News Digest: Out of health ministry in just 5 months, Harsh Vardhan takes charge of science and tech ministry

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, November 11, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Out of health ministry in just 5 months, Harsh Vardhan takes charge of science and tech ministry Barely spending a little over five months as country's health minister, the Delhi MP and medical doctor by training Harsh Vardhan on Monday took charge as the new minister of science & technology and earth sciences, replacing another doctor Jitendra Singh, and said he would work to infuse new energy into the research institutions of the government. BJP's Bengal face won't stop singing He may be designated junior minister in the urban development ministry, but Babul Supriyo is now Bengal's sole representative in Modi's 66-member ministry. Jitendra in a hurry, calls NE CMs' meet Minister for development of northeast region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh hit the ground running on Monday, convening a meeting with CMs of eight north-eastern states on November 19 and deciding on a separate interaction with 39 MPs from northeastern states when the House meets next. More India News»

		Business
		RBI tightens bad loan guidelines for NBFCs Besides opening its window for issuing new licences, the RBI has also eased the capital adequacy requirement for a section of finance companies. Govt to list AAI, Pawan Hans in 2015 The aviation ministry is going to list its profitable PSUs - Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Pawan Hans Helicopters (PHHL) - on stock exchanges next year, while a decision on whether the bleeding Air India is to be privatized is yet to be taken. No domestic LPG retailing by private producers: SG The company sold some quantities of LPG produced at its refinery complex and petrochemicals plants in Gujarat at market rate to commercial consumers and as automotive fuel in the western region. More Business News»

		Environment
		Migratory birds, fish and mammals get new UN protection Polar bears, whales, sharks and gazelles were among 31 new species granted new protection status by the UN conservation body, following six days of "intense" talks by leading conservationists. 31 endangered species added to UN protection list The 11th Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has ended in Quito with a decision to include 31 endangered species in its list, the executive secretary of the convention, Bradnee Chambers, said. Great Indian Bustard declared 'critically endangered' In its Red List of 2013 announced recently by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has been placed in the category of critically endangered species. More Environment News»

		World
		US says Iran has ceased controversial nuclear practice Iran has stopped a controversial practice that could allow it to enrich uranium faster, the United States said on Monday, ceasing an activity one expert saw as violating an interim nuclear deal. New protest hits Mexico over alleged student massacre Protesters angry at the alleged massacre of 43 Mexican students clashed with police and besieged Acapulco's airport for hours over a scandal shaking President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration. US Catholic bishops try to calm anxiety over pope America's Catholic bishops came together on Monday to project an image of unity, after a Vatican meeting on the family unleashed an uproar over the direction of the church. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Tevar trailer: Arjun Kapoor packs a punch After films like Gunday and Ishaqzaade, Arjun Kapoor has proved that he indeed looks impressive in rustic characters. 'Farhan does not let you see the monitor' Saif Ali Khan is proudly a Mumbaikar and very comfortable in being a part of Bollywood, but has never thought of the film industry to have a massive amount of family love for each other, even though they use the word ‘fraternity’ quite liberally No signs of reconciliation between Karisma and Sunjay It’s five months now that Karisma Kapoor and Sunjay Kapur filed for ‘divorce by mutual consent’ in the family court in Mumbai More Entertainment News»

		Science
		IUCAA scientists will study UV rays' radiation Since UV rays are harmful to human beings causing acute and chronic problems, scientists feel that it was important to find out its main source and behaviour. China unveils its Mars rover after India's successful 'Mangalyaan' Seeking to catch up with India's Mangalyaan mission, China has unveiled its Mars rover being developed to scurry the Red Planet's surface for signs of water and life and plans to test it in the rugged terrain of Tibet. China publishes photos of Earth, Moon taken by lunar orbiter China, on Monday, published photographs of the Earth and Moon together taken by the orbiting service module of the country's first unmanned lunar orbiter, which returned to Earth earlier this month. More Science News»

		Sports
		Team Anand seeks to gain lost ground against Carlsen The initial strategy has backfired and it's time for Viswanathan Anand to reconcile and come out with fresh ideas to recover the lost ground in the World Chess Championship match against holder Magnus Carlsen. Ruthless Wawrinka routs Berdych at ATP Tour Finals Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka opened his ATP World Tour Finals campaign in scintillating style with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Tomas Berdych on Monday. Ronaldo remembers Di Stefano at award ceremony Cristiano Ronaldo remembered former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano when receiving his award for scoring the most goals in the La Liga last season. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Tech sector hiring may nearly halve by FY18: Crisil Crisil said the information technology sector is likely to lose its position as a mass employment engine and new recruitments will nearly halve over the next three years. India's top 30 enterprise software companies worth $6.2bn The top 30 software product companies have an estimated valuation of $6.2 billion, according to a new index launched by Bangalore-based software product thinktank. 10 Android battery life tips and tricks Batteries are growing bigger with every passing year, but we're not seeing a huge benefit because our Android devices are demanding more and more out of them. More Technology News»

		Education
		Polish envoy tells students they are India's future Poland's ambassador to India, Tomasz Lukaszuk, urged students of a school here that they should see themselves as India's strength, and understand that the future of their country, its progress, greater acceptance and recognition in the international comity of nations, was in their hands. Vidya Sagar invites applications for certificate course in human rights Vidya Sagar, a Chennai-based organization working for the benefit of persons with disabilities, is offering a certificate course in human rights with focus on disability rights. Puducherry professional colleges admission scam: One more arrested Sleuths of the Puducherry crime branch – criminal investigation department have arrested an assistant engineer with the Tenkasi municipality, in Tamil Nadu, in connection with a professional colleges admission scam. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		PIL seeks ban on obscene, vulgar movies A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay high court seeking a ban on the certification of ‘obscene and vulgar’ movies by the censor board. Relief for builders in land Act In a relief for developers in Mumbai, the SC on Monday issued a notice to the Maharashtra government and restrained the state from cancelling development schemes due to violations by developers to the repealed urban land ceiling law. HC notice to state over nod to probe govt officers A division bench of the Bombay high court comprising Justices VM Kanade and Anuja Prabhudessai issued a notice to the state government and Anti-Corruption bureau (ACB) in a PIL challenging the need for prior sanction to probe Class I officers in bribery cases. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Employment exam rigged: 5 held, cop main suspect Police on Monday revealed that Sunday's examination for filling various posts in different ministries and departments was rigged and a gang of interstate crooks had leaked out the paper and sold it to many youths in Delhi and Haryana. Revamp chokes Chandni Chowk The Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan has thrown life out of gear for not only traders but also shoppers due to closure of one carriageway of the main road. The problems have doubled with no parking plans in place to accommodate the large number of cars that come into the area. DMRC presents tram report at LG meet Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Monday took stock of the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project being implemented by PWD. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		180 Bengaluru schools booked for flouting safety norms After a rash of sexual assault cases on campus came to the fore, police have booked 180 government and private schools in Bengaluru for failing to comply with child safety guidelines. Guidance value set to rise in Bengaluru, citizens rush to register Long queues were seen at sub-registrar offices in the city on Monday ahead of an increase in guidance value for properties by 15-30% this week. Guidance value is the base rate for fixing stamp duty and other charges to register an immovable asset. Bengaluru scientists develop nano drug for osteoporosis Quoting various studies, the team pointed out that at least nine million bone fractures occur annually due to osteoporosis, a progressive bone disease in which the bone loses both its mass and density. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		IMA elections see victory of Telangana panel A battle between two factions vying to capture the yet-to-be-formed Telangana Medical Association spilled over to the local polls. RTI activists get legal aid With RTI activists increasingly facing threats and roadblocks on seeking sensitive information, they finally seem to have got some legal backing to help them fight back. TJUDA takes protest to Rajaiah's door A team of 50 junior doctors from Telangana took their protest, against the compulsory rural stint to Kunoor on Monday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Diabetes cases up tenfold in Chennai in 40 years There has been a quantum leap in prevalence of diabetes in Chennai and Delhi, and if the figures apply for other parts of the country, India would be home to the largest diabetic population on earth. 700 puppies, kittens abandoned on streets in 2 months Animal adoption drives get an overwhelming response in the city with celebrities turning out to pose with their new pets and support the case, but it turns out that a considerable number of pet owners abandon their animals. Slain pawn broker's son wants cops to speed up probe The 22-year-old son of L Heera Ram, a pawn broker who was murdered in his Arcot Road shop on October 23, wants the city police to speed up investigation in the case. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Lost Jain text on Indian thought reconstructed  Analyses contained in Dwadasharnayachakra - a fifth century AD Jain treatise on comparative Indian philosophy - are key points of reference for scholars from across the globe who come to Gujarat to study Indian religious thought, particularly that of Jainism.  Prosthetics give dogs new leash on life A couple of months ago, a paan shop owner in Ranip brought a puppy to Jivdaya Charitable Trust, which provides free medical treatment to stray animals and birds, with a severed hind leg. Spike recorded in water-borne diseases The heath department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has released a health report for the first week of November and has registered 144 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in city. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Protest to seek CBI probe into SSC irregularities Scores of aspirants of Combined Graduate Level Exams-2013 on Saturday staged a semi-nude protest at the statue of Chandrasekhar Azad in Azad Park demanding CBI probe into alleged irregularities and organised cheating in exams conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Modi's appeal fails to kick off Khadi sale Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to youngsters to buy and promote khadi, is yet to leave the desired impact on sale of khadi products in the city. Nehru defied British, made salt at Allahabad Although much has been written and said about the famous Namak Satyagrah undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, only a few would know that a similar disobedience movement was carried out by Jawaharlal Nehru at Sangam city way back on April 11, 1930. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Fate of 18 mines uncertain The state government is yet to decide the fate of 18 of the 26 iron ore and manganese mines, which were closed following a May 16 Supreme Court order even though the deadline for renewal of their lease ends on November 15. Move to give '108' credit to Centre The state government has begun an exercise of re-branding 108 free emergency ambulance service. Vegetable prices go down Mercury dips. So does price of vegetables. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		BHEL taps get Narmada, it's still pipedream for neighbouring industrial area While BHEL residents will soon start getting their first Narmada water bill, just 2 km away in Govindpura Industrial Area, the Narmada pipelines are still running dry. Emulate Visvesvaraya, CS exhorts young technocrats Chief secretary Anthony de Sa exhorted young engineers to draw inspiration from eminent engineer Sir Mokshagundum Visvesvaraya's and contribute to country's development. 3 highway looters in police net, goods worth Rs 35 lakh seized Three members of a gang of highway looters were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in targeting trucks carrying goods near state capital in past few months. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Relations between two communities in Punjab not on mercy of SAD and BJP alliance: Dal Khalsa Strongly contesting the arguments of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in co-relating the peace in Punjab With SAD’s alliance with BJP radical Siikh organization Dal Khalsa has said the relations between two communities were not on the mercy of the relations between Akali Dal and BJP. China's Jiangsu province to collaborate with Punjab for 'Twin Province' project Jiangsu province of China has principally agreed to collaborate with Punjab for a 'Twin Province' project for promoting fresh water fisheries in the state as a part of state government's crop diversification program. 60 years old patient successfully operated for spinal cord compression Elaborating about the patient, whom senior spine and joint replacement surgeon at Gian Sagar Hospital Dr MS Narula, director — spine and joint replacement unit successfully operated, said that the patient said that with the advancements in technology and latest equipments available at the Gian Sagar Hospital, even the complex spinal surgeries have the best of results. More Chandigarh News»

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