News Digest: Ahmedabad Metro gets push from Modi

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, October 19, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Ahmedabad Metro gets push from Modi A decade after it was planned in 2003, the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project got Narendra Modi’s push as the Union Cabinet approved Rs 10,773 crore for phase one, covering 35.96km, on Saturday. Is your nose cut when you say 'naak kat gayi': Manjhi Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday dismissed the furor over his threat to "chop off hands of doctors neglecting poor patients". A new format for a literature fest Fourteen books and dedicated hour-long discussions with their authors – the third edition of the Chandigarh Literature Festival is ready to experiment. Scrapping the common theme-based panel discussion format, the festival will see critics discuss one book with the authors every session, as they present the reading and analysis of the texts. Works of William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale, who organize the Jaipur literature festival, have also been nominated, and the two will be making an appearance at the festival, scheduled from Oct 30 to Nov 2 at the Chandigarh Club. More India News»

		Business
		6.02 cr bank accounts opened under Jan Dhan scheme Over six crore bank accounts have been opened so far under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said today. SAIL commissions two major facilities in Bhilai plant State-run steel maker SAIL today commissioned two facilities in its Bhilai plant as part of ongoing expansion and modernization programme. Javadekar leads bank employees' delegation to meet FM Representatives of bank employees headed by Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday met finance minister Arun Jaitley for early settlement of wage revision negotiations. More Business News»

		Environment
		Two jumbos electrocuted in North Bengal Within a day of recovery of a rhino carcass at Gorumara National Park, two adult jumbos — a tusker and a female — were electrocuted in a north Bengal forest on Saturday Endangered northern white rhino dies in Africa A Czech zoo says a 34-year-old northern white rhinoceros has died in Kenya, further reducing the world's dwindling population of the critically endangered animal. Want to put environment ministry on autopilot: Javadekar To a question whether he thought the previous United Progressive Alliance government had not taken key environment clearance decisions which hampered growth, he said "Unfortunately, yes." More Environment News»

		World
		Cautious optimism over Nigeria's kidnapped girls There's no dancing in the streets, but people in the hometown of more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls are cautiously optimistic about news of a cease-fire with the Islamic extremists who abducted their daughters six months ago. Power out, trees fall as hurricane crosses Bermuda Hurricane Gonzalo crushed trees, flattened power lines and damaged Bermuda's main hospital during an hours-long battering, but the tiny, wealthy British territory suffered no deaths. Bishops scrap welcome to gays in sign of split Catholic bishops scrapped their landmark welcome to gays on Saturday, showing deep divisions at the end of a two-week meeting sought by Pope Francis to chart a more merciful approach to ministering to Catholic families. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shruti Haasan sings for Akshara in Shamitabh Shruti Haasan is a trained Hindustani classical singer. Anil Kapoor gets a standing ovation The biggies from the world of television walked the red carpet, celebrated a year of hard work and let their hair down at a night of grandeur. "Gauahar n I r no more together," tweets Kushal More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Chefs join gold rush It has no discernable taste, is completely devoid of any nutritional value and, above all, is incredibly expensive. Sleep test goes from lab to bedroom Getting a sleep test done at a hospital can give one a sleepless night. Called the polysomnography (PSG) test, it involves a night stay at a hospital, with your head wired to a machine that monitors breathing, heart rate and brain waves. But now you can take this test in the comfort of your bedroom. Quality chats help language skills Research shows quality of parent-child communication is more important than the number of words a kid hears. More Science News»

		Sports
		ISL: Moritz's hat-trick helps Mumbai thrash Pune Brazilian striker Andre Francisco Moritz scored ISL first hat-trick as Mumbai City FC thumped FC Pune City 5-0 in a derby clash on Saturday. Harmanpreet's hat-trick helps India beat Australia 6-2 Harmanpreet Singh came up with his second hat-trick of the tournament as India hammered Australia 6-2 to storm into Johor Cup final on Saturday. Aguero hits four as City survive penalty drama to rout Spurs Sergio Aguero fired a four-goal blast as Manchester City thrashed 10-man Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in an EPL clash featuring four penalties at Eastlands. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Google Nexus 9 listed on Play Store in India The 16GB Wi-Fi version of Nexus 9 costs Rs 28,900 in the country. The 32GB Nexus 9 variant with Wi-Fi and cellular has been priced at Rs 44,900. Top 10 tech stories of the week Here's a quick look at what made news in the world of technology in the week just gone by... 10 tips to protect your Android device Android is the most popular mobile platform in India as well as the world. One of the major reasons for its popularity is the flexibility it offers in terms of customization and the abundance of third-party apps. More Technology News»

		Education
		Kozhikode to host second pan-IIM World Management Conference The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode has been selected to host the second pan-IIM World Management Conference, supported by the Ministry of Human Resources Development and organised by the 13 IIMs in the country. India should set up a maritime university: Historian In order to construct a complete maritime history of the country, India should set up a full-fledged institute for maritime studies at the level of a maritime university, said eminent historian MGS Narayanan. Need for improving education system: Rajnath Singh Home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the education system in the country needs a qualitative improvement with focus on skill development. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Don't poison kids' minds, HC says, allows dad access to girls The Family court in Bandra made Diwali doubly bright for a city industrialist this year after granting him a seven-day overnight access to his two little daughters but not before admonishing the "elite class" south Mumbai couple, battling a divorce case for three years, for having "no value for justice at their doorstep" and wondering if their case could be transferred to "remote Nagpur" to teach a lesson. Cops yet to learn purpose of Afghan man's visit The state ATS, probing the disappearance of four Kalyan youths who were believed to have joined ISIS, is also trying to piece together information on an Afghan national, Rateb Hussein Zade (35), the details of whose stay in India are not clear. Railway cops plan awareness campaign The railway police on Saturday laid a trap and picked up a 62-year-old man, Suresh Vyas, who along with other commuters, threatened a collegian for “occupying their space" on a train. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Qutub Minar museum runs into fund roadblock Qutub Minar’s interpretation centre project has run into a roadblock. The project at the world heritage site, which has been in talks for the past two to three years, has been temporarily shelved because of lack of funds. ASI ticket counters to show site films Next time you’re standing in the ticket counter line at a world heritage site, a TV screen could be playing a short film on the monument you’re visiting. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has moved a proposal to set up these screens near ticket counters to introduce visitors to the monument they have come to visit. Guess who failed the Northeast quiz? The third-year economics student of Delhi University is clearly stumped at the question. “The capital of Arunachal Pradesh?” she asks, head arched in deep concentration. “Err..Nagaland?” More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		New names invoke a hoary past When Karnataka celebrates its Rajyot sava Day, or state formation day, on November 1, 12 of its cities will officially bear new names. App spots fire traps Came across a fire safety violation, but don't know who to alert? This app could help you.  Former deputy mayor's son, his girlfriend held for theft The 24-year-old son of a former deputy mayor and his girlfriend were arrested on Saturday for stealing jewels and valuables worth Rs 3 lakh from the latter's house in Deepanjali Nagar, Mysore Road, recently. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Joy ride turns tragic for two A joy ride of two friends, who were on their way to Chilkur Balaji temple, ended in a tragedy after their vehicle was hit by a lorry coming from the rear at Deer Park on Saturday. Cops to monitor Moharram procession using CCTV cameras The South Zone police is likely to monitor the mourning procession closely using CCTV cameras in the Islamic month Mohrram, likely to begin on October 25. Eviction notice to Nizam's museum? The Nizam’s Museum in Purani Haveli, which houses a treasure trove of personal possessions of the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, has been served an eviction notice, officials of the Mukarram Jah Trust for Education and Learning (MJTEL) which has leased the property, said recently. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Early Diwali in TN as Jaya returns home Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa walked free on Saturday after spending 21 days in the Parappana Agrahara central jail since September 27, when she came for the verdict in the disproportionate assets case. Chennai stops as Amma returns home As the light dimmed, the drums went silent. On last day, cold wash for Jaya Jayalalithaa's last day in Bangalore's Parappana Agrahara prison began with a cold splash. She woke up around 5am on Saturday and took a cold water bath as the geyser wasn't working. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		'Gandhian thought can cure world's ills' The former acting chief justice of Mumbai high court Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari advocated a uniform education policy in the entire country. NGT experts okay Nirma plant The proposed cement plant by Nirma Ltd on the coastline near Mahuva is no danger to the water body and local environment. Khadia schoolkids brighten orphans' Diwali This Diwali is different for some 90 orphans of the city’s Mahipatram Rupram Ashram, as students of Vaneeta Vishram School decided to celebrate the festival with them. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Denizens wake up to eco-friendly Diwali This year too, denizens of Sangam City have decided to adhere to the ‘principle of three Rs’ to safeguard the environment on Diwali. Educational and awareness programmes are already being held in different parts of the city propagating a pollution-free Diwali. Thousands of schoolchildren have pledged not to burst high decibel crackers. Threat to blow up Bahraich court creates sensation A threat letter purportedly sent by terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) created sensation in the civil court here on Friday evening. The terror organisation sent the letter to the district judge through courier in which it threatened to blow up the court and the residence of upper sessions judge of Bahraich. Youths block traffic on Alld-Lko highway Panic gripped Stanley Road locality on Allahabad-Lucknow highway for more than two hours on Saturday when hundreds of youths who were here to take part in the recruitment drive for the posts of police constable blocked traffic on the highway to mark their protest against the delay in announcement of the running result. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Inquiry into rotting of blood at VSS The VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla, has ordered a probe into alleged rotting of blood in refrigerators at different departments . Permanent home for IIT-BBS from next session IIT Bhubaneswar (IIT-BBS) plans to move to its permanent campus at Arugul village on the outskirts of the city from the academic session 2015-16, the institute sources said on Friday. Girl dies, headmaster suspended A schoolgirl, who was seriously injured after bricks from an under-construction toilet wall on the school premises fell on her head on Thursday, died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here on Friday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Matchbox man's miracle museum in Bhopal Call him BHEL’s matchbox man, 42-year-old Sunil Bhatt has a collection of 15,000 rare matchboxes which he meticulously stockpiled for 15 years. Madhya Pradesh police books Kellogg's MD after judge reported dead lizard in Corn Flakes Madhya Pradesh police on Saturday registered case against managing director (MD) of the world's largest breakfast cereal maker, Kellogg’s India, after a dead lizard was allegedly found in one of its product by a judge in Satna district. Two arrested with tiger skin in Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh police on Friday arrested two persons in Balaghat district with the skin of a tiger poached in naxal-infested Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		SC panel asks Jharkhand DGP to probe into Puri Shankracharya's remarks Taking strong exception to a reported statement of Puri Shankracharya, in which he allegedly justified the ban on the entry of dalits to Hindu temples, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Jharkhand DGP to inquire into the issue, register an FIR and arrest the 'accused' if he found guilty. Ex-lover surfaces in model murder case On Saturday, police zeroed in on the relatives of Amit and his father Ram Lal, the prime accused who had allegedly issued threats to Puneet. Congress MLAs among senior leaders joining hand to seek action against SHO Waiting for action against Canal Colony station house officer for over a week for allegedly misbehaving with their leader Mohan Lal Jhumba, Congress has adopted a tough posture. More Chandigarh News»

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