Your News Digest from Times of India

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, March 20, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Rivals hit Shashi Tharoor where it hurts, rake up Sunanda Pushkar Sunanda Pushkar’s mysterious death is back to haunt junior Union minister Shashi Tharoor who is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram.  Quota games: The race backwards With Jats recently put on the central list of backward classes, the day is not far when Marathas and Jat-Sikhs too will be in queue for quotas in jobs and education.  Dravidian discomfort: Will multi-cornered contest throw up unexpected winners in Tamil Nadu? Since the 1970s, electoral politics in Tamil Nadu has revolved around the DMK and AIADMK or the fronts they float. This time the BJP has cobbled a third front of parties. More India News»

		Business
		Sebi strips FTIL of 'fit and proper' tag Market regulator Sebi on Wednesday said that Jignesh Shah-promoted Financial Technologies (FTIL) was not a ‘fit and proper’ entity to hold stake in any stock exchange or a clearing corporation for a stock exchange. Officer's Choice, Royal Stag in $1bn club Two Indian whisky brands — Royal Stag and Officer’s Choice — soaked in $1 billion in retail sales last calendar, keeping growth rates intact despite spiraling prices influenced by tax hikes, according to industry research and company data. Datsun returns with 'Go' at Rs 3.12L Nissan’s low-cost brand, Datsun, made a comeback into the car world after a 30-year gap with the 1,200cc Go hatchack, pricing the entry-level car (non-AC and non-power steering) at Rs 3.12 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. More Business News»

		Environment
		Pench tiger reserve gets Rs 50 lakh boost A year after Supreme Court ordered Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) to plough back money from timber felled in Mansinghdeo sanctuary towards conservation work, the corporation remitted Rs 50 lakh to Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation. Live webcast of Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting in Odisha DRDO and Odisha's forest department will jointly live stream the annual event of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles in Gahirmatha nesting ground on internet. 'Amazon forests soak up more carbon than they emit' A long-standing debate was resolved yesterday when a new Nasa-led study confirmed that natural forests in the Amazon remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they emit. More Environment News»

		World
		US, Russia exchange threats at UN meet Russia and the United States exchanged threats on Wednesday at a tense UN security council meeting over the Ukraine crisis. Libya asks UN, world for help after wave of bombings Libya called on the United Nations and international community to help fight what it called a war on terrorism, the government said on Wednesday, struggling to stop the major oil producer sliding into widening chaos and instability. Israel gears up for possible unilateral strike on Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Moshe Ya'alon have ordered the military to continue preparations for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during 2014, a media report here said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		War of words between Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rishi Kapoor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s comments on ‘cliched’ romantic films and ‘formulaic’ running around the trees seem to have irked Rishi Kapoor. Ranbir-Katrina inseparable after their tiff Lovebirds Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif seem to have got closer, post their recent lover’s-tiff phase. After the two spent quality time together in Sri Lanka, Katrina left for Chandigarh to shoot for Kabir Khan’s film, while Ranbir travelled back to Mumbai. Deepika Padukone finalised for 'Shuddhi' We have learnt that Deepika Padukone has been finalised for Karan Malhotra’s Shuddhi. After finishing Happy New Year, she moves on to Imtiaz Ali’s next with Ranbir, post which she would be shooting Shoojit Sircar’s Piku. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		'Chicken from hell' sheds new light on bird-like dino Nicknamed the "chicken from hell," a newly identified species of feathered dinosaur as tall as a human roamed North America at least 66 million years ago, paleontologists announced Wednesday. Engineered tissue closely mimics natural heart muscle that beats Heart muscles that actually beat, created artificially in the lab, have for the first time become a reality. Eat less and live long, says study A study by an evolutionary biologist has found that eating less can boost healthier ageing thereby increasing lifespan by protecting the body’s cells from harmful deterioration and cancer. More Science News»

		Sports
		Hot India beat England in warm-up tie Raina struck an entertaining 54 and Kohli too played a capital innings of 74 as India defeated England by 20 runs in their final ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game. Van Persie fires United to CL quarters Robin van Persie's hat-trick lifted gloom surrounding Man United and manager David Moyes as they beat Olympiakos 3-0 to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit. IPL action set for May 1 return to India The seventh edition of the IPL will be flagged off in the UAE, which will host the first 20 matches, but the tournament is likely to come back to India from May 1. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Motorola launches Moto X in India at Rs 23,999 Motorola has launched its flagship smartphone, Moto X, in the Indian market at starting price of Rs 23,999. Google announces Android Wear, confirms smartwatch plans Google on Tuesday announced Android Wear, "a project that extends Android to wearables" like smartwatches. Micromax Knight A350 review: Best in its class Micromax is India’s second biggest smartphone company. But that is what market research firms say. Over 16% market share of Micromax is a fact. It is not a perception. More Technology News»

		Education
		Complete DU post-graduation in one year from 2015 The Delhi University is targeting the post-graduate level for its next big set of reforms. Final-year engineering results out after 92 days' delay The University of Mumbai finally announced the semester VII final-year engineering results of the remaining six branches on Wednesday. New Madhyamik syllabus likely from 2015 Disparity in marks between Madhyamik Board and its national counterparts has always been a matter of concern for students. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		HC orders ban on reclamation of wetlands in state The Bombay high court on Wednesday ordered a total ban on reclamation and construction on wetlands in Maharashtra and called for prompt action against violations. 424 of 593 'dangerous' buildings in city still occupied As many as 424 buildings in the city declared dilapidated and considered very dangerous by the BMC continue to be inhabited. Maharashtra finalizes Rs 4,000cr relief package for hailstorm-hit farmers The state government on Wednesday evening finalized a Rs 4,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package to farmers in 28 districts in the state hit by unseasonal showers and hailstorms. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Congress set to renominate Mahabal Mishra, Ramesh Kumar in Delhi Congress is likely to re-nominate West Delhi and South Delhi MPs Mahabal Mishra and Ramesh Kumar. Father must provide for illegitimate child: Court A trial court has held that a man cannot escape paying maintenance to his illegitimate child even if he has entered into a settlement deed to part ways with the mother before the birth of the progeny. Nursery admissions: HC pulls up government over disabled quota The city government on Wednesday came under fire from the Delhi high court for its failure to ensure that 3% seats are kept vacant in nursery classes for kids with disabilities. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Sangliana may be JD(S) pick for Bangalore Central As several political bigwigs filed their nominations on Wednesday, the JD(S) tried to make the most of dissent within the Congress over ticket distribution. BDA official gets police cover after death threats The threat from the underworld is no longer restricted to the rich and real estate businessmen. Main accused in Nayak murder case arrested Jagadeesh, a prime accused in the R N Nayak murder case, was arrested by Uttara Kannada police in Bangalore on Monday.Jagadeesh, who was in the real estate business, hails from Chikkaballapur, according to police. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		IAF steps in to tame Tirumala fire The raging forest fire in the ecologically sensitive Seshachalam biosphere on Wednesday destroyed vast tracts of greenery and threatened to spread to pedestrian pathways leading to the Tirumala shrine even as officials decided to use two C130 aircraft for chemical spraying to douse the fire. Post division, more central forces to guard Hyderabad Additional central forces – 12 battalions to be precise – will guard the city after it becomes the joint capital of Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh on June 2. HC considering petition on staying assembly polls In absence of ‘effective assistance’ from the Election Commission, the AP High Court on Wednesday observed that it would be forced to ‘stay’ the ensuing assembly polls after a legislator moved court saying elections were being held ‘illegally’. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		No more delayed landings at Chennai airport Flying over Chennai skies will soon become cost effective for airlines. The GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation system (Gagan) will see to that. Ramadoss family pitches in to salvage BJP-led front Family members have been roped in to persuade PMK founder S Ramadoss to stay with the BJP-led front in Tamil Nadu, which he had threatened to quit if his demand for a couple of seats, including Salem, was not conceded. Close finish on cards in battle for Tenkasi A one-time Congress bastion that elected former Union minister M Arunachalam to the Lok Sabha six times in a row starting with the 1977 elections , Tenkasi is no longer a comfort zone for the grand old party.  More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Co-op bank gives debit card power The Kalupur Commercial Co-Operative Bank Limited (Kalupur Bank) on Wednesday became the first co-operative bank in Gujarat to launch RuPay debit cum ATM card for its customers. 3 arrested for leaking test paper for clerk jobs Three persons have been arrested by the crime branch in connection with a leaked paper from the exam concerning a clerical post at Raksha Shakti University.A woman candidate who took the exam is also accused in the case. Woman kills 11-month-old son, commits suicide A 23-year-old woman committed suicide after killing her 11-month-old son at her home in Vatva on Wednesday.According to Vatva police the woman was suffering from depression. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Ateeq: Journalists are a bunch of semi-literates The mafia don-turned-politician and SP candidate, who has many criminal cases pending against him, was apparently irked with the media following publication of news about his alleged violation of model code of conduct. Man ends life along with 2-year-old son A man jumped into a well with his two years old son on Sunday.They died in the incident. 3 students meet watery graves Three engineering students were drowned at a check dam on Tuesday where they had gone to celebrate Holi with two other friends. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Nominees seek astro advice for elections The right day, correct gemstone and colour of clothes.Leaders in Ganjam district are approaching astrologers for their combination before filing nomination. Congress sticks to tried and tested, retains 23 MLAs Congress retained 23 of its 25 sitting MLAs in its first list of 118 candidates released on Tuesday. Ravenshaw reschedules examinations Ravenshaw University has re-cheduled examination dates in view of the twin elections in the state. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Counter-poaching op: Congress gets even Ten days after Congress' Bhind candidate Bhagirath Prasad defected to the BJP camp, Congress avenged the humiliating loss with a counter-poaching operation. Students make parents pledge vote To teach people the worth of vote, schoolchildren of state are taking initiative to make their parents sign on 'Sankalp patra' (pledge letters) to make sure that they vote in coming Lok Sabha elections. Shahpura lake: Nullah tide alarm Green panel nominee has highlighted flow of untreated water from a nullah containing solid waste into Shahpura lake and raised questions whether it is a lake or an oxidation pond. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		BJP nominee from Ambala files papers Ratan Lal Kataria, BJP candidate from Ambala Lok Sabha seat, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for contesting election. Ahead of polls, splitsville in Jalandhar SC communities According to the figures available, out of the total over 15.13 lakh voters in Jalandhar, around 3.5 lakh are Adidharmis and nearly 1.75 lakh are Valmiki/Mazhabis. Six held for gangster's escape Even though whereabouts of gangster Rajiv Raja remains a mystery, cops on Wednesday arrested six persons accused of helping him escape from police custody nine days ago. More Chandigarh News»

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