Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, February 14, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		'Pepper spray can disorient person, aggravate asthma' Pepper spray, especially when used in a closed space such as Parliament, can lead to temporary blindness, irritation leading to watering of the eyes, persistent cough, breathlessness and wheezing in those suffering from asthma, experts say. Beyond ugly war in party and House, Congress eyes win in 17 Lok Sabha seats Two consecutive bountiful harvests from AP which has 42 LS seats helped Congress win in 2004 and 2009. Weapons of House disruptions A pepper spray sneaked into the House is a new low even for the MP - hooligans who have so far gone for furniture and rough and tackle tactics to make a point. A look at weapons political leaders have used. More India News»

		Business
		High 2G bids can add to financial stress Analysts are warning of pressure on cash flows as companies are expected to take more debt, leading to higher interest burden. Sebi tightens corp governance norms Market regulator Sebi on Thursday approved a series of decisions to increase transparency in corporate governance, a move that will have far-reaching implications for top honchos of India Inc. Leela to sell 2 hotels for Rs 2k cr to pare debt In one of the biggest deals in the Indian hospitality industry, sovereign wealth funds of Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Malaysia are vying with each other to acquire two of India's marquee properties. More Business News»

		Environment
		India in top five position in spearheading the global green building movement: IGBC India has significant opportunity to go the green way and concerted efforts by all the stakeholders is the need of the hour, said vice-chairman of Indian Green Building council (IGBC), Goa, Bharat Kamat on Thursday. National Green Tribunal seeks response from coal, power utilities on pollution The National Green Tribunal has taken serious note of alarming pollution caused by thermal power plants in Vidarbha using inferior quality coal, in violation of ministry of environment and forests' norms. 'African forest elephant could blink out within our lifetimes' An estimated 100 elephants will be killed across Africa today. Poached, in all likelihood, in front of their families. Their tusks ripped off to meet the global greed for ivory. More Environment News»

		World
		Belgium approves child euthanasia Belgium became the first country to allow euthanasia for terminally ill children of any age on Thursday when its lower house of parliament passed new "right-to-die" legislation by a large majority. Italian PM Enrico Letta to resign Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said he would tender his resignation on Friday, opening the way for Centre-Left leader Matteo Renzi to take the helm of Italy's third government in less than a year. Over 72,000 men found to be raped in UK every year Men aren't safe in Britain. Over 72,000 men found to be raped in UK every year. Government announces first ever fund of £500,000 to help male rape victims. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'I will enjoy kissing Deepika Padukone' Yes you read the above headline right! In an exclusive interview to Filmfare, Bollywood's favourite student Siddharth Malhotra confessed that he will enjoy kissing actress Deepika Padukone on screen. 5 Lessons of Love from Bollywood I'd have to meet Siddharth to get pregnant: Vidya Excerpts from a fun conversation with the chirpy actress, who visited the Bombay Times office on Wednesday More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Can smart rifle hit bull's eye? The US army has confirmed that is testing new high-tech rifles that incorporate "computer vision and object tracking technologies" that allow "any soldier (to become) an extraordinary marksman". Indian scientists in US convert discarded plastic into petroleum products In a major breakthrough Indian-origin scientists based in US have successfully converted plastic shopping bags into diesel, natural gas and other useful petroleum products. Lasers fuel hopes of unlimited, clean Nuclear-power A milestone has been reached in the 60-year struggle to harness the nuclear reactions that power the Sun in an experiment that could lead to a way of producing an unlimited source of clean and sustainable energy in the form of nuclear fusion. More Science News»

		Sports
		Ishant destroys NZ, India take control Ishant Sharma struck again post lunch to claim a five-wicket haul by dismissing Corey Anderson and Bradley Watling in quick succession in the second Test. 'Franchises spent wisely on Indians' Brendon McCullum, a consummate destructor in any format, fetched only Rs 3.2 crore from CSK; it was almost half compared to what he used to get. We have lots of match-winners: Kirsten Gary Kirsten is no stranger to Indian cricket but he was sitting in at the IPL auction for the first time as the new coach of Delhi Daredevils. More Sports News»

		Technology
		'iPhone 6 images' leaked online The images come courtesy Twitter users Sonny Dickson and mornray886 and show that iPhone 6 will have bezel-less display and will look similar to iPad Air. Nokia Lumia 1320 review: Big screen, big price Here's the review of Nokia's mid-range phablet Lumia 1320, priced at Rs 23,999. IBM lays off staff in India IBM India, whose employee base had risen to the highest among MNCs in the country at close to 1.5 lakh, is now witnessing layoffs. More Technology News»

		Education
		Mix detail and theory in right way for a winning formula Mansha Sachdeva concedes chemistry “involves a lot of learning” – memorizing – but she’s clearly got a handle on the subject. The Class XII student from Springdales School, Pusa Road, has never scored less than 90 in it. She says she is “doing fine.” Time to e-learn and get ahead at 4000 govt schools Opened under the Odisha Madhyamik Sikshya Mission (OMSM), the scheme - ICT@school - aims at taking classroom education one step ahead. India grants Rs 20.31 million for school in Nepal India provided aid for constructing the building to help create better facilities for over 2,000 students, about 38 per cent of them girls. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		New meter puts damper on excessive use of horn A meter that measures horn usage and punishes excessive honking has been created by a group of city residents to reduce noise pollution on roads. Ceiling fan falls on third student in three weeks Over 1,000 students of MGM College of Engineering & Technology at Kamothe protested on their campus on Thursday after a ceiling fan fell on a girl student in her classroom. Congestion charge can help de-clutter C ward TOI reported on Thursday how lanes in C ward were choked & markets overcrowded. Readers wrote in with ideas on how to fix these problems. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		IOC posts Rs 916 cr loss in Q3 as govt gives half dole Flagship refiner-marketer IndianOil Corporation on Thursday reported a loss of Rs 961.45 crore in the December quarter, against Rs 3,331.96 crore profit in the year-ago period, as the government paid less than half of cash subsidy it owes to the company, erasing foreign exchange gains. BJP, Cong stall assembly, revolt against Speaker As violence and vandalism ruled Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Delhi assembly wasn’t too far behind. Government starts giving permits for NCR autos The transport department has started the process of issuing 5,500 interstate permits to city's autorickshaws that was promised in the recent mahasabha organized by the Delhi government in Burari. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Chided by dad for bunking tuitions, boy ends life A 15-year-old boy, scolded by his father for not attending Maths tuitions, hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his belt on Wednesday night. Women most vulnerable where they feel safe Wolves may be on the prowl on mean city streets, but this isn't where women are most vulnerable.Surprisingly, it's in the safety of a home or neighbourhood that most rapes take place. Ministers, MLA bat for 1am deadline The demand to extend Bangalore's nightlife has struck a response in a section of the ruling party, but city police continue to be firmly opposed to the proposal. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Name new road after Akkineni Nageswara Rao: Danam Nagender Labour minister Danam Nagender has asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation standing committee to name the Annapurna Studio road after Akkineni Nageswara Rao and also install his statue at Film Nagar. Congress rings in Kiran for a patch-up ahead of Telangana debate in Parliament The chief minister sought some time to react to these proposals as he was engaged in meetings with MLAs, MPs and ministers about the future plan of action, according to his close aide. Seemandhra region witnesses total shutdown in protest against Telangana bill The entire Seemandhra region witnessed a total shutdown on Thursday in response to the bandh call given by APNGOs and political parties in protest against the Telangana bill. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Finding big picture in small stories When Balu Mahendra went over to persuade Amol Palekar, the favourite hero of middle-class cinema in Hindi, to act in a 'small' Malayalam film in the 1980s, he laid down two conditions . To Balu sir with love For most of the film fraternity — from actors to directors to aspiring filmmakers — who came to pay their last respects to Balu Mahendra on Thursday afternoon, it was not just because he was an awardwinning cinematographer, director and storyteller. It was because they believed he was their greatest teacher of the craft. Boy shot at in custody can be discharged from hospital, says court The boy, who suffered a gunshot injury while being illegally held at Neelankarai police station , is free to be discharged from hospital, the Madras high court said. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		AMC official takes bribe to issue fake health card, suspended A serious discrepancy while issuing state health benefit cards under the Mukhyamantri Amrutum Yojna (MAY) to poor and below poverty line (BPL) families came to light at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). 'Scrap mining leases lacking in green nod' The Gujarat high court on Thursday directed the state government to close with immediate effect all minor mineral mining activities that are underway without environment clearance (EC). 2 kids trafficked from WB, rescued A team of Amraiwadi police officials spotted two wandering boys in the area and brought them to police station. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		15-year-old girl kidnapped at gun-point A girl was kidnapped by three brothers at gun-point on Sunday evening.When the family members were unable to search the girl, they met the superintendent of police. Nepalese cops held on border Six policemen of Nepal police illegally entered the Indian territory with weapons on Wednesday evening and tried to arrest a youth from Pachpakdi Chauraha. CCTVs, intruder alarms see brisk sale Thanks to the inaction of police in checking burglaries and thefts, businessmen and common people alike are now opting for CCTV sets and intruder alarms for security reasons. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Railways pushes wagon project off track The fate of the proposed railway wagon factory at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district is hanging in balance. Bhubaneswar Development Authority gym plan stalled A letter from state election commissioner Ajit Tripathy has put a question mark over the proposed gymnasium at Biju Patnaik Park here. Congress MP to fast over missing villagers Majhi had started a mass dharna outside the Raj Bhawan on Wednesday with a 48-hour notice to respond to his demands. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Ex-minister aide's police custody extended up to Feb 20 Court of chief judicial magistrate Bhopal extended police custody of O P Shukla, one-time OSD of former culture minister Laxmikant Sharma, till February 20, on Thursday. SWC orders BMC to file FIR against squatters Bhopal bench of State Women's Commission (SWC) on Thursday instructed BMC officials to register an FIR against encroachers.SWC directive came in response to victims'complaints. Spl court tells NIA to submit charge-sheet by Feb 26 A special court on Thursday asked National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit its charge-sheet in the RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi murder case by February 26. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Priest run over by speeding car A rash driving car, crushed to death a 42-year-old priest near Chandi Mandir toll tax barrier at around 4.15am on Thursday morning. Bank staffer dies in car crash A 24-year-old executive with a private national bank was killed and two others, including a girl were injured in an accident on the road dividing sectors 35 and 36 on Wednesday night. Inspector testifies against IPS officer Chandigarh police Inspector Anokh Singh, on Thursday, recorded his statement against former Chandigarh SP Desh Raj Singh, who was arrested by CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in October, 2012. More Chandigarh News»

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