News Digest: Didi seeks Rs 2000 crore from Centre

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, July 08, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Didi seeks Rs 2000 crore from Centre The cash-strapped Mamata Banerjee government has sought Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre to implement the National Food Security Act. Brakes clamped on bike ad with stunts The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), in response to complaints about a TV commercial which shows dangerous stunts, has asked for withdrawal or modification of the advertisement. Former President Pratibha Patil's brother named in murder case In a major embarrassment for former president Pratibha Patil, her younger brother Gajendra Patil, along with former MP Ulhas Patil were named as co-accused by a Jalgaon sessions court in the murder of senior Congress leader VG Patil, a professor of English in a college there. More India News»

		Business
		I-T exemption limit may go up to Rs 1.5-2 lakh The government is expected to provide relief to the middle-classes through a higher tax exemption limit for investment in long-term savings instruments. Survival depends on transitions: Vishal Sikka Infosys CEO-designate Vishal Sikka has just written a blog that talks about the "two extraordinary transitions" in his life — of leaving SAP and joining Infosys — and says transitions and transformations are inevitable in the life of companies, countries and people in order to survive and be relevant, "when the circumstances and contexts around them change dramatically". Govt seeks more time in RIL arbitration Reliance Industries Ltd’s bid to push for an early gas price hike through international arbitration may be in for fresh delays. More Business News»

		Environment
		Malls are energy guzzlers, says R K Pachauri :Terming shopping malls as "energy guzzlers", noted environmentalist R K Pachauri on Monday said they are not suited to the Indian environment. Ganga to be developed as major tourist destination and navigation corridor Union tourism and culture minister Shripada Naik said tourism spots will be developed by government all along the banks of Ganga from Gangotri to Gang a Sagar. Delhi's satellite towns witness increase in air pollution Delhi's air pollution measures like introducing compressed natural gas, building the Metro and moving polluting industries outside city limits have been praised universally. More Environment News»

		World
		Israel launches military offensive against Gaza militants Israel launched an aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, calling it part of a campaign named "Operation Protective Edge" targeting Hamas Islamist militants firing rockets at the Jewish state. 63 abducted females escape extremists in Nigeria More than 60 Nigerian girls and women abducted by Islamic extremists two weeks ago have managed to escape, officials said Monday. Ghani wins fraud-hit Afghan election: Preliminary results Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani won Afghanistan's presidential election, according to preliminary results Monday, but fraud allegations are set to spark a dispute over the outcome and stoke concerns of instability. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'My sex-change operation backfired' Cross-dresser Bobby Darling, whose desire to turn into a woman is well-known, has had a change of heart. 'I am the highest paid actress in Pakistan' Humaima Malick, 25, is a top model and Pakistan’s highest paid actress who is self-made and a young achiever. 'Had even stopped thinking how bad smoking is' After Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor trying to quit smoking for the longest time, now Nawazuddin Siddiqui is attempting the same. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Pacific's CO2 'burp' ended last ice age? A massive 'burp' of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the North Pacific Ocean may have triggered the end of the last ice age around 17,000 years ago, a new study has found. Coming soon, 'Nano-juice' to unravel the secrets of the human gut A drink will soon unravel secrets of the human gut and help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal illnesses Researchers from the University of Buffalo in the US are developing a new imaging technique involving nanoparticles suspended in liquid to form a "Nano-juice" that patients would drink. 'Blue objects feel warmer than red ones' Blue objects feel warmer to the touch than red ones of the same temperature, a new study has found. More Science News»

		Sports
		Ganguly predicts Germany-Holland final "Obviously as a football fan I would love to see a Brazil-Argentina final, but going by the form it looks to be Germany versus the Netherlands," said Ganguly. Djokovic replaces Nadal at No. 1 Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic replaced Rafael Nadal at No. 1 in the ATP rankings Monday, while runner-up Roger Federer rose one spot to No. 3. Fifa reject Silva plea, Neymar probe FIFA says its disciplinary panel ""cannot consider this matter" under the rules and declined to open proceedings against Camilo Zuniga. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Oppo Find 7 review: Close to perfection Does the Oppo Find 7 have the capability to challenge flagships from leading brands? Backlash stirs in US against H-1B visas Americans argue that H-1B visa programme has been hijacked by staffing companies that import cheaper, lower-level workers to replace more expensive US employees. Over 200 sites blocked in India after Sony's piracy complaint: Report A number of websites including Google Docs and Google’s URL shortener Goo.gl have been blocked in India. More Technology News»

		Education
		Cutoffs drop sharply in Delhi University's third list For those yet to get admission in a Delhi University college, the third cutoff list issued on Monday brings good news. DU directed to make arrangements post-FYUP scrapping: Govt In a written reply, HRD minister Smriti Irani highlighted the steps taken by UGC and its direction to DU to restore the three-year programme. My idea of leadership Young Indians are moving towards a ‘broader sense’ of leadership. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Distraught parents express deep anguish Pallavi Purkayastha's parents expressed deep anguish and disappointment after the man who cut short their daughter's life was given the life sentence. Security guard gets life term for Pallavi murder Sajjad Pathan, 24, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday for murdering young lawyer Pallavi Purkayashtha in 2012. Railway Budget may hold little hope for Mumbai Suburban railway commuters will have to keep expectations in check as the Centre may not have anything substantial to offer to Mumbai in this year’s railway budget More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Cutoffs drop sharply in Delhi University's third list For those yet to get admission in a Delhi University college, the third cutoff list issued on Monday brings good news. Instalments paid, raised circle rates will add to woes, fear investors Days have passed into months and months into years. 10km eco zone impractical, we understand it: MoEF official All eyes are now on the ministry of environ ment and forests which, along with the UP government, will decide the outline of the eco-sensitive area around the Okhla Bird sanctuary. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Karnataka to evaluate universities The Karnataka government is evaluating and rating the universities in the state. It's no sin, says Gowda Jr of talks on selling MLC seat Unfazed by the controversy over an audio CD about him purportedly discussing about cash-for-seat with the supporters of an MLC seat aspirant, JDS leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday defended himself, saying it had been blown out of proportion as if he had "committed a sin". Sisters arrested for killing brother's wife For over a month, police were searching for two women in burqa who had murdered a 28-year-old woman. They slit the woman's throat in front of her one-and-a-half-year-old child at her home in Mico Layout on May 30. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Land allotments: Naidu to do a KCR in Aandhra Pradesh Like Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is also on a take-back-land spree. Krishnapatnam port next in line The GoM is headed by finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and apart from the IT minister, it comprises ministers K Achhannayudu (labour) and K Srinivasulu (health) as members. Three injured as blast rocks pharma unit in Visakhapatnam It was when they were examining the reactor that its safety valve burst open due to high pressure and smoke started emanating from the reactor.They alerted all the staffers in the block, who rushed to safety. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Workers from Srikakulam build our dreams Mamidi Veerraju's instructions are clear. The labour contractor should look for unemployed young blood, families neck-deep in debt and those not registered in any official document. Stay awake to fatten your kid Do you stay awake late to catch the World Cup action and let your kids play or watch television with you? You could be contributing to their obesity. Tiruvallur wall collapse: 3 bodies yet to be claimed Three more families of workers who died in the wall collapse in Tiruvallur on Sunday are yet to take the bodies. The body of a worker from Odisha is among those unclaimed. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Ahmedabad to have smart power grid by October Come October and Ahmedabad will have probably India’s first smart grid system in place where consumers will be able to pick a suitable plan for electricity consumption like they do for cellphones. Crime rate down, claim city police The crime rate in the city is declining because of 'effective policing', claims city police chief Shivananad Jha. Despite staff shortage, police posts unfilled Against the national average of 136 policemen per 1 lakh population, the number for the state is 122. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Worshipping 'cylinder devta' for no more hike In contrast to 'aache din', the soaring prices are giving sleepless nights to the middle class.Common man is unable to bear the pressure of rising prices of all essential commodities. Enjoy showers but take precautions, say doctors Doctors said that some of the common eye problems during monsoon are conjunctivitis, dry eyes, corneal ulcers. Bahraich resident killed in Iraq While 46 Indian nurses returned safely from Iraq, a Bahraich resident could not be as lucky as them.Rajesh Kumar, 38, has reportedly been killed by ISIS militants in strife-torn Iraq. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Naveen asks MLAs to use social media Chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik here on Sunday advised his party MLAs to maintain decorum inside the assembly and outside and give emphasis on use of social media. Cyber crimes rise sharply Not only crime against women, the state witnessed a sharp rise in cases relating to cyber crime in 2013, if the latest finding of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is any indication. Seer supporters blame Daitapatis The Shankaracharya was asked to come 'alone' to the chariots on June 29 Rath Yatra. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Madhya Pradesh high court dismisses Digvijaya Singh's 'letter petition' Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday advised Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh to not to use courts as an ‘arenas for political wrestling,’ while disposing his letter petition seeking a CBI probe into the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam. The 27th foundation day celebrations at a city club in Bhopal The 27th foundation day celebrations of the Bhopal Railway Division, held at a city club on Tuesday, was a cultural soiree for the employees. It is official, monsoon hits Bhopal Almost a month-long excruciating wait came to an end with monsoon finally hitting Bhopal on Sunday.Indian meteorological department (IMD) officially announced arrival of south-west monsoon in Bhopal late Sunday evening. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Undertrail put heroin on the table of judicial magistrate In a major blow to Punjab jail department, an undertrail accused Dheeraj Batta, 27, shocked a packed courtroom when he pulled out a pouch of half gram heroin from his pocket and put in on the desk of judicial magistrate complaining that he is being compelled by a fellow inmate to sell the narcotics inside Nabha Jail on Monday. Paramjit Singh appointed as president of Rotary Club of Chandigarh Prof. Paramjit Singh, former professor and registrar of Panjab University, took the baton of Rotary Club of Chandigarh as its president for the year 2014-15 at the installation function held on Monday at the Rotary House. Punjab government shirking responsibility towards farmers in maize buying Kapurthala Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh has said that the Punjab government is trying to wriggle out of its responsibility from buying the maize crop from the farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 1300 per quintal and trying to pass the buck on the central government. More Chandigarh News»

		To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here	Other Newsletters from TOI : Movie Reviews | Life & Style | Top Headlines