News Digest: Ludhiana roads deadliest in Punjab

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, July 20, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Ludhiana roads deadliest in Punjab Roads in Ludhiana were Punjab's deadliest, claiming 318 lives in 2014. 'Tourism could bridge Punjab's French connection' Historic and cultural ties between Punjab and France, especially the contribution of officials in the French army to the empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh warrior who ruled the first Sikh kingdom, are now witnessing a renewed interest. 39 Christians 'converted' to Hinduism in Kerala The Viswha Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday 'converted' 39 people from 11 dalit Christian families to Hinduism as part of its controversial ghar wapsi programme in Kerala's Alappuzha district on Sunday. More India News»

		Business
		There is misconception over new GDP data: Sen A panel headed by Pronab Sen, chairman of the National Statistical Commission, to review manufacturing data used in the compilation of the GDP, will submit its report next month. Goldman CEO Blankfein's net worth crosses $1billion Goldman Sachs Group made hundreds of partners rich when it went public in 1999. Its performance since then has turned Lloyd Blankfein,60, into a billionaire. China's economic growth outlook still promising, Xi says President Xi Jinping has reassured local governments that China's economy still enjoys a promising outlook despite downward growth pressure pegging it around seven per cent. More Business News»

		Environment
		Deadly metals found in fish from Ennore creek The seafood you eat could have toxic elements like mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium, a study has found. 'Don't introduce new agenda in Paris conference' India today cautioned the developed nations against introduction of any new agenda at this "late hour" if they want to make the crucial climate change conference in Paris scheduled for later this year a "success". UK full of mini versions of Stonehenge Researchers have discovered miniature versions of Stonehenge, a massive prehistoric stone monument, around upland areas across the UK, from Cornwall to northern Scotland. More Environment News»

		World
		Burundi officials skip crisis talks days before poll Government representatives failed to show up Sunday for talks in Burundi aimed at ending the unrest caused by the president's controversial bid for a third term, forcing the mediation to be adjourned just ahead of Tuesday's election, the talks facilitator said. Cameron offers plan to counter extremism Prime Minister David Cameron is launching a five-year plan to defeat Islamic extremism, saying it is time to counter the ideology that has attracted so many young people to the Islamic State group. Rebel shelling kills 57 in Yemen's Aden At least 57 civilians were killed today when Shiite rebels bombarded Yemen's second city Aden, where Saudi-backed pro-government forces have made gains against the insurgents, a health official said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Bollywood's most expensive films Bahubali: India's answer to Hollywood's hit film series 300, is a grand visual delight in every sense. Celebs who allegedly had sex in public We put together celebrities who have allegedly had sex in public and some have been caught too! Read on to find out more... Shraddha getting voice training for Rock On 2 Shraddha Kapoor will soon be starting to shoot for the sequel to the cult youth rock musical drama film Rock On in September. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Learning with Times: Uranium is a cleaner fuel, but not freely traded According to World Bank estimates, 41.2% of the world's electricity comes from coal, 21.9% from natural gas and 3.9% from oil. Hydropower constitutes 15.6%, nuclear power 11.7% and other renewable resources a little over 4% of the world's total electricity generation. Total DNA on Earth counted: 50 tn tn tn When scientists want to estimate global biodiversity, they typically tally the total species or organisms found around the world. Decoded: How mosquitoes track humans Mosquitoes track down their human targets by making use of a multi-sensory strategy that involves odours, visual cues and body heat to draw them closer to their prey, a new study by California Institute of Technology has found. More Science News»

		Sports
		Cremer, Chibhabha star in Zimbabwe's consolation win Zimbabwe took the fight to the Indians and managed to register a win in the tour, beating India by 10 runs in the second and the final T20I. Rahane rues 2nd T20I loss, but happy with overall performance Ajinkya Rahane rued his side's failure with the bat to lose the second T20 against Zimbabwe but said he was happy with the overall performance of the team. There is no better feeling than winning fifth rubber: Bhambri Yuki Bhambri is relishing the fact that his was a decisive win in the fifth rubber over New Zealand which took them to Davis Cup World Group Playoffs. More Sports News»

		Technology
		6 'best' camera smartphones We take a look at 6 best smartphones that offer OIS for superior camera performance. Airtel to launch branded 4G handset at Rs 4,000 The company is in discussions with Chinese vendors and even held talks with Taiwan based Foxconn, which has set up its mobile manufacturing plant in India. 10 tricks every Android user should know Since Android is an open platform, there’s plenty of room for customization. Beyond personalizing your phone, there are a few easy practices that can keep your phone neat and organized with plenty of battery life to last all day. More Technology News»

		Education
		Research roundup - Retail realities One would think that retail stores make most of their sale during the weekend when shoppers flock stores. Career Guide What are my career options if I pursue an MCom degree instead of an MBA after my BCom? Calicut University cancels 2012 B Tech exam Calicut University's vice chancellor (VC) has decided to cancel the special re-examination conducted three years ago for the daughter of the personal assistant of the pro vice chancellor (PVC) and 23 other B Tech students of Nehru Engineering College, Pampadi. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		RPF personnel rescue two kids The RPF rescued two children at Bandra in separate instances. Consultant to aid RPF in checking e-ticket fraud The Western Railways unit of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has hired a consultant who can give specific tip-offs on e-ticketing fraud. Consumer can insist on insurer paying for scrap When a claim is settled on total loss basis, it is customary to determine the scrap or salvage value and deduct this from the total loss assessed. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Foreign training for NDMC staff The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is planning to send a team of gardeners and safai karamcharis abroad for training to give the areas under it the spruced up look of Singapore or Shanghai. School stampede: Fresh probe likely The Delhi government has decided to set up a fresh inquiry into the stampede that occurred at a government girls or boys senior secondary school in Khajuri Khas in 2009. Girl killing: AAP steps up offensive against police The fight for control over Delhi Police has intensified after a 19-year-old girl was brutally stabbed to death at Anand Parbat. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		The hands that create the gods have little to count as blessings At one corner you spot Lord Venkateshwara, standing benign under a tree; a few feet away you notice Goddess Lakshmi being recreated in all her munificent magnificence under a chisel. Ballari youth paints a picture of hope When Ramu Hampi, 28, a fancy store owner in Hospet taluk of Ballari district in north Karnataka, started making a two-minute video on farmers for a friend, he realized the various problems faced by them. Mandya villagers corner Ambareesh The anguish among farmers was palpable in Mandya that has recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in the state recently. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Varsity non-teaching staff in state to get 43% salary hike After facing protests for several months, the government on Sunday decided to extend the benefits of 10th pay revision commission (PRC) to non-teaching staff in state universities, which would make them eligible for the 43 per cent salary hike. AP, Telangana lax in reporting bad drug reactions An adverse reaction to a drug can give a scare to any patient, but chances are that most patients going through such symptoms in Hyderabad are never told what’s going wrong. Post offices to distribute 'God-Jal' Bottled ‘God-Jal’ (Godavari Jalalu) will be distributed through post offices in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from Monday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		When fashion links heritage, handlooms When textile designer N Bhushavali gifted a khadi kurta with ancient Grantha inscriptions on it to senior archaeologist R Nagaswamy, he was awestruck to find the young designer had embroidered it with inscriptions found in Kailasanathar Temple in Kancheepuram. 85-year-old tries to end life in Chennai A 85-year-old man who attempted suicide by jumping into the sea in pouring rain was rescued by Coastal Security Group (CSG) commandos on Saturday night. Shortage of facilities leaves Chennai public libraries in shambles The building looks decrepit and its insides are ill-lit. One has to wade through mounds of garbage and bear with the foul smell from a nearby corporation toilet to locate the entrance. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Now GIDC plans impact fee, one-time payment schemes Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) plans to launch two new schemes for plot holders and owners — a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for defaulters and an impact fee scheme for those who have done unauthorized construction on their plots. Blind sculpt their memories on clay For Vikram Dabhi, 19, a student with Blind People’s Association (BPA) and native of Lathi, Mickey Mouse was a fond childhood memory. Disabled people don't need pity: UPSC topper The victory of Ira Singhal, the first person with disability to achieve the feat of cracking UPSC exam in general category this year, is truly an inspiring tale of perseverance and passion. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Budding astrologer all set to steal the show Children of her age prefer to watch cartoon on TV sets or to play games on mobile or computer but seven year- old Kriti Varshney learns the patterns of movement by the planets and stars and assigns meanings to them that relate to human impetus and perception. Smart queries baffle Pratapgarh students For a class 12th student, question like how many bones are there in human body or for that matter what is the velocity of light, could be simple. AU library upgradation hangs fire for a year A mega exercise to boost amenities for students at the Central Library of Allahabad University is lying in a limbo for the past over a year even though it was cleared by the building and work’s committee (B&WC). The reason: CPWD has not provided the work estimate to the varsity. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Millions ecstatic at first look of divine trio in Nabakalebara Billed as the country’s biggest religious congregation, the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra on Saturday drew more than 10 lakh devotees who pulled the chariots of the new idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. Puri pilgrims' moments of sorrow and grief Two women were killed and several others, mostly women and children, injured in a stampede in front of the chariots here on Saturday. Plantation drive for Mahanadi fishermen's livelihood To provide alternative livelihood to fishermen after ban on fishing in Mahanadi wildlife division of Satkosia Tiger Reserve in March, the authorities recently launched a drive to plant fruit-bearing trees on land belonging to fishermen. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		41 kids stranded as hostel in Rajgarh district inundated Incessant rain in last 24 hours has left 41 students of a government hostel in Talen town of Rajgarh district marooned. Soon after the reports, district administration launched rescue works late hours, but the students were stranded till late night hours. Hard-disk tamper cloud on 3 IPS officers, may face CBI quizzing Three policemen, including two senior IPS officers are likely to be questioned by CBI, which kick-started a probe into a complaint alleging foul play during seizure of hard-disk from the computer of Vyapam chief system analyst Nitin Mohindra. Students enrolled, degrees on offer, but colleges missing Corruption and irresponsible attitude of monitoring and agencies granting affiliation and permission to run educational courses have led to mushrooming of ghost colleges right under the nose of the government and administration in the state capital. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		MC to launch Citizen's Charter today If the back lane of your house is dirty, MC is bound to clean it within seven days, replace defective water meters and remove debris within five days of receipt of complaint, issue birth and death certificates within seven days, remove a fallen three within four hours, prune a tree within three days, remove a dead tree within 15 days, repair faults in street lights within 24 hours, and replace a damaged pole within 10 days. Paramour held for killing woman's husband in Mohali The Mohali police on Sunday claimed to have solved the mystery of a 48-year-old man found murdered in Mullanpur on July 12, with the arrest of a man alleged to have an illicit relationship with the victim's wife. CCPCR takes note of child abuse cases, issues advisory With two cases of child abuse coming to fore within two months, the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) has issued a detailed advisory on warning signs to help identify possible behavioral patterns in children who are being abused. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Times Passion Trail: Lessons in history, along the Ganga

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, July 19, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Times Passion Trail: Lessons in history, along the Ganga Times Passion Trail takes you back to the origins of the holy river that flows through the heart of India. Dry spell triggers fresh suicides in Maharashtra A prolonged dry spell triggered at least four suicides in Maharashtra’s western Vidarbha region in the last three days. Point of view: The India-Pakistan treadmill Consistent engagement with lowered expectations may be a better alternative to the drama of on-again, off-again dialogue India-Pakistan relations follow a familiar pattern. More India News»

		Business
		Now becoming a T-shirt entrepreneur is a breeze Last November, Harshad Savkar, 33, wanted a T-shirt with a logo that reflected his enthusiasm for biking. Greek banks to re-open on Monday, restrictions remain Greek banks will re-open on Monday with slightly relaxed withdrawal limits but bans on foreign transfers and other capital controls remain in place, according to a government decree published on Saturday. Global tax regime must protect developing nations: India : India has pitched for a global tax regime built into the UN process, rather than being looked at from the point of view of rich countries, in a bid to curb illegal financial flows from the developing world running into some $200 billion annually. More Business News»

		Environment
		NGT restrains disposal of waste in river bed in Alandi The National Green Tribunal's western region bench has passed an order restraining the Alandi municipal council from discharging municipal solid waste (MSW) and garbage in the Indrayani river bed in the pilgrim town of Alandi near Pune. It's official: 2014 was Earth's hottest year on record The unusually warm weather that you felt last year was experienced across most parts of the world, making 2014 the hottest year in recorded history, said a report based on contributions from 413 scientists from 58 countries around the world. Gujarat HC seeks ideas on banning old diesel vehicles Gujarat high court on Friday directed the state government to come up with suggestions on discontinuing the use of diesel vehicles that had been plying on roads for more than 10 years. More Environment News»

		World
		Intensified shelling in east Ukraine kills 4 Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels accused each other on Saturday of shelling residential areas despite a ceasefire, reporting four civilians and one soldier killed following a week of the deadliest fighting in over a month. ISIS claims kidnapping of three in Libya Islamic State has kidnapped three African Christians in eastern Libya, the group said, publishing their passport pictures. Anger in Iraq after suicide attack kills 115 An attack by the Islamic State group on a crowded marketplace in Iraq's eastern Diyala province has killed 115 people, including women and children, in one of the deadliest single attacks in the country in the past decade. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Sonakshi Sinha: My dad is my hero While the two legends, Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha have given some of the biggest blockbusters together, be it Dostana, Kaala Patthar or Shaan, surprisingly their children Abhishek and Sonakshi have never worked together. Promising actresses: Why did they disappear? Supermodel Diana Penty became an instant star with her to-die-for looks and natural acting skills. 5 Single actresses who won't mingle Tabu is not always in the news but she comes back with a bang. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		This plane seat could bring awkwardness to a new level These days, airlines and airplane makers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to cram more people into planes. Want diamonds with that martini? Luxury hotels, department stores, and restaurants are always push ing the limits of grandeur to impress their clients. Young, icy plains found in Pluto's heart A close-up image of Pluto has revealed a vast, craterless plain that appears to be no more than 100 million years old, and is possibly still being shaped by geologic processes according to latest data obtained from the New Horizons spacecraft. More Science News»

		Sports
		India look to end Zimbabwe tour with win India will hope to end the Zimbabwe tour on a high with a win in the second Twenty20 International at the Harare Sports Club here on Sunday. Manohar blames Srini for IPL mess, demands his ouster as ICC chief Shashank Manohar blamed N Srinivasan for the IPL mess, saying that he was the "root of all scandals" and should step down as the ICC chairman. Tips from Dravid the batsman helped me as a bowler: Mishra Out-of-favour leg-spinner Amit Mishra feels that tips given by India 'A' coach Rahul Dravid, from a batsman's perspective, went a long way in helping him improve as a bowler. More Sports News»

		Technology
		5 biggest smartphone myths busted Though smartphones are not as old as PCs, cameras and many other common gadgets; over the years many myths have got attached to them. Here's the truth behind the five biggest smartphone myths. US applauds India's approach on internet The US has applauded India's recent support for multi-stakeholder approach on internet, saying the decision is critical for ensuring the vitality of the world wide web. 10 tricks every Android user should know Since Android is an open platform, there’s plenty of room for customization. Beyond personalizing your phone, there are a few easy practices that can keep your phone neat and organized with plenty of battery life to last all day. More Technology News»

		Education
		All 900 seats at IIT-Bombay filled up All 903 seats at IIT-Bombay were filled after the second round of the joint seat allocation process that ended on Friday. Maharashtra's lethargy over RTE process keeps more than 14,000 out of school As many as 14,300 students in the state have been deprived of school education because the government machinery did not effectively implement the 25% reservation scheme under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Lack of education as deadly as smoking: Study Lacking education may be as deadly as being a smoker, according to a new US study. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Congress flexes its muscle, asks why it was denied nod for gym in Mumbai The Congress has given a new twist to the open-air gym issue. 'Non-veg' food row: 6 held for attack on Marathi family in Mumbai Six residents, five of them women, of Bona Venture apartments in Dahisar (W) were arrested late on Friday for manhandling the wife and daughter of Marathi theatre producer Govind Chavan, who live in the same society. Tiatr on a slow decline in its birthplace Mumbai When the Pretto family moved to Dhobi Talao from Goa's Aldona village, most days it seemed as though they had never left home. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		3 women dead, 10 injured as building collapses in west Delhi Three women were killed on Saturday night and ten injured seriously when a four-storey building collapsed in a narrow lane in Vishnu Garden area of west Delhi. 2nd arrest for girl's brutal murder, government orders probe Anger over the brutal murder of a teenage girl, Meenakshi, spilled over on Saturday with her relatives and neighbours protesting outside the Anand Parbat police station in west Delhi to demand the arrest of all the accused. Two Air India planes damaged Two Air India aircraft were damaged due to strong winds that lashed the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Saturday afternoon. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Students throw lingerie at Bengaluru college, protest dress code When the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (CKP) tried to impose a dress code on its girls students recently, they came up with a novel protest. After wet weekend, Bengaluru to get more showers this week "Bangalore weather stop cheating. Look at the window. Wow it's sunny. Get dressed up for a evening walk. Door locked. Damn you rain (sic)..." 'It's justice but at what cost and whose cost?', asks IIM-B professor Siddappa For the last 29 years, an Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore professor has been fighting against his employers for illegally suspending and later terminating him from service. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		KCR takes Pratyusha under his wings Pratyusha, the 19-year-old girl who faced years of abuse from her stepmother and father, on Saturday found a family that began doting on her the moment they met her. 20L Pushkaralu pilgrims take dip at Rajahmundry It was a massive surge of pilgrims in the 'cultural capital' of Andhra Pradesh for Godavari Pushkarams that had the authorities on the tenterhooks. Traffic snarls in Telangana halt pilgrim march A huge surge in weekend traffic headed to various Pushkaralu venues along Godavari river in Telangana state led to traffic snarls on highways resulting in tens of thousands of pilgrims stranded on the roads in their vehicles. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Watch what you eat: 40 is new 60 for gastric cancer Being young does not mean being healthy these days. Changing lifestyles, work stress and junk food at odd hours take a toll rather early. True grit: From single mom to top businesswoman Fifteen years ago, Rani Mar garet Raj was dealt a twin blow. She lost her husband to cancer and her father followed soon after. Move over selfies for — insta shares Two days at the Bangalore and Hyderabad Comic Con was enough for illustrator SCD Balaji to realise it would take years and a lot of hard work to make Indian folk art the new cool. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		LEDs to replace costly street lamps The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has placed a massive order for Light Emitting Diode (LEDs) which will replace costly mercury and sodium streetlamps. The use of LEDs will also save electricity, said sources. Cept Archives set to go online Cept Archives, one of country’s most comprehensive resource centres for architecture, planning, design, art and allied disciplines, is to be launched on August 1. GSHSEB to review semester system The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) will hold a critical meeting on Monday to review the semester system introduced in the HSC science exams in 2009. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Smart queries baffle Pratapgarh students For a class 12th student, question like how many bones are there in human body or for that matter what is the velocity of light, could be simple. AU library upgradation hangs fire for a year A mega exercise to boost amenities for students at the Central Library of Allahabad University is lying in a limbo for the past over a year even though it was cleared by the building and work’s committee (B&WC). The reason: CPWD has not provided the work estimate to the varsity. HC to Noida: Comply with order on Patwari land Hearing a contempt petition, the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed Noida chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) to comply with the judgment dated July 19, 2011, by which the court had directed the Noida authorities to return acquired land in Patwari village to the farmers. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Dalit boy from Sambalpur struggles to achieve IIT dream Sumit Sindhria an IIT-qualifier from a remote village of Sambalpur district has been struggling to arrange funds for taking admission to the premier technical institute. Naveen to meet party MPs to discuss party's stand on Land Bill Naveen Patnaik would meet party MPs here on Sunday to discuss party’s strategy on a number of issues ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament. Police bust e-tailing racket Police on Friday cracked an online shopping (e-tailing) fraud with arrest of three persons, including the mastermind, from here. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		CBI registers preliminary enquiry in nine more Vyapam deaths A day after filing an FIR into the mysterious death of Namrata Damor, a suspect in Vyapam scam, CBI on Saturday registered preliminary enquiry (PE) to investigate the death of nine more people linked to the Vyapam scam. CM Chouhan's invitation for Ujjain Simhastha The devotees and pilgrims visiting the ongoing Kumbha at Nashik in Maharashtra are being invited by the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to visit the Simhastha at Ujjain from April 22 to May 21, 2016. Sadhvi Niranjan hits at Congress again BJP firebrand, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, who had perfected the art of vitriolic public speaking during Ram Janmbhoomi agitation, has leashed heavily on Congress saying that had the party been on roads for public cause, it would not have bit the dust in assembly and Lok Sabha elections. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Rs 2 royalty cheque stuns Rohtak land oustees Previous owners of the land over which Industrial Model Township (IMT) Rohtak was built were stunned after they received cheques for Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 12 as royalty from the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Hoshiarpur school gets power connection after 95 years It took a school in Hoshiarpur 95 years to get a power connection when Punjab is among eight states in the country to have achieved 100% rural electrification in June 2005. 3 labourers die of suffocation in Kurukshetra district Three labourers died of suffocation after a chemical lying in a room caught fire following a short circuit at an orchard near Ladwa town in Kurukshetra district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. More Chandigarh News»

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