News Digest: Haryana Sikh leaders excommunicated

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, July 17, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Haryana Sikh leaders excommunicated Top Sikh clerics on Wednesday excommunicated three Haryana politicians for “conniving with the Congress” to divide the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and forming a parallel body in the state. 12 people killed in J&K accidents Four people were injured in the collision between the cab with the Army vehicle. BSF constable killed in crossborder firing A Border Security Force (BSF) constable was killed after Pakistani Rangers fired on a forward Indian post at Arnia along the India-Pakistan border near Jammu on Wednesday. More India News»

		Business
		Private sector set to enter Indian aerospace market The Modi government is all set to kick-start private sector entry into domestic aerospace arena by giving the green signal to the Rs 13,000 crore project to supply 56 transport aircraft to IAF. India Inc set to see best quarter in 2 yrs Corporate India is likely to clock its strongest earnings growth in two years in the first quarter of the current financial year (April-June) aided by a low base and a recovery in operating profit margins. PMO consults industry to untie infrastructure knots The Prime Minister's Office is holding detailed consultations with the industry to get infrastructure and construction projects off the ground to spur investment and economic activity. More Business News»

		Environment
		Govt has identified over 3,200 polluting industries: Javadekar The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that it had identified 3,266 highly polluting industries and 150 polluted stretches along various rivers across the country in the past couple of years and had taken measures to deal with it. Govt offering financial help for e-waste management To facilitate e-waste management in the country, the government is implementing a scheme under which financial assistance is provided for awareness and capacity building activities relating to e-waste management. Poaching of wild animals a serious issue: Govt Terming poaching of wild animals as a serious issue, government on Wednesday said wildlife in the country is "under stress" with illegal trade in South East Asia alone to the tune of $60 billion. More Environment News»

		World
		US, EU stiffen sanctions against Russia The new blows against Russia deepened the most serious standoff between Moscow and the West since the end of the Cold War. US sentences British men over Taliban support British campaigners bitterly opposed their extradition on the grounds that they were held so long without charge and arguing they should be tried at home. Typhoon leaves at least 27 dead in Philippines The death toll from the first typhoon of the Philippines' rainy season climbed to at least 27 on Thursday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		VIDEO: The 'Creature' that is scaring Bipasha Basu! After doing horror films like Raaz and Raaz 3 filmmaker Vikram Bhatt once again teams up with bong beauty Bipasha Basu this time for Indian 3D monster thriller Creature. Is Salman giving a break to Bhagyashree's son? Bhagyashree spoke about Salman Khan and her son Abhimanyu. Salman: I like SRK though we don't get along Salman Khan seems to have got his heart size enlarged even more than the size he was born with. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Late nights can harm fertility in women Expectant moms or women who are trying to get pregnant should avoid light during the night, according to a new research. Injecting gene into heart muscle may replace pacemaker Injecting a certain gene into cardiac muscle has been shown in animal studies to help a weakened heart beat more strongly, scientists said Wednesday. A 'James Bond' drug to stop you from getting drunk A pill could soon protect you against getting drunk, irrespective of how much alcohol you gulp down. More Science News»

		Sports
		Barca accept Suarez 'imperfections' Barcelona will accept Suarez with his "imperfections" and believes he will play a positive role despite his notorious World Cup bite, a top club official said. Serena Williams in difficult period: Coach Serena Williams, whose Wimbledon campaign ended with her in tears and on the verge of fainting, is enduring a "difficult period" in her life, her coach said. German 'gaucho' victory dance draws fire Commentators chided the German football team on Wednesday for gently mocking Argentina during a giant World Cup winners party in Berlin. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Act One: Vishal Sikka seeks ideas from Infoscions Vishal Sikka’s first major move at Infosys has been directed at improving employee engagement, sorely needed now given the record high employee attrition levels and the criticality of employee morale in implementing whatever plans he has. Apple India eyes 1 million sales, cuts down on profits Apple is offering record margins to retailers and resellers for its flagship iPhone 5S as it looks to hit the 1 million mark for its smartphones in India. Samsung battles on two fronts as Apple readies iPhone 6 Samsung Electronics is losing smartphone ground not only to cheaper Chinese rivals but also at the high end to Apple, a survey showed. More Technology News»

		Education
		Law without teeth leaves medical colleges free to collect capitation fee The history of medical education in Tamil Nadu is 160 years old, and private medical colleges have been in existence for several decades. Jamia Millia Islamia headed for academic reform Unlike his predecessor whose focus had been on administrative reform, the new vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof.Talat Ahmad, has made academic reforms his priority. Course structure for FYUP batch proposed The FYUP batch and its teachers finally have some clarity on what they'll be doing over the second year, but once again, there are problems with the curriculum. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		BMC reply sought in RTE admissions The Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the BMC to file its reply and ensure that there is proper implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) in the city where less than 15% seats were filled this year. Maharashtra govt makes conversion of agricultural land simpler In a move that could boost development in Maharashtra, the state cabinet has simplified the process to convert agricultural land in cities and towns into non-agricultural land. Won't tweet about Pancholis now, Jiah's mom tells high court Rabiya Khan, mother of actor Jiah Khan who was found dead last year, assured the Bombay HC that she will not tweet or publish libelous statements about the Pancholis and sought time to file her reply to a defamation suit filed against her by actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Let corporates, RWAs assist in park upkeep: HC The Delhi high court on Wednesday suggested roping in Resident Welfare Associations and corporate firms to manage parks in the capital as the civic agencies do not seem equal to the task. Zoo to get rhino from Kanpur Barely a month after 28-year-old one-horned rhinoceros Shiva died, Delhi zoo is all set to get another male rhinoceros for a breeding programme. Retired IFS officer kills self, police rule out foul play A 62-year-old retired Indian Foreign Service officer allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at his south Delhi residence on Wednesday afternoon. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Cops compromise safety of Bangalore rape survivor, friend Is someone in the city police conspiring with the accused in the case of the July 11 rape of a 22-year-old student in Fraser Town and putting her and the prime witness at risk? Rape of minor: Furious parents demand answers from school Dozens of parents on Wednesday gave vent to their anger and fear, as they protested for over seven hours against Vibgyor High School over the alleged rape of a class 1 student. Gang rape of minor: Cops question 2 suspects, hold identification parade The horrific incident of the alleged gang rape of a six-year-old girl in an upmarket school in East Bangalore is turning grislier, as police piece together the traumatized child’s statements and medical evidence. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Metro corridor II to be scrapped? With K Chandrasekhar Rao adamant on ‘driving’ the metro line near the state Assembly building underground, to preserve Hyderabad’s heritage structures, government authorities are now mulling scrapping Corridor II of the metro project, proposed to run between Jubilee Bus Stand (JBS) and Falaknuma. Advantage AP: Hope for more fire stations, courtesy division Strapped by a severe manpower crunch for nearly two decades, the disaster response and fire services department of the new state of Andhra Pradesh is finally hoping to wangle more manpower and machinery, courtesy bifurcation. Bonhomie over education Their chief ministers might be at loggerheads and having a go at each other over nativity and policies, but the education ministers of newly carved Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, are surprisingly extending the olive branch to students from both regions. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Smart prepaid card, dedicated lane to end traffic blocks at toll plazas Traffic piling up at toll plazas may be a thing of the past. Gangster dies in police custody A 27-year-old gangster died in suspicious circumstances after the Kodungaiyur police took him into custody early on Wednesday. Engineering student who killed herself was stalked, says mom The suicide of a 21-year-old engineering college student in Thoraipakkam on Sunday took a twist on Wednesday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Finally, heavens open up on Gujarat Ending days of dry spell, heavens opened up on Gujarat with all 32 districts receiving moderate to heavy rainfall since Tuesday night. Poverty couldn't stop them from making it to top law schools Mohammad Danish Ghani's father works at a footwear shop, earns Rs 3,000 a month and supports a family of five. Protests against self-financed divisions in science colleges Gujarat University has recently granted two self-financed divisions each for 15 existing grant-in aid science colleges.The GU had sent a local inquiry committee last week to these colleges and permission is still awaited. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Court turns down cops plea on transfers Earlier, appearing on behalf of the state government, state counsel Piyush Shukla submitted before the court that the transfer order was passed on the basis of GO dated June 7, 2014. 2 jump into well to save mother, drown Two young boys jumped into a well to save their mother.However, while the mother survived, her two young sons drowned on Tuesday morning. Juvenile justice: Punitive or corrective? The government's decision to repeal Juvenile Justice Act-2000 and re-enact a new law by the same name in 2014, is making child right's activists quite jittery. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		BMC plans project in Saheed Nagar The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will set up another commercial and residential complex through public-private partnership (PPP) mode at Saheed Nagar. BJD, opposition want constitution of house panel on Polavaram The ruling BJD and opposition parties on Tuesday demanded constitution of a house committee headed by speaker Niranjan Pujari on the controversial Polavaram project. Power production hit at Kolab, Balimela With Koraput recording around 50% deficit rainfall in the first fortnight of July, power generation at Kolab and Balimela hydro electricity projects in the district has been badly hit, leading to power cuts. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Minor raped and forced to undergo abortion by grandfather in Madhya Pradesh A 65-year old man was arrested for raping his teenage granddaughter for more than 5 months and forcing her to undergo abortion, in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. Short-fuse Morena: Woman set ablaze for objecting to assault on girl A 20-year-old youth with help from his parents, allegedly set ablaze his aunt after she stopped him from beating her daughter in Morena district.The woman succumbed to injuries on Monday night. Heavy rain brings Bhopal to grinding halt Two-and-half hours of heavy downpour in the evening brought the city to a grinding halt on Tuesday.It was second consecutive day of mayhem on the streets after the skies opened up with fury. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		With winds, clouds, relief sways in After leaving the residents high and dry in the first half of July, monsoon is likely to pick up and bring rainfall during the second half, stated Chandigarh meteorological department. 'New Chandigarh will be Punjab's first smart city' It is the third satellite city to come up around Chandigarh, but Punjab government on Wednesday insisted that New Chandigarh will not be yet another parasite on Corbusian Chandigarh, but the state's first Smart City. Electric shock kills 22-year-old A 22-year-old boy received an electric shock while fixing the cable of his dish TV at his residence in Sector 23.He was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. More Chandigarh News»

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