Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, February 23, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Delhi high court must order probe into party fundings: AAP Amid accusations of Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal being silent on the issue of its foreign funding, the outfit on Saturday launched an attack against BJP and Congress urging the Delhi high court to direct a “thorough investigation” of the funding sources of these parties. Audio bridge to help Modi talk with thousands at a time If you get a surprise call from NDA’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the run-up to the parliamentary polls, rest assured it will not be a pre-recorded message seeking votes. India's spiritual and religious market is estimated to be over $30 billion That opportunity is now spawning a whole variety of startups and online ventures. And many are taking advantage of the market’s fragmentation and low technology penetration. More India News»

		Business
		India should increase ship-building capacity: Mukherjee India has to increase its turnout of quality maritime personnel and its ship-building capacity if it has to emerge as a major economic power, President Pranab Mukherjee said here on Saturday. 'Job creation only solution to make India prosperous' Different sections of the society, including politicians and corporates, should work towards job creation as it is the only "antidote" that can make the country prosperous, Infosys executive chairman N R Narayana Murthy said on Saturday. India's forex reserves up $1.45bn India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves increased by $1.45 billion to $293.78 billion for the week ended February 14, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed. More Business News»

		Environment
		'Slimy seaweed' a magic potion for climate-vulnerable Sunderbans The slimy green seaweed that grows in the wild and has no takers could emerge as a life-saving magic potion for the climate-vulnerable inhabitants of the Sunderbans. Several Chinese cities reel under smog Smog continued to blanket China's north and central regions for the third day on Saturday, prompting the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) to issue a yellow alert for air pollution. Scientists discover new marsupial known for fatal sex Australian scientists have discovered a new species of marsupial, about the size of a mouse, which conduct marathon mating sessions that often prove fatal for the male. More Environment News»

		World
		UN agrees resolution on Syria aid The UN security council united for the first time on a resolution on Syria's humanitarian crisis Saturday, demanding that President Bashar Assad's government and the opposition provide immediate access everywhere in the country to deliver aid to millions of people in desperate need. Protests in east Ukraine ease separatism fears A bid by regional leaders loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich to challenge the legitimacy of the national parliament appeared to founder on Saturday, after thousands of protesters rallied in eastern Ukraine in support of the political changes in Kiev. Suicide car bomb kills three at Lebanon army post A massive suicide car bomb targeting an army checkpoint in the eastern Lebanese town of Hermel near war-torn Syria killed two soldiers and a civilian on Saturday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shibani Kashyap records single with Mika Singh Singer Shibani Kashyap has paired up with Mika Singh for the first time for a Punjabi track, Soneya, a Times Music release Kumar Sanu teams up with Almas Noor in his latest album Bollywood’s most loved and melodious voice Kumar Sanu comes together with one of the finest voices, belonging to the royal family of Kedah, Malaysia — Almas Noor Javed Akhtar pens song for the CRPF Javed Akhtar, Raju Singh and Javed Ali have come together to create a special song to celebrate 75 years of the CRPF More Entertainment News»

		Science
		US army working on pizza that will stay three years They call it the holy grail of ready-to-eat meals for soldiers, a pizza that can stay on the shelf for up to three years and still remain good to eat. Scientists make artificial muscles from fishing line and thread In the past, artificial muscles have been crafted out of materials including metal wires and carbon nanotubes, but they have proven to be costly to make and tricky to control. Beyond Cern: Now physicists prepare to construct the even larger Hadron Collider The costs of creating a new collider, in a 100km tunnel, would be enormous – an estimated 10 million cubic metres of rock would need to be dug up. More Science News»

		Sports
		Is Fletcher contributing to think-tank? BCCI seems to have adopted a wait-and-watch policy with Duncan Fletcher. Since he took over after World Cup in 2011, India have forgotten how to travel well. Federer in Dubai to show revival is real Roger Federer's performance in reaching Australian Open semifinal is the first step in a mini-revival of tennis' great legend. This week could see the second. Sociedad stun Barcelona, Madrid go top Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga as Barcelona suffered their second defeat in four games with a 3-1 reverse away to Real Sociedad. More Sports News»

		Technology
		With WhatsApp, Facebook enters your address book Being able to tap into your address book is a major reason why Facebook decided that WhatsApp was worth as much as $19 billion. iPhones, iPads vulnerable to hacking: Apple A major flaw in iOS could allow hackers to intercept email and other communications that are meant to be encrypted, Apple said. Google's Hangouts blunder helped WhatsApp WhatsApp is not only simpler and faster to use than Google Hangouts, but also allows users to create specific groups for group discussions. More Technology News»

		Education
		Amity boy becomes Aptitude Wizard In a test of logic and analytical aptitude, Times NIE in association with Byju’s Classes organized a ‘Think & Learn Challenge’ in over 300 schools in NCR to find the ultimate ‘Aptitude Wizard’ in the city. Switch on 'thermo' talk! Every business challenge is a communications challenge – whether you’re reporting to your directors or brainstorming with your team, speaking with customers or updating clients, you’re communicating. Aligarh University Centre at Murshidabad may become a central university for minority areas Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has written to the Union minority affairs minister to turn the AMU centre at Murshidabad into a central university. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Cop falls off train at Thane platform, dies A 46-year-old constable attached to the Kapurbawdi police station here lost his life while trying to board a local train at Thane station on Saturday. Baby's body found in actor Nutan's bungalow pool The body of a newborn girl was found inside the swimming pool of the bungalow of yesteryear actress Nutan on the outskirts of Kharegaon in Kalwa on Saturday. Caved-in portion of road off The BMC has repaired the portion of the road that had caved near Madam Cama road junction at Nariman Point off Marine Drive on Friday afternoon. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		AAP Delhi rebellion The Aam Aadmi Party faced another rebellion on Sunday when a group of around 30 volunteers sat on hunger strike outside the party’s Hanuman Road office to protest against its Lok Sabha candidate selection process. Fresh stir against nursery points Beleaguered parents who are finding themselves out of the nursery race with just 70 points for neighbourhood staged another protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, this time with their kids. Kashmiri traders craft a success story At his plush South Extension house, Bashir Ahmad Butt riffles through newspapers when guests arrive. The 66-year-old, who has a white beard and wiry frame, greets his visitors with elaborate ceremony. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Debutant voters in Karnatata show 20% gender gap As the Lok Sabha polls loom large, the young female population across India is not too enthused to vote, it appears. Home alone woman murdered Saunchita Bagdi, from West Bengal and wife of Ganga Bagdi, was found in a pool of blood with her one-year-old child playing next to her, Ganga told police. Two boys drown near Bagalu Two boys who went fishing with a net made out of mosquito nets reportedly drowned in Manchappana Hasalli lake near Bagalur, Bangalore North, on Saturday afternoon. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		A taste of T-flavour As the Telangana-Seemandhra bifurcation debate hit its crescendo last week, every argument, for or against the motion, appeared to conspicuously revolve around just one issue: the interest of the Telugu people. Film industry pitches for land package in Visakhapatnam With the Centre's decision to bifurcate the state, Tollywood producers demanded the government to speed up the process of land allocation and development of the industry in Vizag. High grave prices at Yusufain dargah under lens Further, another inquiry is being ordered against Shah for allegedly having failed to audit accounts of DHY and for not paying proper funds."The mutawalli has been paying wakf fund only from 2008. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		People participate in avian surveys to help ornithologists compile data If the Hitchcock thriller ‘The Birds’ rattled people enough in the 1960s to have them scanning the skies for signs of unnatural avian behaviour, more recently a crop of birding initiatives have brought the public to once again scour the firmament – this time with a purposeful sense of understanding the method to their stunning madness. Jethmalani falls in Chennai Lawyer and politician Ram Jethmalani, who got the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts off the noose, suffered a fall in Chennai on Friday. PIL questions RBI move to withdraw pre-2005 notes A PIL filed in the Madras high court has questioned legality of the Reserve bank of India’s January 28 order proposing to withdraw all pre-2005 currencies. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Hello helpline, goodbye exam anxiety The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) will launched toll-free helpline - 1800 233 5500 - for students of SSC and HSC science and general streams from Monday. Unsafe buildings ready to face legal fire? The civic authority also told the HC that punitive action would be initiated against them if the occupants failed to install fire-fighting equipment before March 2.Hearing on this case is scheduled to be held on March 3. Now, report cheating from exam centres The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has adopted a novel way for prompt reporting of cheating cases. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Businessman killed in forest Four persons killed a businessman engaged in renting out bamboos and wooden logs (patra, balli) at Malhi Chauraha in Nawabganj on Thursday evening. Couple found dead The bodies of a couple, who went to dig soil, were found at different places on Friday. Auto thieves from Lucknow arrested in Shravasti Six auto thieves, including the kingpin of the gang, were arrested on Friday. As many as 14 vehicles were recovered from them. The kingpin of the gang was based in Lucknow. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		No FIR: Axe on three cops Three cops of Cantonment police station here have been suspended for dereliction of duty.DCP (Cuttack) S Praveen Kumar acted against the trio on Thursday for not registering an FIR of a complainant. Crucial role for 17 lakh new voters Odisha has added an average of around 82,000 new voters per Lok Sabha seat for the forthcoming general elections compared to the 2009 polls. Kondh fest: Fiat against VAL icing on the cake It's festive time for Dongria Kondhs, living on Niyamgiri Hills at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.They started their three-day annual worship on top of the mountain, about 3 km from the foothills, on Friday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		The fusion band, Indian Ocean performs at Jheel Mahotsav in Bhopal Of fusion and rock music: The fusion band, Indian Ocean, charmed Bhopalites with their splendid performance on the concluding day of Jheel Mahotsav. Mika performs on the second day of Jheel Mahotsav at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal Bhopal had a musical extravaganza with singer Mika Singh at Motilal Nehru Stadium on the second day of the cultural fest, Jheel Mahotsav. Girl walks out of marriage for dowry; gets groom, kin nabbed Displaying courage, a girl broke off marriage when a groom and his family began making absurd dowry demands in Damoh district on Thursday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		2 khap leaders in race for AAP tickets Two khap leaders of Haryana have applied for Aam Aadmi Party ticket to contest Lok Sabha polls from Sonipat and Rohtak constituencies of Haryana. Dhankhar khap president Om Prakash Dhankhar has applied for AAP ticket from Rohtak from where chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s son and sitting MP Deepender Singh Hooda is the lone contender for Congress ticket. All eyes on Kejriwal's rally today After making an impressive debut and unceremonious exit from Delhi assembly, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shall gauge its popularity and acceptance in Haryana during the first state-level rally which is to be held in the home turf of chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his MP son Deepender Hooda in Rohtak on Sunday. Court puts trial in Saini case on fast track Close on the heels of a complaint by Punjab Congress leaders against Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini before the election commission in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, a special CBI court in Delhi this week fast-tracked the trial of the abduction case against him. More Chandigarh News»

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