News Digest

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, May 02, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Braveheart girl turns AAP's agent of change An unknown 19-year-old girl has become the most sought-after volunteer of AAP in Punjab for single-handedly challenging established political parties in her village in Sangrur. Ayodhya's dying river doesn't bother netas The political will that backed, and countered, the Ayodhya temple movement evaporated into thin air when it came to the river that runs through the temple towns.  PC Parakh justifies coal block allocation during questioning by CBI The CBI on Thursday questioned former coal secretary PC Parakh in connection with the FIR against him, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Hindalco for alleged irregularities in allocation of Talabira II coal block in Odisha. More India News»

		Business
		Chidambaram defends economic record FM P Chidambaram on Thursday reeled out data to blunt the attack from the opposition over the UPA’s handling of the economy and exuded confidence that growth is likely to be 6% in 2014-15. Air India set to join Star Alliance in July Air India is all set to join the world’s largest airline grouping, Star Alliance, this July, making it the first airline from India to be part of a global chain of carriers. Jewellers hope for Akshay Tritiya surge This year Akshaya Tritiya falls on Friday, a day after a large selloff on gold in the international markets. More Business News»

		Environment
		Scientists vexed in probe of North American starfish deaths The starfish, also called sea stars, are being obliterated by an unexplained wasting disease that causes white lesions to appear before the animal's body sags and ruptures and it spills out its internal organs. India to have roadmap for cutting carbon emissions India has unveiled a draft national policy to provide a roadmap for building comprehensive strategies for cutting carbon emissions from deforestation. UNESCO condemns dredge waste dumping in Barrier Reef waters The UNESCO on Thursday condemned a decision to allow the dumping of dredge waste in Great Barrier Reef waters and recommended the Australian marine park be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage in danger list. More Environment News»

		World
		Mideast peace process on 'pause': Kerry The United States was blindsided by a Palestinian deal with a militant group that led to the suspension of Mideast peace talks, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday, even as he voiced hope that negotiations would resume after a pause. Putin wants troops out of Ukraine's east Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Ukraine should withdraw its military from the eastern and southern regions of the country, a statement that could bolster anti-government insurgents who are seizing buildings. In pics: Southern California wildfires More World News»

		Entertainment
		Akshay-Salman's spider step catching on Yeh Fugly Fugly Kya Hai, the title track of upcoming youth entertainer Fugly, directed by Kabir Sadanand, went viral early Wednesday. 'Salman has better sense of music than Bhushan Kumar' Himesh Reshammiya, 40, has equal doses of creativity and business in his blood. While he is emotional, the commercial success of anything he does is of prime importance. H No out-of-court settlement for rape accused Inder Kumar "There will be no out-of-court settlement, I am ready to fight", says rape accused Inder Kumar’s wife Pallavi, stating why she hasn’t spoken to Salman Khan yet and how her husband Inder had a one-night stand but is not a rapist. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, robotic handshake for long-distance greetings Long-distance lovers may soon be able to hold hands while video chatting. Pill to switch off hunger on the horizon The world's first pill to make you stop eating is set to become a reality. New technique developed which can trace DNA back 1000 years A new ground breaking technique has been developed which can locate the village your ancestors lived 1,000 years ago and hence trace back DNA formation. More Science News»

		Sports
		Sania-Black reach Portugal Open semis Top seeds Sania Mirza and Cara Black progressed to Portugal Open semifinals by overcoming Spanish-Chinese duo Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Shuai Zhang. Rooney asks Utd not to appoint Van Gaal Man United striker Wayne Rooney reportedly asked the club's senior officials to not appoint Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal as their manager this summer. Indian women earn direct last 8 berth Indian women topped their group to secure a direct entry into the quarterfinals after they got past Bulgaria 3-2 in the World Team Table Tennis Championships. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Sony Xperia M2 review: A good-looking mid-range smartphone Sony is focusing on consolidating its mid-range line-up with the launch of the Xperia T2 Ultra and the Xperia M2 Dual. First impressions: Nokia XL Nokia is launching the Android-powered Nokia XL smartphone in the Indian market, later this month. Facebook adds anonymous login, unveils new features As part of its mobile, people-first focus, Facebook says it will let users log in to apps anonymously, without sharing their identities and personal information with mobile applications they don't trust. More Technology News»

		Education
		Environmental Science exam called off after utter chaos Chaos and mismanagement marked the environmental science exam conducted by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University when the number of examinees turned out to be several times more than what the authorities had anticipated. Anna University engineering forms to be available from tomorrow The application forms for the single window counselling for engineering co-ordinated by Anna University will be distributed from Saturday. IIT Guwahati leads India into top 100 global varsity rankings The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati has made it to the world's top 100 university rankings, bringing India for the first time on the list. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Money from railway land to fuel Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II The commercial exploitation of the plot in Bandra is expected to bring Rs 4,000 crore, a part of which will be used to fund MUTP-II. 83-year-old man on recovery path after operation for heart block Eighty three-year-old Jayant Khedekar is among the growing group of octogenarians who have undergone surgeries and emerged stronger Mumbai University flouting UGC order on technical colleges: Teachers The Mumbai University and College Teachers’ Association (MUCTA) wrote to the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently to seek disciplinary action against university officials for allegedly processing applications for new technical colleges. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		CBI arrests former Delhi cop for cheating in civil service exam The CBI has arrested a former sub-inspector of Delhi Police for being part of a racket of civil services aspirants using unfair means during the 2013 mains examinations, conducted by UPSC. Suitor stabs girl 50 times Spurned by his love interest, a 39-year-old stabbed a young woman 50 times with a pair of scissors and then left her body inside a flat in southeast Delhi’s Govindpuri. Anish Kumar has been arrested. Construction debris choking Delhi Construction debris in Delhi is choking roads, wetlands and green areas and the problem is becoming more acute every year. Dumped callously wherever there is space, it is rarely ever recycled on a large scale. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bangalore brains set to revive ailing Dal Lake A Bangalore-based organization is hoping to give Srinagar's famed Dal Lake a much-needed facelift. Seniors take to technology for grandkids Sitting in a computer lab in the basement of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Race Course Road, SN Subbarao, 75, is frantically typing on the alphanumeric keyboard. 50 buses seized for flouting safety norms People travelling in private buses from the city faced a harrowing time as RTO officials launched a crackdown on Volvo buses that had failed to install emergency exits. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Millionaires' club: 25 candidates contesting from Seemandhra are millionaires Clearly our politicians representing poor citizens are not into social service anymore and are instead amassing huge wealth for themselves.  Politicians flock Kakinada to woo voters Whenever the weather is pleasant, this island near Kakinada becomes the perfect hangout for tourists. But come poll season, politicians flock its shores to woo its nearly 340-odd voters, the weather notwithstanding.  Bheemili's big divide The minute you disembark at the bus stop in the Bheemili town centre, it is difficult not to miss the signs of a sharp polarization running through the city's fabric.  More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Case against DMK candidate Two days back, three people were arrested in Kancheepuram for putting up posters stating AIADMK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel, had won the LS poll by a margin of more than a lakh votes. Chennai bomb blasts: A sitting duck called Chennai Central The vulnerability of Chennai Central had been a matter of concern even before Thursday’s twin blasts on board a train at the station. Chennai bomb blasts: Abandoned bag at Egmore station parking sparks fear A short while after the blasts at Chennai Central, panic spread at nearby Egmore railway station after an unclaimed bag was found in the parking lot. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Multiplex owner's nephew assaulted Brijesh Patel, a resident of Parivar Society in Satellite, was thrashed by a group of people on Thursday, after getting into a quarrel broken over a minor road accident. Colleges seek bigger share of Gujarat University exam fee According to the college officials, in every semester around five lakh students appear in GU examinations and the university collects around Rs 2.5 crore as exams fee. Gold imports continue to slide Markets continue to suffer shortage of gold as imports remain a record low in the state. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Feeling cheated, AU students say no to voting Feeling cheated by the authorities of the Allahabad University's Geography department, the students of post graduate diploma in town-country planning of the department have threatened to boycott polling on May 7. HC rejects Karwariya's bail plea The Allahabad high court on Wednesday rejected the bail application of former Bhartiya Janta Party MLA Uday Bhan Karwariya in connection with Samajwadi Party MLA Jawahar Yadav murder case. Body of youth found hanging from tree More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Parents lock up board office The annual high school certificate (HSC) examination results announced on Wednesday were a major disappointment for students across the state. School maintains 100% record The Saraswati Sishu Vidyamandir, Nilakanthanagar, has achieved a 100% pass for the 21st year in a row, with all its 231 students clearing the board examination. Jharkhand jumbos back in Balasore Elephants from Jharkhand entered Ayodhya forest at Nilgiri in Balasore district on Wednesday after a five-month gap. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Goon molests Nirbhaya unit cop in public view A woman constable of the Nirbhaya mobile unit was molested and assaulted by a criminal in public view in Hoshangabad district headquarters on Wednesday evening. 15 medical students dismissed in PMT scam A day after 36 medical students from Bhopal and Gwalior were expelled for adopting dubious means to crack the Pre-Medical Test (PMT), the axe fell on 15 more students in Jabalpur. Major fire at Moti Mahal in Gwalior A major fire broke out in the office of divisional commissioner at historical Moti Palace in Gwalior on Thursday morning.Leaping flames triggered panic, but no loss of human life was reported. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Over 100 couples to tie the knot on Akshaya Tritiya More than 100 weddings are expected to be solemnized on Akshay Tritiya on May 2. Heritage furniture sold again, fetches Rs 1.62 crore Poaching of Le Corbusier's precious heritage by crooked art dealers in the eighties has finally started paying off in a big way. There's no escaping the heat now: Met Residents sweated it out as a blistering heat wave swept the region on Thursday. More Chandigarh News»

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