News Digest: Political funding, spending still remain opaque

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, April 29, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Political funding, spending still remain opaque For all the reforms made over the decades, the latest election has remained stuck in old ways in one crucial respect — the lack of transparency in political funding. Rajasthan will probe Vadra land deals after polls: BJP BJP declared Vadra's deals will be investigated in Rajasthan, where CM Vasundhara Raje will ensure a thorough probe once the Lok Sabha polls end on May 16. Classical artistes take a political stance, spark debate Chhanulal Mishra is the staple star turn on the last day of Varanasi's annual Sankat Mochan music festival. More India News»

		Business
		Itochu may buy Redington for Rs 3k cr Itochu, with a history dating back to 1858, is Japan's third largest trading giant after Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co.It has used acquisitions to bulk up trading presence in IT and communication products. Madras Stock Exchange to shut shop after 76 years South India’s fountainhead equity trading house, the 76-year-old Madras Stock Exchange will cease to exist from May 30 after it failed to adhere to several new regulatory requirements, including increased net worth as outlined by markets regulator Sebi. Indians dump bulky TVs for slim flat panels It’s the end of the road for the bulky curved TVs. The stylish, slimmer and technologically more advanced flat panel TVs have taken centre-stage in the Indian market and look set to make the traditional curved televisions (CRTs cathode ray tubes) history. More Business News»

		Environment
		Beautification drive killing Yamuna: Study The study talks about Delhi’s constant obsession with beautifying and developing Delhi’s riverfront and how this has ironically meant nothing but further deterioration of the riparian ecology. Mite sets new record as world's fastest land animal A Southern California mite has set a new record as world's fastest land animal and the little creature can run 20 times faster than a cheetah and the equivalent of a person running 2,092km per hour, scientists say. Govt pursuing plan for Galgibaga turtle conservation reserve If all goes well, the state will soon have its first turtle conservation reserve at Galgibaga in south Goa, as the government is moving ahead with a proposal to acquire land for the project. More Environment News»

		World
		Obama defends foreign policy record President Barack Obama vigorously defended his foreign policy record on Monday, arguing that his cautious approach to global problems has avoided the type of missteps that contributed to a "disastrous" decade of war for the United States. Israel, Palestine square up as peace deadline looms Israel and the Palestinians appeared determined today to seal their divorce as Washington's deadline for reaching a Mideast peace deal was to expire, leaving hopes for a breakthrough in tatters. US-Egypt ties 'turbulent', Egyptian minister says Egypt-US relations remain difficult and "honest" talks are needed to put them back on track, Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy warned on Monday, even as the White House blasted a court's mass death sentence. More World News»

		Entertainment
		PICS: Sunny Leone bares all for a private strip party? If the buzz is to be believed then adult film star turned Bollywood actress Sunny Leone shed her inhibitions and much more recently. Who is the best kisser in Bollywood? With kissing scenes being almost necessary in Bollywood films these days, we couldn't help but wonder that who is the best kisser in Bollywood. Did Rani Mukerji hide wedding details from cousins? Yes, Rani Mukerji didn’t share her wedding plans with her cousins. And the reason for this is that one of them is referred to as a loudmouth in the industry. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		99 years later, error in OED corrected An Australian scientist has forced the Oxford English Dictionary to change its definition of how a siphon works, after he found an error in the entry which had gone unnoticed for 99 years. Suspect results plague fitness bands My Nike FuelBand read lazy. My friend’s read fit. But we had done essentially the same thing. Extreme levels of herbicide found in GM soy: Study Extremely high levels of the herbicide Roundup have been found in 70% of the genetically modified (GM) soybeans. More Science News»

		Sports
		Amid despair, Atletico is hope in Madrid For Spain's working class suffering through what feels like never-ending recession, Atletico's stunning season offers an uplifting example of beating the odds. Bangalore to host India-Serbia playoff tie Bangalore will host India's Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Serbia from September 12 to 14. Serbia hold a 2-1 head-to-head over India in Davis Cup. Suarez named PFA player of the year Controversial striker Luis Suarez, who will lead Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, has scored 30 goals & contributed 12 assists for Liverpool so far. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Microsoft rushes to fix Internet Explorer after attacks Microsoft is rushing to fix a bug in Internet Explorer after a computer security firm disclosed the flaw over the weekend. Opinion: The problem with iPad (and tablets) The functionality that tablets offer, at least at the moment, is not something that can keep them pushing forward in the new market. Wipro planning biggest restructuring exercise Wipro is planning a wide-ranging restructuring to help employees shore up expertise in state-of-the art skills. More Technology News»

		Education
		Varsity misplaces recognition letter The vice-chancellor of Jyotibha Phule Rohilkhand University was put in an embarrassing position by his subordinates who misplaced the recognition certificate issued to the varsity by the University Grants Commission in 1975. SC to end nursery mess today The Supreme Court on Monday gave 24 hours to the lieutenant governor of Delhi to consider accommodating inter-state transfer students in nursery classes of private schools by allowing them to increase intake by five-six seats each. Technical institutes in UP involved in scholarship fraud The query, filed by Puneet Sharma, chairman, Right to Information Task Force, found that in these institutes, students of other states were allegedly shown as residents of Uttar Pradesh and were granted scholarships on that basis. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Man cons live-in partner of Rs 50 lakh gold with DJ's help An unemployed man, who was in a live-in relationship with a woman, and his friend, who is a disc jockey, were arrested on Sunday for stealing gold worth Rs 50 lakh from the girlfriend’s flat. Removal of 'VIP benches' now may damage Five Gardens' costly turf In clear violation of heritage laws, six park benches which are not in accordance with the heritage committee recommendations, were installed earlier this month at the D garden of the 90-year-old Five Gardens in Dadar. Aam aadmi can party! EU bans mangoes, prices plunge This year, the aam aadmi can feast on the king of fruits, including the famed Alphonsos, without burning a hole in his pocket. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Revised NCR plan will limit construction in green zones Environment activists could breathe a bit easy as the revised plan for National Capital Region and sub-regional plan of Haryana will be reworked to ensure no tourism activities and only limited construction in natural conservation zones (NCZs). 4 hospitals need not keep free beds Granting relief to four private hospitals, the Delhi high court on Monday quashed an order by the Delhi government asking them to provide free treatment to the poor even if their land lease deeds do not have a condition in this regard. Just 16 came for grievance redressal at Delhi Secretariat The government received a tepid response on the first day of public hearings. Officials said 16 people visited Delhi Secretariat on Monday to meet various officials and register their complaints. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Quarrying in Western Ghats will help locals, Karnataka govt says The Karnataka government objected to the recommendations of the Dr K Kasturirangan committee to ban quarrying and sand mining in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. Kidwai hospital's ward attendant, patients allege institute is badly managed Anwar Sab, 60, an agricultural labourer from Dodda Sagar Halli near Devanahalli went to the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology for blood cancer treatment in February 2014. Taking Metro across Bangalore still a far cry Ajay Janotkar will have ride his sturdy steed to work for another year, at least.Ajay, a resident of Vijayanagar who commutes to Domlur, believed he could soon leave his bike home and take the Metro. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Dogs, mosquitoes greet polling staff in Hyderabad Polling staff may have to spend a sleepless night on Tuesday and it is not the impending voting exercise but the deplorable condition of the polling stations that will keep them awake.  It's not all 'pink' A large photograph of Indira Gandhi on a publicity poster of actress-turned-politician Vijayashanti in Medak town grabs the attention of onlookers.  The star wife campaigner! She has more than one credential of her own. Executive director, Apollo Group of Hospitals and Chairman, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Andhra Pradesh.  More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		$15 million statue lying in US warehouse A $15 million Buddhist Yakshi statue, suspected to be stolen by art thief Subhash Kapoor, is lying unclaimed in a US customs warehouse, though there is evidence to establish its theft from a village in Madhya Pradesh , says Kirit Mankodi, an independent archaeologist. Major Mukund Varadarajan cremated with full military honours in Chennai Minutes before the cortege of Major Mukund Varadarajan left his house in Tambaram on Monday, his three-year-old daughter Arsheya said "good night and goodbye" to her father. Court to fix Jayalalithaa's appearance day on May 19 An economic offences court hearing the income tax cases against chief minister J Jayalalithaa, exempted her appearance in court till the poll process is over, but adjourned the matter to May 19 to fix a date for recording her statements under Section 313 of CrPC. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat fake encounters: Bombay high court grants bail to 3 police officers The court granted bail to the three police officers on bonds of Rs 1 lakh each and providing solvency of an equal amount.  Lok Sabha poll: All for democracy's sake! Gujarat goes to polls on April 30 and many citizens have taken upon themselves to raise awareness to go out in the heat and vote – for the sake of the country and their better tomorrow. BJP puts workers on each page of voters' list in Gujarat The BJP has allotted a party worker or volunteer for every page of the voters' list in Gujarat. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Two students held for cyber fraud Cyber Crime cell sleuths arrested two under-graduate students from Phulpur-Handia Road for online fraud on Sunday. Will NaMo magic work in Allahabad? A huge turnout of people at the filing of nomination papers of Narendra Modi in Varanasi, perhaps reinforces the fact that a wave in favour of BJP has gripped all across the nation. Mayawati accuses NaMo of playing OBC card Lashing out at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for playing ‘backward card’, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday dared him to name the backward class to which he belonged. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		SCB Medical College and Hospital begins bone marrow transplant Doctors at SCB Medical College and Hospital carried out bone marrow transplant (BMT) on two blood cancer patients recently. Koraput police in Bhubaneswar In a post-poll violence, a group of people attacked Tara Prasad's brother Tuna Bahinipati, nephew Gupta Prasad Mohapatra and son Jyotiram Bahinipati on the intervening night of April 10 and 11. Keonjhar grapples with malaria Malaria continues to scourge the district, tall claims of containing the disease by health department notwithstanding. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Manager convicted for uploading morphed pictures of woman on Facebook A senior manager of a private company was sentenced to three years in prison for creating a fake Facebook account of a married woman and uploading her morphed nude pictures on it. Fearing FIR, private institutes begin to return 'swindled' scholarships Fearing penal and criminal action, several private institutes in the state that allegedly misappropriated scholarships meant for SC/ST students, have started returning the amount. SUVs are burglars' vehicle of choice this summer SUVs have won the favor of burglars this summer.Two incidents of theft wherein thieves came in Scorpios and decamped with cash and valuables have come to light in past three days alone. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		55-yr-old gets 10-yr jail term for raping minor A local court on Monday sentenced a 55-year-old person to 10-year jail term for the rape of a seven-year-old girl in May last year. Summer brings acne woes for dogs The rising temperature and humidity has given rise to a new condition of acne among the dogs.City veterinarians claim of receiving an increased number of pets infested with bugs and flea. Elante raid: Errant UT officials may be booked All three reports mentioned violations of serious nature."It has been confirmed that in many cases, original plans were not matching with constructed commercial establishments. More Chandigarh News»

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