News Digest: Heavy unseasonal rain destroys farmers' spirits

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, March 16, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Heavy unseasonal rain destroys farmers' spirits Heavy unseasonal rains across many states in India have inflicted a telling blow on farmers with their standing crops destroyed and their spirit broken. Govt to track public transport for safety All modes of public transport including BPO cabs, school buses and vans, Gramin Seva besides buses, taxis and auto rickshaws will be tracked and monitored by government agencies for safety of passengers, particularly women, across 32 million-plus cities. Supreme Court judge slams judicial activism jibe Amid calls for balancing economic development with environment protection, a senior Supreme Court judge on Sunday said if the apex court’s actions to save the environment amounted to judicial overreach, then it would continue for a long time. More India News»

		Business
		Govt against retro tax legislation: FM Finance minister Arun Jaitley has said the government will not move in the direction of "retrospective legislation on tax issues", referring to the latest controversy surrounding Cairn Energy and Cairn India. Investors SIP it up as markets rally The number of new systematic investment plans (SIPs) by equity mutual funds has more than doubled since April 2014 even as the sensex rallied 27% in the same period. Assocham proposes 'Chinese manufacturing zone' in UP With around 50 Chinese firms evincing interest towards investment in Uttar Pradesh, industry body Assocham is working on a proposal for setting up a 'Chinese manufacturing zone' in the state. More Business News»

		Environment
		Two zoo elephants to be unchained & kept in special enclosure Following the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a pair of elephants who had been chained at the city zoo for nearly a decade would be set free and shifted to an open enclosure there soon. Green India Mission to reclaim forest with MGNREGA The government has merged National Mission for a Green India, which aims afforestation at 10 million hectares of land over the next decade, with MGNREGA to increase and improve the country's forest cover. CBI nabs tiger poachers from Rajnandgaon A joint team of CBI and wildlife crime cell nabbed two notorious tiger poachers from Leemo village in Chhuikhadan tehsil in Rajnandgaon district in a first of its kind operation in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. More Environment News»

		World
		Blasts at 2 Lahore churches kill 15, trigger violence Pak Taliban suicide bombers exploded themselves near two churches in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday as worshipers were gathered inside, killing 15 people. Thousands of people march against Brazilian president Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians marched peacefully Sunday in more than 50 cities around the country to demand President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and to criticize government corruption amid a sprawling graft inquiry at state-run oil firm Petrobras. Obama roasts Hillary over email at dinner President Barack Obama took aim at his Republican opponents and his gaffe-prone vice-president on Saturday in a satirical speech that included a roast of his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton over her recent problems over her official email use. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ekta Kapoor comes on board Udta Punjab From its moment of inception, 'Udta Punjab' has been a talking point in the trade circles for its subject matter and star cast Rati's husband shocked at wife's allegations On Saturday, Bollywood and Rati Agnihotri’s friends were shocked when the usually pleasant and mild-mannered actress went to the Worli Police, citing a case of domestic violence against her husband, Anil Virwani Sunny Leone dances to Saiyaan Superstar Mohit Ahlawat will be seen essaying the role of Ranveer Singh, the crown prince of Jaisalmer, in 'Ek Paheli Leela' More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Studies boost hopes for new class of cholesterol medicines New research boosts hope that a highly anticipated, experimental class of cholesterol drugs can greatly lower the risk for heart attacks, death and other heart-related problems. Science of love: It really is all in the mind, say experts What is this thing called love? Cole Porter wasn’t the first to ask. From mystified poets to angst-ridden teens, the question of what exactly love is has troubled us since long before the master songwriter put pen to paper. NASA to test new augmented reality glasses for astronauts NASA is developing augmented reality glasses that could help ISS astronauts carry out difficult repairs in space. More Science News»

		Sports
		World Cup 2015: Top teams gear up for knockouts With top teams making the quarterfinal line-up, the knockout stage will begin when South Africa take on 1996 champions Sri Lanka on Wednesday at the SCG. Indian women win Hockey World League Round 2 title Putting up a dominating show, India scored in three of the four quarters to outplay Poland 3-1 in the final and clinch the FIH HWL Round 2. Kidambi Srikanth wins Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold title Top Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth defeated Denmark's Viktor Axelson to win the men's singles title of the $120,000 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold on Sunday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Twitter buys video streaming app Periscope Twitter did not release details about the deal, but media reports said Twitter was paying between $50 million and $100 million for the app. Apple Watch: Most people not interested in buying Apple Inc's new smartwatch may be a tough sell, with 69% of Americans indicating they are not interested in buying the gadget. 5 awesome things you can do with Android phones Android's customizability and open source nature is its biggest strength. More Technology News»

		Education
		Talking point — Same study Different stakeholders air their views on a common syllabus across central varsities, as proposed in a bill Research roundup — Nest track Two Indian institutes collaborate to study the breeding and nesting habits of the snow petrel, a bird which breeds exclusively in Antarctica Maine teacher wins $1 million Global Teacher Prize in Dubai An English teacher from rural Maine won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize on Sunday after 42 years of work as an innovator and pioneer in teaching literature. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'Fine-tune system for ambulance service so more patients benefit' Experts say efforts should be taken to improve the system to ensure that motorists gave way to ambulances. Spurned by teenage neighbour, man slashes her wrists, arrested In a case of unrequited love, a 34-year-old man allegedly slashed the wrists of his 19-year-old neighbour with a kitchen knife in Juhu on Sunday morning for refusing to marry him. Activists see red over 'green plan' of MMRDA at Metro site The MMRDA had planned to plant saplings at the Metro shed site in Aarey Colony to improve its image. But the “PR move” has bombed. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Cycles to plug gaps in Dwarka's transport network By mid to end of 2015, docking stations set up near Metro, bus stops and commercial hubs in Dwarka will let people avail bicycle rides. Braj residents demand fresh Yamuna water Plagued with only filthy Yamuna water reaching their region, hundreds of holy men, residents and farmers of Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan reached the capital on Sunday. Schoolboy's 'Blade Runner' is first entry in UN disability campaign New Delhi/ Raamaansh Gupta says his guiding principle in life is "nothing's impossible". More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Brain-dead man's eyes donated The eyes of R N Kalegowda, the brain-dead patient who was brought to BGS Global Hospital in Kengeri from Mysuru through a green corridor on Friday, were harvested on Sunday. Kejriwal's insulin intake down 80% The 10-day detox programme at Jindal Naturecure Institute (JNI) has cut Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's dependence on insulin by 80 per cent. Kejriwal, who was highly diabetic and completely insulin dependent, has seen a drastic fall in his blood sugar levels following his stay at the Bengaluru facility. Congolese youth beaten up by locals A 29-year-old Congolese national working as a software engineer with an IT company in the city was attacked by a group of men in Mahadevapura, east Bengaluru, on Sunday afternoon. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		AP to get Rs 10K cr from Centre, says Sujana Under severe pressure from its alliance partner TDP , the NDA government has reportedly decided to dole out Rs 10,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh as part of its efforts to fulfill promises made in the AP Reorganization Act. Govt yet to decide on TSBCL merger With the income tax arrears’ issue still hanging like an albatross around its neck, the Telangana government is toying with the idea of either allowing private wholesale depots or converting the Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited (TSBCL) into a government entity. Farmer suicides: 20 yrs on, no relief yet for families The official claim notwithstanding, governments of AP and Telangana have failed to pay compensation to the kin of farmers, who committed suicide due to mounting agricultural debts. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Vidya Sagar celebrates 30th anniversary After schools repeatedly denied admissions to her son because he had cerebral palsy, Poonam Natarajan decided to work with what she had. She got trained as a special educator to teach her son and from the garage of her house on Arcot Road in T Nagar, in 1985 Natarajan began with three students and two staff. Funds unspent as state highways department loses steam With weeks to go for the next state budget, the focus is now on projects announced in the past few years and the funds for them. Construction firm asked to pay 5 lakh in damages for dropping work midway More than four years after a construction company left a consumer in the lurch by abruptly halting construction work despite receiving payment, the district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed it to pay a compensation of 5.21 lakh. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		St Kabir, City High School post wins It was St Kabir’s bowlers who joined hands as they fired in unison to help their team register a comfortable 31-run win against Samrat CC (SCC) in minor cricket tournament played at Gujarat College ground. Dalit's body exhumed after activists allege murder The death of a 40-year-old man has sparked a controversy in Dhandhuka as Dalit activists have alleged murder and demanded reinvestigation. 8 foreigners among 12 held in raid on booze party A team of Anandnagar police raided a flat in Jodhpur area early on Sunday morning after residents of the building called up city police and complained about a noisy party. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Dist lawyers to collect Rs 1 cr for killed lawyer's family The District Court Bar Association will collect Rs 1 crore to help family members of lawyer Nabi Ahmad who was allegedly killed by sub-inspector Shailendra Singh on court premise. Lawyers would also hold a massive agitation at collectorate’s entrance on Monday in accordance with nationwide strike called by the Bar Council of India. Automatic weather station to come up at MNNIT Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) – the lone NIT of the state – will soon get a state-of-the-art remote automatic weather station on its campus. The station will be a part of its Geographical Information System (GIS) cell. No boundary wall to protect women hostellers in AU The women hostel area on Allahabad University campus continues to face encroachment even after the authorities have spent around Rs 1 crore to construct boundary walls for the safety of the girls living in hostels. The campus has around six girls’ hostels and is spread over an area of seven acres with two gates. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhagabat Tungi revival on cards Bhagabata Tungi, the socio-cultural hub in Odisha’s religious landscape, will get a new lease of life soon. The culture department has decided to renovate defunct tungis and earmarked Rs 4 crore for first-phase work. Nabakalebara: Government plans home stay for tourists Keeping in mind the expected footfall of lakhs during the Nabakalebara festival in Puri in July, the state government is planning to provide ‘home stay’ facilities to tourists. Wear 'cool' on your sleeve as summer hots up The shiver of winter has melted into the sweat of summer and it’s time to reshuffle your wardrobe. It’s goodbye to mufflers and pullovers till next season and time for cool cotton clothes. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Tiger cub rescued from clutch-wire trap in Madhya Pradesh Amid a pan India crackdown on absconding poachers, timely action by forest officers saved a tiger cub from deadly trap laid in Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) of Madhya Pradesh. Gambling den raided, 10 bookies and 98 others caught in Bhopal A biggest ever betting racket was busted and close to 110 people were caught betting in a house at Shivshakti Nagar in state capital on Saturday. Cases were registered at Chhola Mandir police station. Stalked, harassed on way to school girl forced to remain indoors Accused Sonu, a driver, has been arrested. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Man threatens wife with offensive clip Two days after the arrest of an IT professional for blackmailing his former woman colleague on the pretext of her objectionable clip, another cyber crime came to light in which an estranged husband made an offensive clip of his wife and threatened her to withdraw a dowry harassment case against him and his father. 3 girls chase abusive rickshaw puller in Sec 17 Three girl students chased a rickshaw puller after he dropped them mid-way from their destination and hurled abuses at them in Sector 17 on Saturday, forcing him to abandon his three-wheeler and run for his life. President convoy chokes Chandigarh traffic There were traffic jams at almost all prominent traffic lights and road dividers on Saturday due to convoy of President Pranab Mukherjee making its way to the city. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Pakistan Rangers violate ceasefire in Samba district

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

		India
		Pakistan Rangers violate ceasefire in Samba district Pakistan Rangers overnight violated the ceasefire in Samba district of Jammu region, resorting to unprovoked firing at a Border Security Force (BSF) picket. One rank-one pension by April-end, Army chief says Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Saturday said that the long-standing demand of armed forces veterans' for one rank-one pension (OROP) will be approved by April end. Unmasking the facemask With a growing number of people opting for a facemask to beat swine flu and smog, Sunday Times finds out whether or not they provide enough protection. More India News»

		Business
		Rs 20,000cr notice to Cairn not 'tax terrorism': Finance Ministry The finance ministry has rejected charges of "tax terrorism" over the Rs 20,000 crore tax notice on Cairn India and has defended the assessing officer. Spectrum auction gets bids of Rs 1,02,215cr on day 10 The government received commitments of Rs 1,02,215 crore from telecom operators at the end of bidding on Saturday, the 10th day of radio frequency spectrum e-auctions. ITC to set up 20 factories for FMCG biz Diversified conglomerate ITC Ltd on Saturday said it is in the process of setting up 20 factories for its FMCG products as it aims to garner Rs 1 lakh crore revenue from that business alone by 2030. More Business News»

		Environment
		CBI nabs tiger poachers from Rajnandgaon A joint team of CBI and wildlife crime cell nabbed two notorious tiger poachers from Leemo village in Chhuikhadan tehsil in Rajnandgaon district in a first of its kind operation in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Legislature, executive, judiciary voice concern on climate change Legislators, the executive and the judiciary today came on single platform to voice "serious global" concerns posed by climate change and pitched for carrying on "development without destruction" of environment to achieve sustainable growth. Webcast of turtles' mass nesting You can watch the Olive Ridley turtles mass nesting on the sandy shores near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district at home without going having to go the site, which is about 50 km from here. More Environment News»

		World
		Aid workers say 8 people dead in Vanuatu cyclone At least eight people were confirmed dead in Vanuatu after a massive cyclone tore through the tiny South Pacific archipelago, and the death toll is likely to rise much higher once communications are restored with outlying islands, aid workers said Sunday. Putin missing, rumours pop up Where’s Putin? The question obsessed Moscow and much of Russia on Friday, as speculation mounted as to why President Vladimir V Putin had not been seen in public for more than a week. CIA funds found their way into Al Qaeda coffers In the spring of 2010, Afghan officials struck a deal to free an Afghan diplomat held hostage by al-Qaida. But the price was steep — $5 million — and senior security officials were scrambling to come up with the money. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Mona Wasu files a case of molestation Actress Mona Wasu filed a molestation case at the DN Nagar police station on Thursday. Shahid, Varun grateful to Shiamak Davar Dancing is one of the requisites to be a Bollywood actor and it’s a coincidence that three of our best dancing stars have been trained by Shiamak Davar. When celebs came face to face with their exes Here's a look at some Bollywood celebrities who came face to face with their exes! More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Feel-good gene ups bliss quotient Study shows a genetic mutation makes some less prone to anxiety and marijuana dependence Nasa probe to study magnetic mystery reaches Earth's orbit Nasa's first space mission dedicated to the study of a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection that drives space weather is positioned in the Earth's orbit following a successful launch on March 12. Solar Impulse 2 take-off delayed by 2 days World’s first solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2’s stay in Ahmedabad has been extended by two more days, because of ​unusual weather reportedly. More Science News»

		Sports
		Raina, Dhoni lead India to 6-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Defending champions India continued their dream run and ended league campaign with 6 wickets victory over Zimbabwe in ICC World Cup Pool B match. Dhoni lashes out at team's travel itinerary to New Zealand India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday expressed his displeasure at the travel itinerary of his team during its World Cup trip to New Zealand. Giroud helps Arsenal bolster top four Premier League bid Arsenal enjoyed the perfect preparation for Champions League as they maintained their hold on a top four place in the EPL with 3-0 win over West Ham United. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple Watch: Most people not interested in buying Apple Inc's new smartwatch may be a tough sell, with 69% of Americans indicating they are not interested in buying the gadget. 5 awesome things you can do with Android phones Android's customizability and open source nature is its biggest strength. 10 things Samsung Galaxy S6 can do, iPhone 6 can't Samsung may not have added as many new features to its latest Galaxy phones as it has with previous devices, but there are a few things Galaxy S6 and S6 edge can do that the iPhone can't. More Technology News»

		Education
		Tata Institute of Fundamental Research council to meet next week The Council of Management of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is likely to meet in the coming week to discuss the future course of action over the appointment of a new director. CBSE takes stern steps to prevent bullying in schools Following complaints of bullying in schools, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked all affiliated schools to form anti-bullying or anti-ragging committees and to display notices about this on the school premises. Online admission process under RTE begins in Mira-Bhayander The Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) education department has begun the process of online admission for the 25 per cent quota under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		As eco warriors pass on, there's no one to fill their outsize shoes Mumbai lost an important civic warrior last week with the passing of Kisan Mehta, co-founder of the Save Bombay Committee. But his demise also highlights the vacuum in the city’s environmental movement today. Pakistan's Parsi parliamentarian fights for minority rights The 1857 Revolt had big and small consequences for the subcontinent. One of the largest was the British Crown formally extending its sovereignty over India. 4 held for bid to grab diamond company director's plot One of the directors of Dharmananda diamond private limited (DDPL), the Surat based company that bought prime minister Narendra Modi’s suit from auction for Rs 4.31 crore last month, has filed a complaint of land-grabbing cheating, forgery and threatening case against a caretaker and few others. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi's BRT may finally be scrapped as MLAs put pressure on govt Commuters who have been spending hours stuck in traffic jams on Delhi’s first and only BRT corridor may finally be free of the mess. Activist who screened BBC film arrested A day after an FIR was registered against him for screening the banned BBC documentary on Nirbhaya, activist Ketan Dixit was arrested on Saturday. He was charged under IPC Sections 188 (violating public order) and 228 (revealing the identity of a rape victim/survivor). DU sets up own weather station The geography department of Delhi University has set up its own weather station after finding the government data inadequate for studying the capital’s “microclimate”. It is considered crucial for the department’s research initiatives. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Int'l film celebrates Karnataka couple's life It was in 1961. When two budding Kannada writers from different castes decided to tie the knot, there was stiff opposition. Solar Impulse has a 'Professor Calculus' connection Going around the world in a balloon or in a solar-powered aircraft, founder of Solar Impulse, Bertrand Piccard is only carrying forward his family tradition. CCB to investigate attack on Africans Stressing that they are trying to build healthy relationships between members of the African community in the city and the locals, city police commissioner MN Reddi tweeted on Saturday saying they would not spare anyone, local or foreign, who has committed an offence. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Telangana to have official folk artistes As Many As 550 Artistes Who Participated In The Statehood Struggle To Get Govt Jobs Holding out hope in the time of grief A few good men of Hyd carry out the unenviable job of convincing families to donate organs of their brain-dead kin. Minority edu institutions to lose JNTU affiliation for not following AICTE norms As many as 33 minority educational institutions are likely to lose their Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University affiliation on account of failing to adhere to All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) standards. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		MTC bus driver loses licence after accident, court reinstates it An MTC driver, whose licence was suspended for six months after the death of a senior citizen trying to alight the bus in T Nagar, will return to duty soon, thanks to an order of the Madras high court last week. HC smells foul play, cancels election in co-op sugar mill It was quite an incredible election conducted for a state-administered cooperative sugar mill in Cuddalore district. TNEB trench gives a shock to Indira Nagar road users If you are visiting Indira Nagar 1st Avenue or 2nd Avenue, watch your steps. Residents of the neighbourhood may not need the warning as they everyday dodge the trenches and mounds of earth that run along either side the roads. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Leprosy is rearing its head in Gujarat again Is leprosy back to haunt the state 11 years after Gujarat achieved the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) goal of keeping the prevalence rate below one? Data available with the state’s health department suggests so. Prank calls from kids hit 108 service “My mother has fallen down.” “My grandmother is not getting up from the bed, please help.” One may think 108 emergency services in Gujarat will immediately swing into action at such calls. City on the rocks: Hailstorm catches Ahmedabad unawares Many Amdvadis were amazed as hail rained down on Saturday. Several parts of the city — including Relief Road, C G Road, Ashram Road, Paldi and Motera — experienced rains and hailstones. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		New shelter home, medical facilities for disabled kids The state government, in compliance with the Allahabad high court’s order, started providing medical facilities to the 14 mentally challenged kids at Rajikya Shishu Grih at Shivkuti. Currently, there are around 20 children, within the age group of one-and-half years to 10 years, at the shelter home including mentally and physically challenged kids. Smart ATMs will predict snags, inform tech team Imagine an Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) that forecasts its problem a week in advance and also passes the information to engineers for speedy rectification. Though it sounds improbable currently, it could be a reality when Sangam City transforms into a Smart City. AU employees go on protest after colleague's death A group of employees, of Institute of Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education (ICCCE) of Allahabad University, sat on a protest, with the body of a deceased employee, at the portico of vice-chancellor’s office over non-payment of their salaries. The employees accused AU authorities for non-payment of salaries and claimed that the employee died due to lack of funds for his treatment. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhagabat Tungi revival on cards Bhagabata Tungi, the socio-cultural hub in Odisha’s religious landscape, will get a new lease of life soon. The culture department has decided to renovate defunct tungis and earmarked Rs 4 crore for first-phase work. Nabakalebara: Government plans home stay for tourists Keeping in mind the expected footfall of lakhs during the Nabakalebara festival in Puri in July, the state government is planning to provide ‘home stay’ facilities to tourists. Wear 'cool' on your sleeve as summer hots up The shiver of winter has melted into the sweat of summer and it’s time to reshuffle your wardrobe. It’s goodbye to mufflers and pullovers till next season and time for cool cotton clothes. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		90% web, mobile apps open to cyber attacks: Expert More than 90% of all web and mobile applications are vulnerable to cyber attacks. Also, a similar percentage of social media users' accounts can be compromised through social engineering unless one is careful whom one befriends online. Incredible Madhya Pradesh: Clock ticks with this deity In the opium belt of Madhya Pradesh, where poppy is offered to gods for safe transit of contraband, here's a temple in Mandsaur which resonates not with the sound of bells, but tick-tock of clocks. 3 fraudsters used IAS couple's a/c, booked Three people were booked on Thursday for fraudulently opening and operating a bank account to park ill-gotten money of tainted IAS couple Arvind Joshi and Tinoo Joshi. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Man threatens wife with offensive clip Two days after the arrest of an IT professional for blackmailing his former woman colleague on the pretext of her objectionable clip, another cyber crime came to light in which an estranged husband made an offensive clip of his wife and threatened her to withdraw a dowry harassment case against him and his father. 3 girls chase abusive rickshaw puller in Sec 17 Three girl students chased a rickshaw puller after he dropped them mid-way from their destination and hurled abuses at them in Sector 17 on Saturday, forcing him to abandon his three-wheeler and run for his life. President convoy chokes Chandigarh traffic There were traffic jams at almost all prominent traffic lights and road dividers on Saturday due to convoy of President Pranab Mukherjee making its way to the city. More Chandigarh News»

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