasingly favouring the onset of an El Nino this summer. More India News»

		Business
		KFC creates a veg menu for India KFC, the Kentucky-based fast-food chain known for its “finger-lickin’ good” range of chicken fillets and burgers, has finally given in to India’s penchant for vegetarianism. Toyota to recall 45,000 Innovas for faulty airbags Toyota on Wednesday announced a global recall of nearly 64 lakh vehicles — amongst its largest ever — to fix a defect that may de-activate an airbag in vehicles manufactured between February 2005 and December, 2008. Dalal Street questions Ranbaxy spike Questions are also being raised at large stake buys in Ranbaxy by Silverstreet Developers LLP, an entity related to Sun Pharma, in the months prior to the deal announcement. More Business News»

		Environment
		Anacondas land in Chennai, to reach Thiruvananthapuram zoo today Cargo hold area at the Chennai airport had a special consignment from Sri Lanka on Wednesday.The consignment had seven anacondas including six females, en-route to Thiruvananthapuram zoo. Gautala sanctuary to get cameras for tracking animals The wildlife division has sent a proposal seeking 12 trap cameras for the sanctuary, which will also help in the bi-annual animal census activity. 10 birds poisoned in Amravati forest In a shocking incident, 10 birds including seven peahens, one each fantail flycatcher, crow peasant, and pond heron died of poisoning in Pohara-Malkhed forest near Amravati. More Environment News»

		World
		23 killed, 120 wounded in Islamabad bomb blast At least 23 people were killed and nearly 120 injured when a powerful bomb went off at a crowded marketplace in Islamabad early on Wednesday. Don't make irreversible mistakes: Putin to Kiev Russian President Vladimir Putin urged on Wednesday a positive outcome to the first international peace talks on Ukraine but also upped the pressure by warning Kiev’s leaders against making any irreversible mistakes. Student goes on a stabbing spree in US school The 16-year-old boy walked down a hallway flashing two knives, stabbing fellow pupils and the guard as they began arriving for what should have been a routine school day. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kejriwal backs out from Kapil Sharma's show Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was scheduled to shoot for Kapil Sharma’s comedy show yesterday, but it was cancelled at the last minute. Virat joins Anushka in Jodhpur Once again, Virat Kohli has landed up on Anushka Sharma’s film sets, and this time, he didn’t try to evade photogs or keep it clandestine. Shah Rukh Khan to babysit for five days While Shah Rukh Khan prepares for his next shoot, SRK has the additional responsibility of babysitting. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		New gun fires at 7 times the speed of sound The US navy has announced plans to deploy its first ever electromagnetic railgun, a "game changing" device that fires projectiles without explosives over distance of 160 km and at seven times the speed of sound. Sneeze produces gas cloud Researchers have found that a human sneeze produces a gas cloud that keeps potentially infectious droplets aloft over much greater distances than previously realized. Nasa says weird Mars lights are not a sign of life A Nasa robot has snapped pictures showing glints of light on the Martian horizon, which some UFO enthusiasts have seized on as a sign of alien life on the Red Planet. More Science News»

		Sports
		I knew I'll be back in India: Gary Kirsten Gary Kirsten got down to business immediately after getting into town as the Delhi Daredevils conducted their first practice ahead of their UAE sojourn. 'Indians face competition from within' "New Zealand played well in their own conditions. We challenged India and got it right. We were in some bit of form," said New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee. Bayern knock Man United out of CL Holders Bayern Munich recovered from the shock of a stunning Patrice Evra goal to score three times in quick succession to beat Man United 3-1 in quarters. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Indian version of Galaxy S5 slower than global version? Here is answer To see how well Exynos and Snapdragon versions of Galaxy S5 compare, we ran some benchmarks on both devices. Panic on web as Heartbleed bug leaves millions of users vulnerable Web administrators and computer security researchers on Tuesday scrambled to fix a serious vulnerability in OpenSSL encryption used by thousands of web servers, including those run by email and web chat providers. Samsung, Apple's big smartphone dilemma As smartphone action shifts to mass market, leaders Samsung and Apple are under pressure to make their high-end phones more affordable. More Technology News»

		Education
		No new engineering colleges this year, says UGC There will be no new engineering college or increase in seats in the existing engineering colleges in the coming academic year. Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna achieves100% placement Adding another feather in its cap, the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patnaachieved 100 per cent placement for its 5th batch of postgraduate diploma in management (PGDM) students this year. Schools to remain open till May 8 to fulfil RTE norms Even though all schools in Nagpur are set to wrap up their final exams by next week, students will have to continue attending classes till May 8. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Maharashtra LS Polls: Serious charges like rape, murder against 55% mainstream party nominees in 2nd phase Serious criminal charges like murder, attempt to murder and rape have been made against 44 of 346 or 13% of the candidates contesting from 19 constituencies in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state on April 17. In all, 71 or 21% of them have ‘criminal cases’ against them. English, women's issues, slum rehab... Rakhi has covered it all It’s time for the first campaign of the Rashtriya Aam Party, whose face is known to be as fiery as its recently approved symbol—a green chilli Mumbai BJP leader, aides beat up family in road rage City BJP spokesperson Yogesh Verma and his supporters assaulted a grieving family on the Western Express Highway on Wednesday evening when the family objected to Verma’s SUV forcefully overtaking their car, driving them against the highway’s side railing. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		High on hope, under-30 candidates make electoral debut Around 18 debutants have filed their nominations to contest against political bigwigs in Delhi. For them, it’s their professional training and a background in social activism that they believe will help them connect with their electorate. Lok Sabha polls: After Delhi, all roads lead to Varanasi As soon as polling ends in Delhi on Thursday, the focus of the Aam Aadmi Party will shift towards Varanasi where party leader Arvind Kejriwal is contesting against Gujarat CM and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.  Delhi a bellwether for national results Given the fact that Delhi accounts for just seven of 543 Lok Sabha seats, it might seem like what happens in the capital is just a minor detail in the larger national calculus.  More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Leopard creates panic on campus A leopard that entered Manipal University campus was trapped on Wednesday . The big cat had apparently sneaked into the city on Tuesday night .  Transferred I-T officials told to stay put Fifty-four income tax commissioners across the country , who were promoted and transferred in February , have been asked not to report to their postings till the new government takes over , department sources said . Election tourists fly down to battlefield High-profile electoral battlefields are turning into camping grounds of a different kind: Poll tourists are homing in to be a part of the big fat Indian election. And most of them are coming in from foreign shores.  More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Uttam wangles Kodad Assembly ticket for wife Despite maintaining that ticket would be given to only one member of a family, the Congress on Wednesday gave the Kodad Assembly ticket to party’s Telangana unit working president Uttam Kumar Reddy’s wife Padmavathi in a hush-hush manner. Srikant Reddy in Malkajgiri race The battle for the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha became more interesting on Wednesday with Janapalana candidate Palem Srikant Reddy filing his nomination papers for the seat minutes before the process closed.  Apex Church body urges voters to boycott 'communal forces' The apex body of archbishops, bishops and heads of Catholic and Protestant churches in the state has requested Christians not to vote for ‘communal forces’ this general election. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Godhra woman rescued in city after 2004 tsunami united with family A 35-year-old mentally-challenged woman, who was found with her daughter in a village along East Coast Road four days after the December 2004 tsunami, has been reunited with her family based in Godhra, Gujarat. Hospital turns wasteland into veggie patch The food served in this hospital is not just cooked here, but grown here too. Villagers questioned about stolen idol Following a report in TOI on the theft of ancient idols from a temple near Sriperumbudur, officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment board visited the Siva Kozhutheeshwarar temple in Sivan Koodal village. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Stealing lovebirds held Two collegian lovebirds were arrested on Wednesday on charges of theft.Ankita Maheriya, 21, is a BCom student, while her lover Vishal Makwana, 22, is an engineering student. Criminal couple arrested for series of jewellery thefts A couple was nabbed by crime branch officials at Khokhra circle on Wednesday for duping people and stealing gold ornaments from them.The police recovered valuables worth Rs 1.5 lakh from the couple. Youth dupes 17 women on promise of Isro jobs, held The crime branch on Wednesday arrested a youth for cheating more than 17 women with promises of getting them jobs in the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro). More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Candidates approach astrologers for auspicious dates to file papers The candidates are taking each step cautiously to win elections.The auspicious dates are being taken into account for opening an office or to file nominations.The nomination process has already started in some districts. Chaitra Navratri concludes The nine-day fasting of Chaitra Navratri concluded with havan and feeding girl child on Tuesday.While women devotees worshipped girl child as goddess, the males participated in havan attended by all the family members. ComPTron launched for transfer of employees Good news for the railway employees as their transfer from one zone to the other railway zone can now be done easily. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Lok Sabha polls: 10 districts on guard after April 1 blast Big parts of west and south Odisha going to polls on Thursday have a substantial Naxalite presence. Security is tight in these ten districts. In the run-up to the polls, the Maoists triggered a landmine in Malkangiri on April 1, seriously injuring two BSF jawans.  Heat wave intensifies in Odisha, Sonepur records 42.6 degree C Heat wave intensified in Odisha on Tuesday with the mercury soaring above 41 degree Celsius at around a dozen places in western region with Sonepur recording the hottest at 42.6 degree C. Cuttack civic body member held in Delhi The crime branch (CB) on Monday arrested corporator of ward No.1 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation , Chitta Ranjan Das from Delhi for a fraudulent land deal. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Kavita Seth performs at a Sufi music festival in Bhopal A Sufi music festival, Ishq Sufiyana, was recently organised by a city hotel at its premises that had singer Kavita Seth of Iktara and Tum Hi Ho Bandhu fame perform at the do. Is Modi wave proving a costly affair for Congress candidates from MP? Is Modi wave proving costly for Congress candidates in Madhya Pradesh?  Congress MLA joins BJP in MP's Maihar  Tripathi has a history of swapping parties.Earlier, he was an MLA of Samajwadi Party but switched to Congress in 2009. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		No 'cover' for AAP candidates Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates in Punjab are either not afraid of rejection of their nominations or confident enough of clearing the screening process by the Election Commission. Majithia becomes point of debate among Manpreet, Harsimrat The duel between Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Congress-PPP nominee Manpreet Singh Badal from Bathinda parliamentary constituency has become personal over latter's brother and Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Majithia. Multi-pronged contests give tough time to bookies in Hansi On Wednesday, TOI visited Hansi's infamous Chopta Bazaar, considered as hub of "satta" activities and spoke to bookies in this illegal business in which Rs 200-250 cr are estimated to be at stake. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Lok Sabha polls: Voting begins in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, April 09, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Lok Sabha polls: Voting begins in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur Voting is being held for one seat each in Nagaland and Manipur and two seats each in Arunchal Pradesh and Meghalaya.  SC committee rejects 23 of 24 proposed Uttarakhand hydro projects The committee was set up in October 2013 after the SC took note of a Wildlife Institute of India report that pointed the extensive threat to biodiversity because of these projects. Four NE states go to polls today under tight security The Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements for the six Lok Sabha constituencies — two each in Arunachal and Meghalaya and one each in Manipur and Nagaland — that will go to the polls today. More India News»

		Business
		Economy to grow at 5.4% in FY15: IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected India's economy to grow by 5.4% in 2014-15 and 6.4% in 2015-16 on the back of strengthening global growth, improving export competitiveness and implementation of recently approved investment projects. Analjit vies for 33% stake in Sula Billionaire industrialist Analjit Singh, founder of Max Healthcare, has placed a bid to acquire 33% stake in India’s largest winemaker Nashik Vintners, parent of the Sula brand. Sun may let Ranbaxy brand die a slow death The Ranbaxy brand may be allowed to die a slow death over the next two to three years by the company’s new owner - Sun Pharma - due to the negativity surrounding its product quality. More Business News»

		Environment
		Forest department, NHAI plan speed bumps, signages to protect lions During a recent meeting, state forest and NHAI officials have decided to set speed restrictions in the area where lions are found in groups along the costal area in Saurashtra. Illegal sand mining poses threat to Katlabodi tigers Katlabodi tigress and her three sub-adult cubs seem to be under severe threat from brick kilns on the edge of reserve forest areas in Kalmeshwar range, 35km from Nagpur. Harvard adopts 'responsible investment' principles Harvard University said on Monday it adopted a set of environmental and social investing principles backed by the United Nations for its huge endowment fund More Environment News»

		World
		Indonesia's parliamentary poll kicks off Pop stars, actors and mechanics — these are just some of the people hoping to become MPs when the world's third largest democracy heads to the polls on Wednesday in a vote that will heavily influence who becomes Indonesia's next president. US faces Chinese ire over disputed isles Tensions between China and the United States were out in the open on Tuesday as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel faced questions in Beijing about America’s support for Japan and a warning that China will not allow an ‘iota of violation’ of its territory. France's new prime minister wins confidence vote French lawmakers gave their country's new prime minister a vote of confidence Tuesday that is seen as an endorsement of his plans for an economic turnaround built on tax cuts and slashing bureaucracy to the extent of redrawing the map of France. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'A woman thought I am married to Kapil Sharma' I have realised that an actor is known as his current TV character, and for me, it’s as Kapil’s wife in Comedy Nights With Kapil. 'Last call my mom made from hospital was to Salman' Arjun Kapoor, 28, is emotional and sensitive, but curbs his feelings other than with people he is close to. Being a Class XI dropout weighing 140 kgs with separated parents, he could have easily got wavered Is Varun Dhawan the next Salman Khan? With the release of Main Tera Hero, Varun Dhawan has proved his mettle and that he's a super star in the making. Only his second film yet in Bollywood, Varun in Main Tera Hero has carried the entire film on his shoulders. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Giant 'bubbles' to help beat smog in China? A London-based architecture and design company co-founded by an Indian has come up with a new solution called “Bubbles” to combat the increasing air pollution in China. A phone battery that recharges in 30 seconds An Israeli startup has developed a new smartphone battery that can recharge in just under 30 seconds. Booze-sniffing helmet disables engine The students have used a wireless system that links the sensors-fitted helmet to the engine ignition. More Science News»

		Sports
		I don't play to prove a point: Pietersen "This is just a new chapter in my life. I'll go out there and enjoy my cricket. I love the IPL and the competition in it," said DD captain Kevin Pietersen. Yuvi is our greatest match-winner: Gauti Opener Gautam Gambhir says "had there been IPL auction today, he would have still gone" for Yuvraj Singh and called him India's "greatest match-winner". Real Madrid reach semis despite loss Real Madrid reached the semifinals of the Champions League on Tuesday despite losing 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund in their second leg match. More Sports News»

		Technology
		End of Windows XP: Who all are at risk Microsoft will end support for the persistently popular Windows XP on Tuesday. Moto X review: Puts the smarts in the smartphone Moto X does not have cutting-edge hardware, big battery or premium-looking metallic body. But it comes with a unique always-on touchless control system. Read our review to find out if it is worth Rs 23,999. Understanding bitcoin and cryptocurrency Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been touted as the money of the future. However, the past year has shown their pluses and minuses. More Technology News»

		Education
		Stalling promotion in higher classes can affect kids' psyche Vinitha* used to say the right answers in class, but she couldn’t score marks when it came to written examinations. Only when she was in Class 11 did her parents get to know she had a learning disability. For 100% result and reputation, many schools ask 'weak' students to leave Several schools — and this is no secret, even though they go out of their way to be discreet about the practice — make a list of students in Class 9 and Class 11 that they think could fail if allowed to take the board examinations the next year. IIM-Trichy launches new course A special post-graduate programme in human resource management (PGPHRM) for working professionals in the city was launched by IIM-Trichy on Tuesday. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Spurned, man knifes woman, minor in building A Nalasopara man allegedly assaulted a woman and a minor following an altercation at a building in Bhayander (E) on Monday. Road rage: BJP spokesperson assaulted by 6 Hiring ambulance to cost more in Mumbai region as government allows return trip charge The cost of hiring an ambulance may rise as the official government tariff also has a waiting charge of Rs 50 per hour. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		And now, packaged election tourism Elections mean different things to different people. For some innovative travel firms, it means creating special packages to market the great Indian election tamasha.  Northeast Delhi: Neglected seat in a mood to punish Manoj Tiwari, the Bhojpuri star and BJP candidate, has been spending all his time in the party office in Yamuna Vihar while JNU resident, professor Anand Kumar, who is AAP’s candidate, has been virtually living in Babarpur. Dalit voters hold key to Northwest Delhi It's a battle for Dalit votes in the largest of Delhi’s seven Lok Sabha constituencies. Scheduled castes and Jats are the two large communities in North West Delhi, and the three important candidates are using their reserved-category background to the hilt to win support. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Nandan Nilekani a crorepati sans identity: Narendra Modi  BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi attacked Nandan Nilekani and the Aadhaar project during his election rally here on Tuesday.  HC rejects Ashok Kheny's application against election petition The high court on Tuesday dismissed an interlocutory application (IA) filed by Bidar (South) MLA Ashok Kheny, which had sought for dismissal of social activist T J Abraham’s election petition. TOI-B .PAC debate today  The third TOI-B .PAC ‘Citizens Meet the Candidates’ debate will take place on Wednesday between candidates of four political parties from the Bangalore North parliamentary constituency. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		War of posters It’s a new poster that’s found donning the online `homepage’ of YSRCP: An old newspaper clipping with the image of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu superimposed on it and his face smeared with Rejected’ , written in bold red letters. It's all about the money, honey! With bifurcation raising the stakes in the upcoming general elections, thanks to a spurt in the number of parties and aspirants, even the money at stake has jumped a few notches. 'Not a closed chapter yet' Hours before the deadline for filing the nominations Jayaprakash Narayan confesses that an alliance with ‘team TDP-BJP’ is still an option. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Two girls injured as ceiling fan falls on them in Korukkupet Two girls were injured early on Tuesday when a ceiling fan fell on them while they were asleep in their first floor flat of a Tamil Nadu slum clearance board complex in Korukkupet. Cong's Abhishek Manu Singhvi trains guns on DMK chief In an attack on DMK’s conditional offer of post-poll support, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Tuesday that parties in Tamil Nadu that had distanced themselves from his party would “become seekers and pursuers” after the Lok Sabha election results were out on May 16. Mani Shankar Aiyar's one-liners raise few laughs His punchlines have set off controversies in the national capital but the people of Mayiladuthurai are yet to get a taste of Congress candidate Mani Shankar Aiyar’s sense of humour.  More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Posters of Narendra Modi, Madhusudan Mistry removed in Vadodara In an attempt to bring down the poll expenses of the candidates, both the BJP and the Congress have removed the posters with candidates’ photos. The same has been replaced with party posters. Cops make Vadodara a fortress for Narendra Modi's rally  The city has turned into a fortress ahead of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s mega rally on Wednesday. Modi will file his nomination at the end of the rally. Called 'rajneta' as a boy, Narendra Modi lived up to it Crocodiles vanished from the Sarmishtha Lake in this birthplace of Narendra Modi many decades back.  More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Tent and car shortage hits weddings this election season An acute shortage of cars has hit the upcoming wedding season in the district.People looking to hire cars for wedding functions seem to have been beaten in the race by election workers. Narendra Modi mehndi campaign fails to enthuse rural women Bharatiya Janata Party's much hyped 'NaMo Mehndi' campaign is struggling to meet party leaders' expectations in the district. 2 city kids to get Bal Shree award Two students from the city Alice Anshu Philip and Shefali Dubey have been selected for the prestigious Bal Shree award. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Heat wave intensifies in Odisha, Sonepur records 42.6 degree C Heat wave intensified in Odisha on Tuesday with the mercury soaring above 41 degree Celsius at around a dozen places in western region with Sonepur recording the hottest at 42.6 degree C. Cuttack civic body member held in Delhi The crime branch (CB) on Monday arrested corporator of ward No.1 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation , Chitta Ranjan Das from Delhi for a fraudulent land deal. Brown sugar worth Rs 2.5 lakh seized in Jaleswar Excise special squad and Balasore excise team on Monday seized 25g brown sugar worth Rs 2.5 lakh at Jhardeswarpur in Jaleswar.The excise team arrested one person. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Desperate for job, students fall for fake firms' offer Stay on alert in case you are getting persistent calls from companies offering you promising jobs and handsome salaries.You never know you may be getting fake job offers. Essar plea against Greenpeace for inciting Mahan villagers Essar group has lodged a complaint with a trial court in Singrauli seeking action against international environment watchdog Greenpeace India for allegedly instigating villagers in and around Mahan coal block area. Husband, in-laws bow to woman's demand for toilet If Anita Narre had moved out of her husband's house in Betul district in the absence of toilet, now it is Sarita Dehariay who has raised her voice for a toilet in Chhindwara district. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Election Commission takes Aamir Khan's help to bring out the voters Besides this, the UT's election wing has also erected a number of other banners having slogans, balloons on the Matka Roundabout, and posters, requesting people to cast their votes. UT department comes out with biometric polling system The election wing of the UT administration has prepared a unique "Biometric Based Polling System" to make the voting system more impartial, systematic and easier to use, presenting it before the Election Commission. B Com students upset over incorrect pattern papers The season of exams has left a section of under-graduate students from the commerce stream unruffled. More Chandigarh News»

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