News Digest: In a day, 24 more die of swine flu in Gujarat, Rajasthan

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, February 15, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		In a day, 24 more die of swine flu in Gujarat, Rajasthan The swine flu scourge turned deadlier on Saturday , with 12 more deaths being recorded in Gujarat and 11 in Rajasthan. The toll since January in Gujarat is now 136 and 153 in Rajasthan. KCR, Chandrababu Naidu call Sagar truce After days of confrontation on sharing of water, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday arrived at a compromise by which the former agreed to release water from Nagarjunasagar dam to meet the irrigation needs of the AP farmers. Haryana government to clear all staff related cases in 3 months To appease nearly 3.28 lakh state employees in Haryana, who were upset over reversal of retirement age to 58 years from 60 by Manohar Lal Khatta-led BJP government, the CMO has now directed all the departments to clear workers' pending cases. More India News»

		Business
		Vodafone tax row gave India bad name: HR Bhardwaj Former law minister and veteran Congress leader HR Bhardwaj on Saturday criticized UPA government’s decision to levy tax on Vodafone over its purchase of Hutchison Essar telecom services saying it brought disrepute to the country. ONGC Q3 profit halves to Rs 3,571 crore State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Saturday reported halving of its net profit in the December quarter after being forced to pay fuel subsidises despite plummeting oil prices. Lack of spectrum no excuse for call drops: Govt Chiding private telecom operators for repeated call drops on their network, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said lack of spectrum is no excuse for not resolving this problem. More Business News»

		Environment
		Muthoot partners with WWF for elephant project A new conservation project aimed at effective management of human-elephant conflict and protecting the habitats of Asian elephants in six states has been launched here. Chimpanzees too are influenced by marketing spin A Duke University study has found that positive and negative framing make a big difference for chimpanzees and bonobos too. 200 whales stranded on New Zealand beach, 24 die Almost 200 pilot whales stranded themselves on Friday on a New Zealand beach renowned as a deathtrap for the marine mammals, conservation officials said. More Environment News»

		World
		Shelling halts in Ukraine as Poroshenko orders ceasefire Shelling suddenly stopped at midnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk after President Petro Poroshenko gave the order to government forces to cease firing at midnight in line with a peace agreement reached last Thursday. Nigerian president seeks US help to fight Boko Haram Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan appealed for more US help in fighting Boko Haram, as the rebels struck again on Saturday and called for a boycott of upcoming general elections. Police foil Valentine's Day mass shooting plot in Canada A group of “murderous misfits” had planned to massacre as many people as possible in a Valentine’s Day shooting spree that police foiled after an anonymous tipoff, Canada’s justice minister Peter MacKay said on Saturday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ekta and Imran Khan bury their differences Like they say, there are no permanent friends and enemies in the film industry. Actor Imran Khan and Ekta Kapoor had a fallout post the release of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, and it seemed that they would never work with each other again. Sushant Divgikar: I am in love with Upen Sushant Divgikar, who was last seen in Bigg Boss, admits that he has special feelings for Upen Patel, his inmate in the show. Parineeti Chopra: I broke two hearts More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Now, a synthetic vaccine to fight polio British and American scien tists have now joined hands to develop a wholly artificial vaccine to combat polio. Want a face shave, ladies? Let's face it, ladies have facial hair just like men. Why celebs may want to sell their poo Faecal transplants are soaring in popularity as a treatment for a host of diseases, with some donors being paid up to $13,000 for their stool. More Science News»

		Sports
		India vs Pakistan — it doesn't get any bigger than this The last time the two teams played in a World Cup match in Australia was in 1992, the last time they played on Australian soil was in 2000. India won both matches. History favours India in opener against determined Pakistan India have an overwhelming 5-0 record in the World Cup since the two teams were first pitted against each other at the ICC event in the 1992 edition in Sydney. 2003 WC match against Pak best game of my life: Sachin Talking about the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan, Tendulkar said: "I don't think there was a better World Cup match that I have been a part of." More Sports News»

		Technology
		5 reasons why Android Wear has not been a success When Google announced Android Wear, it was highly expected that Google will be able to replicate Android's mobile success in wearables too. Apple's secret lab working on electric car Apple has a secret lab working on the creation of an Apple-branded electric car citing people familiar with the matter. 7 dos & don'ts of online dating Faces, bodies, status and humour are all important in internet dating, but the biggest success factor of all could be your name. More Technology News»

		Education
		Ensure transgenders feel at home, UGC to universities The University Grants Commission has asked universities to take all steps to ensure that transgenders among students do not feel out of place on campus. PES University and IIT Bombay sign MoU PES University (PESU) and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at IIT Bombay's Campus in Mumbai on January 20, 2015. Tawde goes to Mumbai schools, finds students carry 6kg bags Students of primary school stooping because of the weight of their heavy school bags is a common sight. Yet on Friday, school education minister Vinod Tawde was taken aback when he visited three schools in the city to weigh these bags. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Rushdie, Arundhati Roy come in for flak at regional lit fest Back in the 1500s, a boy from Stratford village worked his way up to become a global writer of classics. Today, those rooted in their local milieu who write in their mother tongues like Shakespeare did, rarely set bestseller charts on fire in India. School tells Class VIII pupils to shift For the second year in a row, parents of Class VIII students of St George School in Mulund have to hunt for a new school as it has not been able to secure affiliation from the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. 'I'm gonna give you 100% Buddy Guy. If I don't, I'd be faking you' Buddy Guy’s pioneering blues legacy had humble beginnings. At the age of seven, he fashioned a makeshift guitar out of wood and hairpins and taught himself how to play. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Once again, Manna Dey's 'Insaan' song on lips It was yesterday once more as Arvind Kejriwal, yet again burst into his sore-throated rendition of the 1959 Manna Dey song ‘Insaan Ka Insaan Se Ho Bhaichara’. Record 9.25 lakh footfall in Surajkund The 29th Surajkund International Crafts Mela has seen a record footfall of 9.25 lakh visitors with a number of young couples thronging the place on Valentine’s Day. Man murdered, 2 others shot at in Delhi One youth was shot dead and two were injured after receiving bullets in two different incidents. A group of four murdered a 27-year-old youth and shot at his friend in west Delhi's Mundka. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		14-year-old girl commits suicide in Bengaluru A 14-year-old class X student allegedly hanged herself in her BDA apartment in Austin Town, east Bengaluru late Friday night. Soviet-era planes still going strong in Bengaluru All 72 aircraft lined up for the show have landed at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. Thanks to jams, work-from-home a big hit If you think Bengaluru’s traffic curtails productivity, read this: 56% of professionals across the globe feel likewise. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		`Photonics valley' to boost IT industry in Telangana Telangana is set to have the world's first `photonics valley' that is expected to give a fillip to the information technology industry in the state. Telangana gives up hopes on power from gas-based plants in AP The Telangana government, which has been denied power from Krishnapatnam plant in AP , appears to have given up hopes of getting electricity from new independent power producers (IPPs), which are expected to supply 800 MW to the Telangana towards its share. KCR, Chandrababu Naidu call Sagar truce  After days of confrontation on sharing of water, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday arrived at a compromise by which the former agreed to release water from Nagarjunasagar dam to meet the irrigation needs of the AP farmers. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Grandson unearths 80-year-old love story from Nilgiris A poignant love story that unfolded more than 80 years ago in the Nilgiri hills came to light, quite appropriately, on Valentine’s Day this year. Chennai auto driver to offer free rides if India win World Cup Thousands in the city may be on tenterhooks ahead of Team India’s clash on Sunday with arch rivals Pakistan in the ICC 2015 World Cup of cricket, but Murugesh Swaminathan is looking beyond the match. When Africa and Rajasthan hum the same tune in Chennai Folk singers Devu and Gullu Khan may not have heard of the 13th century-old kora, the 21-stringed harp, before, but it is the powerful rhythm of this African instrument, which is linked to the oral tradition of storytelling that draws them to it. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		In a day, 24 more die of swine flu in Gujarat, Rajasthan The swine flu scourge turned deadlier on Saturday , with 12 more deaths being recorded in Gujarat and 11 in Rajasthan. The toll since January in Gujarat is now 136 and 153 in Rajasthan. 538 dodgy sim cards seized As part of a planned crack down on the bookie network just ahead of the ICC cricket world cup, the city crime branch sleuths on Saturday seized 538 sim cards which were activated on fake identities and arrested four accused involved in the racket. Leaking PNG catches fire in Ghatlodia, 7 hurt Seven people sustained burn injuries when piped natural gas (PNG) leaked during repairs and caught fire near Ranna Park in Ghatlodia on Saturday evening. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		1.85 lakh candidates to appear in TGT exam Around 1.85 lakh candidates would appear in the third stage of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) examination at 332 centres across the state on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Service Selection Board (UPSESSB) would conduct the examination in 11 divisions of the state. Use of English should be discouraged: UP governor UP governor Ram Naik strongly advocated use of Hindi in education and said the practice of people in Hindi heartland speaking in English should be discouraged. PCS mains in limbo as govt yet to decide on CSAT exam pattern Even as the date for application for Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)-2015 draws near, the state government is yet to take a decision to implement the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) exam pattern for this year. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Hindus worship Buddhist idols in Odisha's villages Entire villages in Odisha have been worshipping Buddhist idols believing them to be those of Hindu deities for centuries. Plus II: Green light to e-evaluation Despite reservations from some principals, the state government on Friday decided to go ahead with online evaluation of Plus II science answer papers this year. Naveen announces Rs 1600 crore pre-poll sop for Sambalpur Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced development projects worth Rs 1,600 crore for Sambalpur in what was seemingly an expensive pre-poll sop as the ruling BJD on Friday soft launched its campaign for the upcoming civic body polls in Rourkela and Sambalpur. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Developing smart city in China eaiser than India: Vijayvargiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concept of smart city and its attainability was debated and discussed at a GenNext Cities seminar here on Friday. Injured Sourabh clinches gold for MP in National Games A great player takes his chances when there are openings.This is what separates players who make it and those who don't. NGT admits contempt plea against CM for mai ka laal remark An NGO, Nagrik Upbhogta Manch, had sent a legal notice to CM quoting TOI report on the issue. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Congress pits runaway bride against her SAD critic in civic polls Love can bring out tenderness in a brute, but it can also invoke ferocity in a tender soul. 3 candidates of SAD, BJP file nominations against each in Barnala near Chandigarh The love-hate relationship between alliance partners SAD (Badal) and BJP before the municipal council elections continues at Barnala. Siwani residents celebrate as Kejriwal takes oath as Delhi CM There was ample celebration on the Valentine's Day for Siwani and Khera village residents as Arvind Kejriwal, who hails from the area, took oath as Delhi chief minister on Saturday. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Stalking? But that's just foreplay

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, February 14, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Stalking? But that's just foreplay Dear Indian Women, many of you may not know this but February is the month of love. Between you, me and the sheets I would prefer for every month to be the month of love but we never get what we want so we must take what we get. Valentine's day: Will it be your mall or mine? The Indian lover has evolved with technology, but not with nifty moves. Governor takes exception to Nitish's remarks, refutes charges of delay in decision Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Friday reacted to JD (U) strongman Nitish Kumar’s allegation on Thursday that his decision to ask Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi to seek trust vote. More India News»

		Business
		Govt set to defer GAAR indefinitely The government plans to defer implementation of the General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) until the time the tax administration is able to rebuild trust with companies on the controversial issue. Cardless withdrawals at 1 lakh ATMs by year-end Cardless cash withdrawal will be available from one lakh bank ATMs by the end of the current year for remittances initiated by customers of these banks. BSNL's share in mobile business dips to single digit Jayanta Kumar was a harried customer of BSNL. A resident of Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region, he had been running from pillar to post just to get a bill for his landline and broadband connection, which was not delivered for six months. " More Business News»

		Environment
		200 whales stranded on New Zealand beach, 24 die Almost 200 pilot whales stranded themselves on Friday on a New Zealand beach renowned as a deathtrap for the marine mammals, conservation officials said. Where women take up cudgels to save forests A movement that a handful of woman activists started in the early 1980s to save forests in the Himalayan terrain of the picturesque Lahaul Valley, populated mainly by Buddhists, has yielded the fruit of labour. The roar is real: Experts back tiger census results Hitting back at critics who have questioned India's tiger census methods, experts involved in the process said the big cat numbers revealed in the exercise were credible and backed by a rigorous process upheld by scientists from across the world. More Environment News»

		World
		Argentine president accused of bombing cover-up Argentine prosecutors formally accused President Cristina Kirchner on Friday of shielding Iranian officials from prosecution over a 1994 Jewish center bombing, renewing the firestorm around the embattled leader. Oregon governor resigns amid scandal One of the longest-serving US governors announced his resignation amid allegations his fiancee used her relationship with him to enrich herself. US cop held for assaulting Indian, may loose his job The Madison, Alabama cop who used brute force to trip down a 57-year old Indian grandfather on his morning walk has been arrested on assault charges pending dismissal from the police force, even as the FBI has stepped in to investigate possible civil rights violation. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Sohail bhai is my protector' We bring you excerpts from their first ever interview post marriage. Sahil Khan: I am not allowed to speak While the Ayesha Shroff and Sahil Khan battle is getting uglier by the day, the Shroffs’ have obtained injunction from the court preventing the latter from ‘defaming’ their family in any way through articles or pictures. 'My hard work of 18 years has paid off' Nawazuddin Siddiqui was presented the Yash Bharti Award by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav recently. The award, given in honour of his contribution to cinema, holds a special place in the actor’s heart. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Anybody out there? Some want to beam signals into space For decades, US astrophysicists seeking to make contact with extraterrestrials have basically just been listening for signals from space. Ebola transmission from dead patients possible: study Transmission of the deadly Ebola virus from deceased individuals may be possible for an extended period of time following death, a new study has claimed. HRT doubles the risk of ovarian cancer Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) nearly double their risk of developing ovarian cancer. More Science News»

		Sports
		McCullum sets tone as NZ score 331 against Sri Lanka Brendon McCullum gave the World Cup the explosive opening organisers had hoped for with a blazing 65 as New Zealand scored an imposing 331/6 vs Sri Lanka. Irfan will pose a challenge to Indian batsmen: Dravid Dravid may have termed India as favourites against Pakistan in their opening World Cup clash, but he warned the Men in Blue to beware of Mohd Irfan. Andy Murray beaten by Gilles Simon in Rotterdam Andy Murray slumped out of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament after being outplayed 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals by Frenchman Gilles Simon. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Google to bring internet-powered ballons to India Google said it was working with the Indian government to bring its balloon-powered internet and its kite-powered wind energy to the country. Buyers' guide: PC vs Apple Mac Everytime you are in the market to buy a new computer, you have to struggle with the basic question of where your allegiance lays -- a PC or Mac.Take a look at how you can pick your side: 6 tech skills you need to know in 2015 Technology is one area that no one in any industry can afford to grow complacent about — tech is changing so quickly that skills you mastered last year may already be outdated. More Technology News»

		Education
		Tawde goes to Mumbai schools, finds students carry 6kg bags Students of primary school stooping because of the weight of their heavy school bags is a common sight. Yet on Friday, school education minister Vinod Tawde was taken aback when he visited three schools in the city to weigh these bags. Maharashtra back to CET for engineering from next year The state government is most likely to withdraw its participation from the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) conducted by the Centre for admissions to the state’s engineering colleges. Government schools in HP losing students to private institutions Government schools in Himachal Pradesh seem to have failed to meet the expectations of parents as enrollment in these schools has consistently been falling over the years while private schools have been registering more number of students. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		HC clears Parel redevelopment, rejects residents' plea in Mumbai The Bombay high court has cleared the decks for a mega-redevelopment project in Parel, refusing any relief for 111 families who were opposing it and now face eviction. 16 more test positive for swine flu in Mumbai The count of swine flu cases in the city continued to rise with another 16 people testing positive for the virus. Government may hold schools responsible for kid abuse in Mumbai The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) is planning to recommend to the government to make schools accountable if an act of child abuse takes place on their premises. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		22-yr-old student hangs self A 22-year-old pursuing a course in designing at School of Planning and Architecture allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan at the institute hostel on Friday afternoon. Whistleblower likely to head anti-graft dept Senior Indian Forest Services officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was unceremoniously removed as the chief vigilance officer of AIIMS, may head the anti-corruption branch of Delhi government which looks into bribery and corruption cases involving officials. Christians feel insecure, demand action Since St Sebastian’s Church was attacked on December 1 last year, a Christian institution has, on an average, been attacked every 11 days in Delhi. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		"I see dance as a political instrument" Argentina-born dancer and choreographer Constanza Macras currently lives and works in Germany, where she runs the dance company Dorky Park, started by her in 2003 along with dramaturge Carmen Mehnert. Reclaiming public spaces for love If park benches could talk, the love stories they'd share would fill tomes. And putting these silent spectators in front and center of the Valentine's Day action is the city-based media and arts collective, Maraa. Pubs are the new parks Pubs have replaced parks as meeting places for couples. It came into play about the time the Garden City morphed into the country's pub capital, the 90s when IT boomed. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		I am a story-teller: Ashwin Sanghi The literary world has given him many identities. Some refer to him as a “fiction conspiracy thriller” writer, while others prefer to address him as the author of a series of "historical/mythological thrillers”. 30 Guntur doctors under lens for Aarogyasri fraud The ethics committee of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council backed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) is investigating a Rs 60 crore medical fraud allegedly committed by 30-odd Guntur government doctors and departmental heads of Aarogyasri Health Care Trust (AHCT). 37 test positive for swine flu The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) has detected 37 fresh swine flu positive cases, including a 32-year-old medico from Gandhi Hospital. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Srirangam bypoll records high turnout of 82.54% The byelection for Srirangam assembly seat, vacated by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, recorded an unprecedented 82.54 % polling, indicating a decisive vote for one party. Offie who bowled over city of nizams Not all players who have played cricket in the country can claim to have experienced the diverse ethos of two prominent centres of the game in the south -Madras and Hyderabad. Corporation health dept wallows in filth Corporation of Chennai spends crores of rupees on mosquito eradication to prevent the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria, but the office of its health department in its Ripon Buildings headquarters, surrounded by muck, is ideal for the propagation of all kinds of pestilential vermin. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Alabama racial attack: US holds terror for victim's wife Shakuntala — wife of 57-year-old Suresh Patel who was hospitalized with partial paralysis after a racial attack by policemen in Madison City, Alabama — says she is feeling helpless in Kheda even as her husband battles for life in the US. State Wakf Tribunal to be notified soon The state government has initiated steps to establish a waqf tribunal that will act as an appellate authority for waqf properties in the state and also hear grievances against the state Wakf Board. 2 IIM-A graduates take altruistic risk As their classmates at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) jostle for jobs, Anurag Singal and Chaitra Chandrasekhar have decided to give the fat salaries a miss to contribute to society. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Leopard injures 3, killed by villagers A leopard was trapped and beaten to death by villagers after it attacked and injured three persons, including two brothers, on Wednesday. The injured were being treated at district hospital, where the condition of brother duo was stated to be critical. The forest department has taken leopard’s carcass in its custody. Ayurvedic, Unani medicines made available at CHCs, PHCs There is good news for patients seeking Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicines for various ailments. All these medicines will be available at two PHCs and 19 CHCs of the district. PM Modi's statue adorns temple in UP's Kaushambi Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his displeasure over a temple dedicated to him in Gujarat, a small Lord Shiva temple in Bhagwanpur village of neighbouring Kaushambi district boasts of a PM’s statue symbolically performing puja of Lord Shiva. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Principal booked for torturing girl student Police on Thursday booked principal and a girl student of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training Centre here on the charges of humiliating and torturing a 19-year-old girl student. Police net couple in Rs 86L fraud A major fraud in providing post-Phailin assistance to fishermen of Ganjam district has came to the fore. Sometimes, diseases break out sporadically: Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak With jaundice reaching epidemic proportions in Cuttack, after Sambalpur, where it claimed nearly two dozen lives, and swine flu virus spreading fast, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak is at the receiving end. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Interstate gang into human trafficking busted, 6 nabbed in Bhopal Six members of an interstate gang into human trafficking were arrested and two minor missing girls were recovered from them, on Friday. IT girl wins panchayat poll in Bhind badlands She spurned lucrative offers from Infosys and IBM and chose to contest panchayat elections in Bhind and won. 4 Bhopal Municipal Corporation officers injured in attack, Sadar Manzil vandalized Four officials of civic body sustained injuries in an attack by six people at old headquarters, here on Thursday morning. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Tara's police remand extended by 2 days near Chandigarh Amidst slogans of 'Khalistan Zindabad' by sympathizers, terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara was produced in a Bathinda court on Friday. School teacher, accomplice booked for raping 2 students near Chandigarh A government school teacher and his accomplice were booked on Friday for allegedly raping two minor girls in a village in Karnal district. Man who threw shoe at Badal ends fast near Chandigarh Former Aam Aadmi Party activist Vikram Singh, who was arrested for hurling a shoe at Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, on Friday ended his 65-day hunger strike. More Chandigarh News»

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