News Digest: Indian envoy meets Pakistan's Punjab CM; Nawaz Sharif slams India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, February 06, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Indian envoy meets Pakistan's Punjab CM; Nawaz Sharif slams India India’s envoy to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale met the powerful CM of the country’s Punjab province and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif ’s brother Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore on Saturday, a day after India facilitated the return of a Pakistani boy who had strayed across the border, sparking speculation that some kind of a thaw may be in the air between the two countries. The meeting comes days after Pakistan detained Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed citing “national interest”. Jayalalithaa's close aide, who has never fought an election, grabs Tamil Nadu's reins AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala was on Sunday unanimously elected legislature party leader by MLAs at a party meeting, paving the way for her to become the third woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on Thursday. Share of spend in government expenditure, GDP on education falling for 3 years Spending on education as a share of the central government’s total budgeted expenditure has been falling for the past three years. Compared to 2013-14, the last year of UPA, when education got 4.57% of the total expenditure, there has been a steady decline — 3.65% in 2016-17, according to this Budget’s revised estimate, with the estimated outlay for the coming year showing a minor uptick at 3.71%. More India News»

		Business
		Govt e-marketplace set to be mandatory for all departments The government is set to make it mandatory for all its departments to procure goods and services through its Amazon-like emarketplace, which will also introduce preference for domestic players. RBI expected to hold interest rates at Tuesday's review The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to hold key interest rates at its monetary policy review, its second after November's note ban, in the wake of banks being flush with funds post-demonetisation and a firming up of global oil prices. Pizza Hut plans to double outlets to over 700 by 2022 Pizza Hut considers India to be one of its most important markets and plans to double its store count to over 700 in the next five years, riding the wave of growing popularity of western fast-food in the country, a senior company executive said. More Business News»

		Environment
		NGT to hear plea on recent oil spill off TN coast The issue of a recent oil spill off the coast of Tamil Nadu that is posing a threat to environment and health of local residents has gone to the National Green Tribunal with a plea seeking compensation and seizure of the vessels. Chennai oil spill: Safe disposal of hazardous sludge With authorities involved in the post-oil spill clean up operations off Chennai coast expecting to finish the task in the next couple of days, the Centre has now asked the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to treat the collected sludge for its safe disposal through bio-remediation - a waste management technique using biological organism to neutralize pollutants. Rare leaf-nosed bats sighted after 37 yrs A specie of the bats aboriginal to the Thar desert, has been re-sighted by a group of zoological researchers after 37 years. Identified as Hipposideros Fulvus (a leaf-nosed bat), the bat has been found roosting in ancient caves at Daijar near Jodhpur. More Environment News»

		World
		Asked about Putin, Donald Trump says US isn't 'so innocent' President Donald Trump said he respects Vladimir Putin, and when an interviewer called the Russian leader "a killer", Trump said the United States has many of them. "What do you think? Our country's so innocent," he said. Turkey detains over 400 IS suspects in raids Turkish police on Sunday detained hundreds of suspected members of the Islamic State extremist group in nationwide raids, just over a month after an attack on an Istanbul nightclub claimed by the jihadists. Suspect in Louvre attack quizzed for first time French investigators on Sunday began questioning a suspect in the attack on troops outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, but the man refused to speak. The suspect, believed to be an Egyptian national, was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded after lunging at soldiers with two machetes on Friday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Watch: Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan's sizzling chemistry in 'Halka Halka' Although Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’ has performed well at the box office, King Khan went on to share one more song from the film ‘Halka Halka’. LFW 2017: Kareena Kapoor Khan stuns as showstopper at the grand finale Kareena Kapoor Khan is unstoppable and has managed to grab eyeballs. Hrithik on 'Raees': The clash was unhealthy More Entertainment News»

		Science
		World's tiniest hammer may help understand brain injuries Researchers have created the world's tiniest hammer to precisely measure how force affects brain cells, an advance that might pave the way for better treatments against traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's. Man sells his tattooed skin to immortalise it Tim Steiner has a work of art inked on him, but he's only the “temporary frame“. Measles-rubella vaccination campaign launched Adding a new vaccine to its flagship Universal Immunisation Programme, the Union health ministry launched measles rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the country on Sunday. The campaign will soon be followed by roll out of the vaccine in routine immunisation, an official said. More Science News»

		Sports
		Davis Cup: Ramkumar, Yuki power India to 4-1 win over NZ A lanky Ramkumar Ramanathan was fluent in his win over Finn Tearney while Yuki Bhambri struggled past Jose Statham as India completed an emphatic 4-1 victory over New Zealand in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie. BCCI officials may seek SC succor for more authority The office-bearers of BCCI could now take a legal route to be a part of the day-to-day working of the board despite a message that chairman of the Committee of Administrators Vinod Rai is the de facto boss. Getting Kohli's wicket early will be a dream come true: Taskin The 21-year-old Bangladeshi fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who has just played two Tests, spoke at length about the importance of the India tour. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Reliance Jio's 'free services' get clean chit: 6 things to know Wonder what as a consumer has changed for you? Here are the 6 things that have changed in Reliance Jio's 'free services' plan... Apple to have 'exclusive manufacturer' for iPhones in India: Report An assembly plant that Apple's Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron Corp is setting up in Bengaluru will focus solely on assembling iPhones, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. PM Narendra Modi's photo lands Paytm, Reliance Jio in soup The government has issued notices to Paytm and Reliance Jio Infocomm asking them whether they had taken prior permission before using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photographs on advertisements of their products. More Technology News»

		Education
		HRD to bring 'graded regulatory mechanism' in UGC: Javadekar The HRD ministry will bring in a "graded regulatory mechanism" as part of key reforms in the University Grants Commission (UGC) to usher in greater transparency, freedom and autonomy, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Sunday. BEd degree from Jammu & Kashmir institutions will now be valid in Bihar Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree from the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir will now be valid in Bihar for appointment of teachers in secondary and higher secondary schools. Academic council fumes at attempts to straight jacket popular arts course under science A circular from under-secretary to government, education department (universities – 2) to registrars of all 17 state universities to offer UG/PG courses in geography, psychology, statistics, mathematics, anthropology and criminology as part of BSc/MSc programmes came in for close scrutiny at the third general meeting of the academic council of Mangalore University on Friday. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Over 53,000 caught crossing tracks on WR in 5 years More than 53,000 people were caught crossing tracks illegally on the Western Railway's suburban section in the past five years. Poll battle swings from light to extreme: Some wards have 3 candidates, some 33 Political parties are finding it tough to find and field candidates in reserved wards in posh localities, leading to fewer number of people in the fray from the areas. Hospital swindle: Staffer pockets refund for patient's supplies In what could unearth a bigger racket at the state-run St George hospital, cops are probing a case filed by the relatives of a kidney patient who alleged that a hospital staffer had returned to the chemist prescribed medical equipment bought by the family and pocketed the refund. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Newly wed dies in car crash in Delhi The couple, Pattrick and Sonam, lived in a rented apartment in Moti Nagar after getting married last month. Marriage papers blew con's cover For 25-year-old Susan (name changed), finding the “love of her life“ on Facebook was nothing short of a fairy tale affair. 11 Asha Kiran inmates died in 2 months: Delhi Commission for Women In a damning report against the city government's social welfare department, Delhi Commission for Women has said 11 patients died at the Asha Kiran home for the mentally challenged in the past two months. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Paintings here are easy on pocket Art was in full bloom at the Sculpture Garden next to Ravindra Kalakshetra on Sunday. Groom dies at marriage hall just before tying knot A 28-year-old M.Tech graduate from Bengaluru died in a marriage hall on Sunday minutes before he was to tie the knot.Vasanth Kumar is said to have died due to cardiac arrest, police were told. Stay in green house? Register for contest If your apartment complex or villa is eco-friendly, here is a chance to get it recognized. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Plastic manhole pilot project to easily unclog jams Workers emerging out of gutters, chest high in filth, after crawling through sewage to clear clogged manholes could be a thing of the past with Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) planning to install plastic ones in Marredpally division. ​ Rs 10,000 crore will normalise crunch in Telangana post-demonetisation Another Rs 10,000 crore will ease cash troubles of banks in the state, officials said on Sunday. They said that only when the gap between demand and supply is bridged will things improve. Telangana has received Rs 34,000 crore as against Rs 52,000 crore deposited in old currency post demonetisation. Staff Say Beverage Was Salty, Some Felt Uneasy A storm has erupted over tea at the prestigious research and development (R&D) wing attached to the Indo-American Cancer Research Foundation (IACRF). More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Native snacks are now just a click away Craving some comfort food? No longer do you have to actually visit iruttu kadais to satisfy your cravings for the famous halwa from Tirunelveli or take a quick drive to Srivilliputtur to grab that scrumptious box of milk khoa. Ennore oil spill could have been 1,000 times worse For several days after two ships collided off the Ennore port in the early hours of January 28, there was a well-founded fear among port and shipping officials that the seriously damaged Dawn Kanchipuram would sink and spill all the 45,000 tonnes of petroleum products it was carrying into the sea. Unease creeps into bureaucracy More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		31st Gujarat Science Congress concludes 'Indian LIGO to be operational by 2024' Paldi police lose two ASIs to heart attack on same day More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		'WhatsApp' with poll code? Netas openly flout EC norms City's medical aspirants up in arms over new NEET rules Irked med fraternity mulls boycotting polls More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Cop held in BJP worker murder case in Dhenkanal Hollywood actor Ashley Judd to visit Odisha on February 7 3 killed, several injured in four separate accidents in Odisha More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Judge probing 'encounter' of SIMI men in MP 'resigns over poor infrastructure' Bhopal schools hail Arun Jaitley's 'innovation fund' Chinese 'spies' had married tribal girls Wang Chi was reportedly captured by the Indian Army on January 3, 1963 after he walked into Indian territory.He was a mechanical survey engineer in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Grandpa of Indian US community Washington based Dr Sham sher Singh Babra, 90, is the grandfather of the three million-strong Indian community in the US. Canadian artist raps his message home A group of teenagers once told MC, pro ducer and music organiser Amrit Singh, popularly known as `Noyz', that they didn't believe Punjabi people could do great things in hip-hop music, but he proved them wrong. He found their response to his video most humbling and the greatest compliment. Torturous trek to the American Dream In 2013, Buta Singh, a 34-year-old Sikh left Punjab hoping for a new start in the United States. More Chandigarh News»

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News Digest: Assembly elections: All-time-high turnouts in Punjab, Goa

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, February 05, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Assembly elections: All-time-high turnouts in Punjab, Goa In the first round of assembly elections in five states on Saturday , Punjab and Goa recorded their highest-ever turnouts of 78.62% and 83% (as of 5pm, according to EC), respectively. IGI airport first in India to cross 5 crore flyer mark In a first for any Indian airport, IGI Airport crossed the 5-crore passenger mark last year. The airport with three runways and as many terminals handled 5.5 crore passengers: 4 crore domestic and 1.5 crore international flyers. Mumbai was a distant second at 4.4 crore. Jharkhand statehood hero now a vegetable seller He was the frontrunner of the statehood movement, in and out of jails during bandhs and demonstrations in the late 1980s and through the 1990s. ​ More India News»

		Business
		Disinvestment receipts to touch Rs 45,000cr: Jaitley With less than two months to go for the current financial year to come to a close, finance minister Arun Jaitley has exuded confidence that receipts from PSU disinvestment will touch Rs 45,000 crore in 2016-17. GST to smoothen taxation, bring in transparency: Experts GST will not only ease the process of taxation, but bring in transparency, say experts. At an interactive awareness programme for start-ups in Jaipur, the experts said the government is expected to resolve the queries of entrepreneurs regarding GST. Airtel Payments Bank operating through 12k shops in UP Airtel Payments Bank India’s first payments bank announced that it has opened over one lakh saving accounts in Uttar Pradesh within the first 2 weeks of its launch. Approximately 60% of these accounts have been opened in rural areas, underlining the massive scope for serving customers particularly in unbanked and under-banked pockets of the state, especially in rural areas. More Business News»

		Environment
		Chennai oil spill: Safe disposal of hazardous sludge With authorities involved in the post-oil spill clean up operations off Chennai coast expecting to finish the task in the next couple of days, the Centre has now asked the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to treat the collected sludge for its safe disposal through bio-remediation - a waste management technique using biological organism to neutralize pollutants. Rare leaf-nosed bats sighted after 37 yrs A specie of the bats aboriginal to the Thar desert, has been re-sighted by a group of zoological researchers after 37 years. Identified as Hipposideros Fulvus (a leaf-nosed bat), the bat has been found roosting in ancient caves at Daijar near Jodhpur. Judge asked to lift hold on Yellowstone dam and protect fish More Environment News»

		World
		Louvre reopens 24 hours after machete attack Art lovers returned to the Louvre in Paris on Saturday, 24 hours after soldiers outside the museum shot and wounded a machete-wielding attacker, whose condition stabilized overnight. The Friday incident thrust security threat back into the limelight with authorities saying it was a "terror" assault. Travel ban: Air France reopens US flights to passengers Air France said on Saturday it had reopened US-bound flights to passengers affected by President Donald Trump's travel ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, after the executive order was temporarily suspended by a federal court. China warns Trump not to push it for talks with Dalai Warning Trump administration of "endless trouble and burden" if it uses the Dalai Lama against it, China on Saturday sharply criticised the new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for his "amateurish" suggestion that he would encourage talks between Beijing and Dharmsala-based Tibetan government in exile. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Raees' box-office collection Day 10: Shah Rukh Khan's film earns Rs 128.96 crore Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’ continues to be an unstoppable force at the box-office as it minted Rs 6.6 crore on Friday (Day 10). 'Kaabil' box-office collection Day 10: Hrithik Roshan's film inches towards the 100-crore mark The Sanjay Gupta-directed film, which is in its second week currently, garnered Rs 6.40 crore on Friday (Day 10). The total collection of the film now stands at Rs 97.03 crore. Anurag Basu's hair-raising drama with Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif cut Anurag Basu's hair on the set of their film. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		World's first 3D printed bridge opens in Madrid A Madrid park made history with the installation of the first ever pedestrian bridge created from a 3D printer. The pioneering bridge was created by a team from the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, a Barcelonabased research and education center that worked with a contingent of architects, mechanical and structural engineers, and municipal representatives to bring the design to life. Botanical drugs are safe, effective and affordable: Dr Navin Khanna For the past 17 years, Dr Navin Khanna has been hard at work in his lab at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Delhi to develop ways to combat dengue. After developing a test kit, he and his team have acquired an international patent on the world’s first drug to combat dengue — Cipa. This comes at a time when there 25,000 deaths and 400m cases of dengue worldwide annually. The dengue fighter spoke to Shobita Dhar Cancer drug could promote regeneration of heart tissue: Study Researchers are developing an anti-cancer agent which also promotes regeneration of damaged heart muscle - an unexpected finding that may help prevent congestive heart failure in the future. More Science News»

		Sports
		Despite BCCI opposition, ICC set to pass new financial model According to highly placed sources, India only got support from Sri Lanka. Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, England and Australia all voted in favour of change in revenue distribution. EPL: Chelsea overpower Arsenal to stretch lead Eden Hazard scored a sublime solo goal as Premier League leaders Chelsea thrust a dagger into Arsenal's title aspirations with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Rohit Sharma eyes comeback in Australia series Continuing a thorough rehabilitation program, star batsman Rohit Sharma said he is striving to make his long-awaited return to the Indian cricket team in the upcoming big-ticket series against Australia. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Reliance Jio's 'free services' get clean chit: 6 things to know Wonder what as a consumer has changed for you? Here are the 6 things that have changed in Reliance Jio's 'free services' plan... Apple to have 'exclusive manufacturer' for iPhones in India: Report An assembly plant that Apple's Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron Corp is setting up in Bengaluru will focus solely on assembling iPhones, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. PM Narendra Modi's photo lands Paytm, Reliance Jio in soup The government has issued notices to Paytm and Reliance Jio Infocomm asking them whether they had taken prior permission before using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photographs on advertisements of their products. More Technology News»

		Education
		BEd degree from Jammu & Kashmir institutions will now be valid in Bihar Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree from the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir will now be valid in Bihar for appointment of teachers in secondary and higher secondary schools. Academic council fumes at attempts to straight jacket popular arts course under science A circular from under-secretary to government, education department (universities – 2) to registrars of all 17 state universities to offer UG/PG courses in geography, psychology, statistics, mathematics, anthropology and criminology as part of BSc/MSc programmes came in for close scrutiny at the third general meeting of the academic council of Mangalore University on Friday. Set up grievance redressal system in all varsities: High Court tells UGC More Education News»

		Mumbai
		High court upholds Maharashtra's rule, says schools free to admit kids under RTE The Bombay high court (HC) has upheld the state government's new rules that give freedom to school managements in admitting students under the Right to Education (RTE) quota. Assets declared by poll aspirants show steady rise Election affidavits filed by prominent corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) show that their assets have shown a significant increase in a five-year span. Uddhav Thackeray hints at shutting door on post-election pact with BJP ddhav Thackeray on Saturday declared that the Shiv Sena has severed ties with the BJP for ever. “Sena's politics of alliance is over for good. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Rape survivors to get aid for travelling to Delhi Survivors of all sexual offences seeking justice in Delhi courts but based abroad or in far-flung places can hope for some relief. DIAL asked to free up IGI's terminal 1 fast Coming to the aid of domestic budget flyers, the aviation ministry has directed Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) to take immediate steps for decongesting the choked terminal 1. Mentally unstable man threatens to crash Delhi-Mumbai Jet flight Passengers of a Delhi-Mumbai flight were tucking into their meal on Saturday morning when a flyer stood up, threw his food tray and said he had taken control of the plane and would crash it. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		APMC president still unconscious; 25 picked up for questioning Dasanapura Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) president K Srinivas alias Kadabagere Seena Nothing wrong in talking about sex, school principal told student A day after the principal of a central government school in Sadashivanagar was arrested following complaints of sexual harassment from a student Cancer treatment goes from blanket chemotherapy to targeted attacks When Rohan, 12 was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) with a very high white blood cell count, his parents didn't opt for the traditional chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant which has serious side-effects. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Malakpet man's mercy plea junked by Saudi Khajuraho's sculptures of love: City artists exhibit paintings at gallery Third-degree torture on Hyd boy by Saudi 'kafil' More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		HC confirms life for man who raped daughter Unused flare creates flutter in Ayanavaram Clash at private maritime college: 3 students injured, 5 held Four Of The Five Arrested Were Former Students More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Spotted sandgrouse seen in Kutch after 19 years 'Untouchability still prevails in schools' Boy who ran from despair found in Mumbai More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Dacoits' poll diktat no longer rings in Bundelkhand badlands Poll panel stays transfer of teachers For Kaushambi's triad, it's a triangular contest More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Panchayat election: Youth shot dead in Dhenkanal in pre-poll violence 'There is no chance of me joining politics' Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik protests curb on NEET attempts More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Killed parents, buried them, claims man accused of entombing live-in partner Chinese embassy officials meet soldier trapped in India since 1963 New revelations in the murder of Akansha Sharma in Bhopal According to a police source Udyan Das has revealed that he has killed his father and mother as well and had buried them down in his property premises at Raipur. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		State annual plan: Rs80.5cr to be spent on parking lots in Shimla 5-yr-old among 2 Pak nationals repatriated Services of 10 SPOs terminated More Chandigarh News»

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