Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, February 17, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Akhilesh Yadav drops in at Shiromani Akali Dal meet, hails Sukhbir Singh Badal For chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Sunday turned out to be a day of hectic 'game-playing'. Name game: India has 234 engineering degree, 399 diploma courses A damning report against the council (AICTE) by a state-level expert committee says, "It is abundantly clear that there are too many substandard institutes with countless programmes and considerable examples of deceptive nomenclatures." AAP snubs 2013 protocol for candidate selection In declaring its first list of candidates from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party marked a huge departure from the protocol they followed while deciding candidates for the 2013 Delhi assembly elections. More India News»

		Business
		AI seeks govt backing for Rs 1k-cr loan Monday's vote-on-account is unlikely to have any real relief for cash-strapped Air India as the government's promised equity support fell short by nearly Rs 3,600 crore in the 2013-14 fiscal. Bharti set to take over Loop in Rs 700-crore deal Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Airtel looks set to become the largest mobile operator in Mumbai as the company is likely to announce the acquisition of Khaitans-owned Loop Telecom, the oldest mobile operator in the city. India Inc against political witch hunt The FIR filed against one of the top businessmen in the country, the petroleum minister and others has rattled India Inc and the developments come at a time when the industrial sector is in the throes of one the worst slowdowns in recent memory. More Business News»

		Environment
		In Indonesia, John Kerry blasts climate change deniers Climate change may be the world's "most fearsome" weapon of mass destruction and urgent global action is needed to combat it, US Secretary of State John Kerry said. Gulf of Mexico oil spill may give tunas heart attacks Scientists at California's Stanford University and the NOAA discovered that crude residues in seas and oceans interrupt the ability of heart cells in the fish to beat effectively. Climate change: Tibet wettest in 2010 in 3,500 years Recent decades have likely been the wettest on record in the semi-arid Tibetan plateau, researchers say, warning that any further large-scale warming might lead to even greater rainfall in Tibet, the birthplace for Asia's great rivers. More Environment News»

		World
		Over 100 dead in Nigeria Islamist attack Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have killed more than 100 people in an attack on a village in Nigeria, a local senator said. Destroy all ivory in Buckingham Palace: William Britain’s future king has called for the destruction of all stocks of ivory products in Buckingham Palace’s collection, including exotic thrones from India. Venezuelan opposition leader calls new march The opposition leader accused by Venezuela's government of being responsible for deadly anti-government protests said on Sunday he was calling a new march in 48 hours. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Gauahar to quit 'Fear Factor' because of Ajaz? Will the actress really do so, now that Ajaz is a part of the reality show after her boyfriend Kushal Tandon opted out? Aamir, Salman, SRK the 'Badshahs' of box office Jai Ho has just entered the 100 crore club. So Bombay Times thinks it is timely to present an updated list of the men and women who have set the turnstiles spinning. Eight-year-old asks Kapil Sharma about his marriage Child actors are playing roles far more mature than their age on TV and even hosting shows. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Pill to cure 'couch potatoes' ? A gene mutation may explain why some people are more likely than others to be couch potatoes , according to a study which offers hope of a personalized pill to counter the problem. This app uses your phone for R&D while you sleep A new app that allows you to ‘donate’ the processing power of your mobile phone for scientific research while you sleep has been developed. World genetic map finds Genghis Khan's impact across Asia The world’s most exhaustive map has been made detailing genetic histories of 95 different populations across the world revealing genetic impact of European colonialism, Arab slave trade, Genghis Khan’s empire and European traders near the Silk Road mixing with people in China. More Science News»

		Sports
		McCullum and Watling put Kiwis on top McCullum reached his double ton while Watling scored a well deserved century as NZ continue to thwart India's push for a series-levelling victory. I have learnt from my mistakes: Pujara "I have learnt from my mistakes. My only regret is the first innings dismissal in the first Test where I played a really bad shot," said Cheteshwar Pujara. Arsenal enjoy revenge over Liverpool Arsenal knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win on Sunday as they gained revenge for a humilating loss to their Premier League title rivals. More Sports News»

		Technology
		After the selfie, turn yourself into a statue You can now get yourself made into a tiny statue, using a three-dimensional printer and a common household gaming device. Microsoft plunges into mobile war, Google exits The marriage of the Microsoft Windows operating system with Nokia's handsets under the Lumia brand has done little to upend the global smartphone market. Few takers for Google Plus, but Google not worried Google Plus may not be much of a competitor to Facebook as a social network, but it is central to Google’s future. More Technology News»

		Education
		New research and development for a better world Dengue fever and West Nile fever are mosquitoborne diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year, but there is no vaccine against either of the related viruses. Academic award: Galgotias University honoured at DQ CyberMedia ICT Awards Galgotias University was recently honoured for its academics and global linkages at DQ CyberMedia ICT Awards 2013. Narendra Modi, Gujarat chief minister, handed over the award to Suneel Galgotia, chancellor, Galgotias University, at the ceremony, which was held in Delhi on January 20. Seize the fact-based questions to max your English score Rhea Kumar, 17, first read one of the main texts in the English course—Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles—when she was 12. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		I will check for any lapses in IPL probe: Rakesh Maria It’s too premature to provide a detailed answer as it is a very sensitive issue. I have not seen the report but I will definitely examine if there were lapses. If there is scope for a further probe, we will do it. I will restore citizens' faith in force: Maria Restoring the trust and faith of the aam aadmi in the Mumbai police is on top of the agenda of the new police commissioner, Rakesh Maria, besides a halt to crime against women, children and senior citizens, tackling urban terrorism and organized crime. Unhappy IPS officers to be 'pacified' Home minister RR Patil may pacify agitated Indian Police Service officers, additional director-general (establishment) Ahmed Javed and additional DG (traffic) Vijay Kamble, who lost out to Rakesh Maria for the city police commissioner’s post. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Getting married? Be ready to spend a fortune on tent mafia Booking a wedding venue for a night in northwest Delhi’s Netaji Subhash Place can cost as much as a German luxury car. Cloud on hiring of AIIMS doctors Citing violation of procedures, a group of doctors at AIIMS have sought PM Manmohan Singh’s intervention to put on hold recruitment process for appointment of 37 professors in the country ’s premier medical institute. New suspect in Simran murder Two days after 26-year-old Simranjeet Kaur was stabbed to death on way to her aunt’s house in Karol Bagh, police are yet to identify the assailants though they have recovered CCTV footage from houses of the colony close to the spot. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bangalore bus catches fire in Andhra, passengers safe Forty five passengers of a Bangalore-bound private bus had a providential escape when the vehicle caught fire near in Ramapuram mandal headquarters area in Andhra Pradesh. Man of the forests who made Bangalore green Sitting in the balcony of his two-storey house in Basaveshwaranagar, west Bangalore, SG Neginhal, 85, is busy preparing notes. 3 TN tourists drown in Gokarna beach Three tourists from Tamil Nadu met a watery grave in Gokarna, Uttara Kannda district, when they were washed away by a huge tide in the Arabian Sea on Sunday. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		BJP to fish in troubled Telangana Bill waters Top BJP leaders, who met in New Delhi said by supporting the Congress in Parliament, their fortunes In Telangana would improve and the UPA government wouldn't get a chance to put the blame on the opposition for playing truant. Eyeing party's fortune in new state, BJP to support Telangana Bill After days of dilly-dallying, the BJP finally decided to support the Telangana Bill in its present form in Parliament, a decision analysts believe was taken after its leaders assessed it could make deeper forays into the new state rather than Seemandhra. Taking the SEZ route to growth This 1989-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre hails from the city and has to his credit a gold medal in MBA from Andhra University and masters in international development policy from Duke University of the US. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		IAS officer manhandled, detained in Chennai An IAS officer was detained in Nungambakkam police station on Saturday night, after police picked him up following a heated argument in a pan shop, at Nungambakkam on Saturday night. BJP snubs Vijayakanth; DMDK leader fails to get appointment with Rajnath Singh A visit to the capital, which promised to help him win an ally for the Lok Sabha elections, turned out to be a huge disappointment for actor-politician Vijayakanth, who heads the DMDK. Girl found hanging from tree was raped and strangled to death, says autopsy report A 10-year-old girl, whose body was found hanging from a tree on a temple premises in a hamlet in Salem district, was raped and strangled to death, concluded a team of doctors, who conducted an autopsy. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Perfect nonsense, in English medium Remember the thirsty crow story — how the bird used pebbles to raise the level of water in a pitcher? CBD to maim other Gandhian institutions too The expansion of the road running alongside the narrow gauge line in the 10 square km central business district (CBD) is going to eat away large portions of three major Gandhian institutions in the city. Amazon, RIL top recruiters at IIM-Ahmedabad The second cluster for placements at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) saw Amazon, EXL and Reliance Industries emerge as the biggest recruiters on Sunday. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Two groups clash over property, several injured A youth sustained bullet injuries while many others were left cut up and bruised as two groups came at loggerheads over disputed property near UPSC in Civil Lines on Saturday. North Central Railway exhibition draws the inquisitive The North Central Railway exhibition opened at Sangam area is witnessing a good response from visitors eager to know the various facets of the railways. Students taken to task for 'misusing' laptops in Allahabad University In brazen misuse of AU facilities, some students of the Allahabad University were caught watching objectionable material on their laptops in the university's Central Library. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Land oustees torch Posco site office in Jagatsinghpur Several land oustees on Sunday torched Posco's containerized office and dismantled a 300-metre boundary wall at Nuagaon in Jagatsinghpur district, triggering fresh tension in the steel company's project area. Ministry of rural development awards Koraput for effective initiatives under NREGA Koraput district in Odisha was conferred the national award under the schemes District award for effective initiatives in National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) administration in the 9th (MGNREGA) Diwas. Child raped by 52-year-old man A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 52-year-old man in Kushunpur village under Marshaghai area of Odisha's Kendrapara district. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Sensational burglary in MP bank, Rs 32 lakh stolen Burglars escaped with Rs 32.5 lakh cash from a bank in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The incident occurred in the UCO banks' branch at Dhodhar in the district. Tech firm manager held in MP for fudging board marksheets The Special Task Force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested Jan Abhiyan Parishad vice-chairman’s manager for his alleged role in a scam related to the State Sanskrit Board. MP woman gang-raped in moving car A 24-year-old pilgrim, returning home from the famous Sharda Devi temple at Maihar, was abducted and gang-raped by three people in a moving car on National Highway 7 late on Saturday. Police are yet to arrest the accused. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab State Power Corporation Limited fails to recover damages from power companies The amount has not been recovered despite the fact that none of the five thermal units, against which this amount has to be recovered, could be commissioned till date. Speeding bus crushes woman to death, mob sets it on fire An enraged mob on Sunday set afire a bus owned by the family of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal after it crushed a woman to death on Barnala-Sangrur road. Farmers suggest ways to make agriculture profitable The absence of assured marketing for many crops was also pointed out.Experts said that though the Centre had declared minimum support price for 24 crops, the promise was fulfilled only for two crops - wheat and paddy. More Chandigarh News»

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