News Digest: Mission toilet to curb rape

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, June 14, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Mission toilet to curb rape Every time a woman or girl steps out of her house to relieve herself, she is exposing herself to danger, particularly in rural Uttar Pradesh. Youth held for sodomizing five-year-old boy Police arrested a 19-year-old youth on Thursday for sodomizing a five-year-old boy in Bareilly's Sisoniya village. District officials to urge farmers to sell land for UP expressway After facing difficulties in acquiring land for CM Akhilesh Yadav's dream Agra-Lucknow expressway project, the state government has tasked district officials with convincing farmers in Firozabad to sell their lands. More India News»

		Business
		Modi to decide on tax sops for SEZs Several international investors, which had invested in SEZs during its heydays are now facing difficulties with the tax authorities. Iraq crisis: Diesel decontrol plan takes a hit There may not be an immediate threat of supply disruption but refiners remain nervous. Wal-Mart to pilot B2B e-commerce in 2 cities After it called off its six-year partnership with Bharti Enterprises late last year, US retail giant Wal-Mart appointed Krish Iyer as president and CEO of its India operations. More Business News»

		Environment
		Pilibhit Wildlife Sanctuary gets tiger reserve forest status Government officials said the move to notify the forest ranges in Pilibhit as tiger reserve shows the state’s commitment to strengthen conservation efforts despite UP’s large population. In eel on endangered list, Japan sees a vanishing dish The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said that adding the eel to the list of endangered species could mean a ban on the international trade of the animal. Climate change causes winners and losers in penguins Penguin species in the Antarctic that once benefited from rising temperatures are now in decline due to warming gone too far, scientists said Thursday. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukrainian forces reclaim port city from rebels The Ukrainian flag fluttered over the regional government headquarters in the strategic port city of Mariupol on Friday after government forces reclaimed the city from pro-Russian separatists in heavy fighting, and said they had regained control of a long stretch of the border with Russia. Obama says no troops on ground amid talk of US air strikes to defend Baghdad President Obama on Friday ruled out sending US combat troops to Iraq but promised unspecified help to the country even as American policy in the region was going up in flames with the Sunni terrorist group ISIS marching to towards Baghdad. Drone war resumes in Pakistan After a long break, the CIA has resumed its controversial drone programme in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region raising concerns among its critics whether Islamabad has given a tacit go-ahead for fresh strikes. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Leander-Rhea's daughter's custody gets tricky It doesn’t appear as if there will be an amicable settlement between tennis ace Leander Paes and his live-in partner, socialite Rhea Pillai. 'I took my surname from my step-father' Dia Mirza, 32, is sensitive, strong and pure, who may have become Miss Asia Pacific in 2000 when she was just 18, but has learnt from the many knocks she has got from life. OMG: Vidya Balan copies Kareena Kapoor It seems after copying the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look in ‘Action Replayy’ during the promotions of her movie 'Ghanchakkar', Vidya Balan does it again. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Supersonic car set for 1,609kmph dash The world’s first supersonic car, which can run at 1,609kmph (1,000mph), has finally taken shape. Poor weather again delays Nasa's 'flying saucer' test A major Nasa mission in June to evaluate future landing technologies on the Red Planet has suffered a setback because the space agency was unable to carry out a challenging test involving a flying saucer-like spacecraft, a huge balloon and a massive parachute, because of bad weather conditions in the US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range at Kauai in Hawaii. Cement used in hip surgery blamed for 41 deaths in UK Doctors in UK have sounded an alarm confirming cement being used in partial hip replacement surgery is causing death. The use of cement to hold artificial joints in place is common in the UK. More Science News»

		Sports
		Superb Dutch humble sorry Spain 5-1 Van Persie and Robben slammed a brace apiece as the Netherlands avenged their 2010 final defeat, thrashing holders Spain 5-1 in World Cup 2014 Group B match. Ferrari may leave Formula One: Report Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo may pull his team out of Formula One because it "isn't working" and the Italian firm may switch to sports-car competition. Sanchez scores as Chile beat Australia Alexis Sanchez helped Chile pile the pressure on Spain after a 3-1 win over Australia in their World Cup opener saw them join Netherlands on top of Group B. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Xolo to launch lightest smartphone at budget price Xolo is gearing up to introduce its first Windows Phone-based smartphone in early July. Sikka: Wish to shift focus from 'Nach Baliye' to math "I think there is an incredible fascination for singing and dancing in India. I wish we get back to a little bit of math and science," Vishal Sikka said. Micromax to launch two Windows Phone 8.1 devices next week One of the devices will be priced around Rs 6,000-7,000 and other around Rs 10,000-11,000. More Technology News»

		Education
		Over 2,000 foreign applications flood DU The Foreign Students’ Registry has received 2,098 applications from abroad with as many as 1,259 for the four-year undergraduate programme. Boost for engineers: India now part of Washington Accord After years of effort and several failures, India finally became the 17th member of the exclusive Washington Accord on Friday. Duta now knocks on President's door for FYUP rollback To nudge the authorities towards a rollback of the four-year undergraduate programme once again, Delhi University Teachers’ Association has written to the Visitor. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		4 booked for cheating foreign job aspirants The Bangur Nagar police have booked four accused on Thursday for allegedly duping nearly 100 job aspirants of Rs 32 lakh after promising them work in South Africa. The accused provided fake documents to the victims to facilitate their travel to Africa. Eye on polls, Maharashtra minister Narayan Rane promises 20% quota for Marathas With an eye on the upcoming assembly elections, state industries minister Narayan Rane has promised a 20% reservation for Marathas in education and jobs. HC hears BMC's policy draft on dangerous buildings In a bid to erase the difficulties faced by the civic administration in implementing demolition orders, the Bombay high court on Friday discussed at length new norms to classify highly dilapidated buildings, both private and BMC-owned, and incorporate police assistance within the civic legal framework to ensure swift eviction and rehabilitation More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Tough pollution regimen on the cards for Delhi A high-powered committee set up by the LG recently has listed a slew of measures to counter air pollution in the city. 3-week parole for ex-cop Rathi The Delhi high court on Friday granted three weeks’ parole to former ACP S S Rathi who is serving life term along with nine other policemen for killing two businessmen after mistaking them for gangsters in 1997. 1 held for snatching MP's bag A bag containing documents of Vijay Sampla, the BJP MP from Punjab's Hoshiarpur constituency, was snatched by a man when his train was about to reach the capital on Friday morning, police said. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Realtor takes JD(S) legislators on Lanka junket Realtor D U Mallikarjuna is taking around 40 Janata Dal (Secular) legislators to Sri Lanka on a junket to celebrate his election to the Karnataka legislative council. HC awaits CM action on mess The bench headed by Justice N Kumar adjourned to June 18 the hearing on a batch of petitions relating to the garbage mess to %await the result of the initiative taken by the CM. Mandur seethes as police disrupt fast Mandur bristled with anger on Friday following another stand-off between police and villagers. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		K Chandrasekhar Rao's new diktat: Tighten purse strings With Telangana chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, going the ‘welfare way’, the new state of India will need a lot of money. But with limited funds where will the ruling party get the funds to fulfill its tall election promises? PCPIR booster for Visakhapatnam port At a time when the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) is going all out to complete major developmental projects in a bid to increase its cargo handling capacity, the reconstruction of two berths for handling petroleum products in the inner harbour, which had taken a backseat due to lack of interest by oil companies, could finally become a reality. All eyes on lord's abode A day after Andhra Pradesh chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, dissolved all temple committees in the new state, the BJP has begun lobbying for the post of chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the board that controls the richest temple in the country. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Red tape delays mega projects in country The slump in the national economy is often attributed to the global meltdown that unsettled the US and European economies in recent years. Now, electricity bill on your mobile phone Now, you can get the bill for the power you consumed on your mobile phones. Take action against squatters on banks of rivers, corporation told As the Centre is drawing up an ambitious plan of cleaning the river Ganges, three rivers crisscrossing the city too are all set for a makeover. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		62,412 students fill engineering forms A total of 62,412 students filled forms for admission to engineering courses. As the deadline for submission came to a close, the numbers of students applying is lower than the number of seats available. Amit Shah is new GCA boss BJP leader Amit Shah was on Friday formally elected president of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi resigned from the post late last month. Dads in jail cite admissions for bail As the state government has started its three-day 'Praveshotsav' to encourage admissions to primary schools, prisoners have joined the celebration by emerging on bail to ensure their children get admission to schools and colleges. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC to officials: Make shelter homes functional by July 2 The above order was passed by a division bench, comprising Justice Tarun Agarwala and Justice Ram Surat Ram Maurya, on a PIL filed by Aishwarya Gupta and six other law students. Three minors drown in pond A decision to take a bath in cool water of pond to beat the heat proved fatal for three minors of Bas Mahua village under Tharwai police station on Thursday. PIL on shelter homes: HC gives more time to state to file reply Hearing a PIL seeking free education to the children of shelter homes which have been set up for homeless people, the Allahabad High Court, on Thursday, granted further time to the state counsel to file reply and fixed June 13 as next date of hearing. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Heat may mar Raja festivities The scorching heat may play spoilsport during three-day annual Raja festivities beginning Saturday. Odisha joint entrance examination registration to begin from June 16 The counselling process for admission to various professional courses by Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) authorities will begin on June 16, official sources said. Government will walk the talk: Governor Governor S C Jamir on Thursday outlined Naveen Patnaik government's priority in different sectors.Jamir was addressing 15th assembly's first session here. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Dead on ventilator at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital: 45 days on, no headway in case Nearly one and a half month after a forgery case was registered against four doctors of Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital for allegedly keeping a dead patient on ventilator for six days, police on Friday said they are awaiting legal opinion from MP Medical Council to initiate action against the doctors. One year on, vulnerable kids await rehabilitation Eight-year-old Md Rizwan has his goal laid out before him — become a skilled mechanic to support his family. Rizwan, a drop out of school after class VIII is part of a six-member family that has a sole bread-winner — his elder brother, currently 18, who was also a child labourer. Helpline data: Most tormentors are kin, pal or sulking lover Here is a startling and bitter truth that most of us will find difficult to digest. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		High court sets aside majority of orders passed by Armed Forces Tribunals Three years after verdicts passed by the Armed Forces Tribunals (AFT) were brought under the review of high courts, majority of the decision passed by the Chandigarh bench of AFT were set aside by the Punjab and Haryana high court. BJP netas want ministers to quit Akali govt There's an uprising among grassroot leaders of Punjab BJP against their ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). After dignity, Punjab drug addicts lose their privacy In a shocking violation of medical ethics and government guidelines, the Punjab health department has started collecting personal details of drug addicts from de-addiction centres across the state. More Chandigarh News»

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