News Digest: Rajnath promises more funds for overhaul of India's 'miserable' jails

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, November 15, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Rajnath promises more funds for overhaul of India's 'miserable' jails Home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday promised to provide more funds to all states for modernization of prisons as conditions at most jails in the country are 'miserable'. BJP hails govt for WTO deal, bringing down inflation The BJP on Friday lauded the government for holding its own in the international community on the issue of food security in WTO negotiations. DD National to be relaunched as 'Desh Ka Apna Channel' In a bid to attract more viewers, public broadcaster Doordarshan is relaunching its national channel as "Desh ka Apna channel" with a slew of new programming. More India News»

		Business
		Modified LPG cash transfer starts today More than two crore households in 54 districts spanning 11 states will start getting the subsidy amount on each cooking gas refill directly into their bank accounts from Saturday as the government rolls out the modified direct benefit transfer scheme for cooking gas (DBTL). Ratan Tata invests in Urban Ladder After making personal investments in e-commerce major Snapdeal and online jewellery store Bluestone, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus, Tata Sons is now laying a wager on furniture e-tailer Urban Ladder. SBI to upgrade service system State Bank of India (SBI) has begun rolling out new initiatives to improve service delivery, based on recommendations by management consultants. More Business News»

		Environment
		Tiger set free by Putin still roaming in China One of the rare Siberian tigers set free by Russian President Vladimir Putin was spotted near the Sino-Russian border, a month after it strayed into China, official media reports here said. Punjab ties up with US global security and aerospace company for solar power To augment solar power generation in the state and overcome the power crisis, the Punjab government on Friday announced a tie up with US global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin. Ferocious lightning strikes all set to increase globally New climate models have predicted a 50% increase in lightning strikes across the world during this century as a result of warming temperatures associated with climate change. More Environment News»

		World
		Hostile G20 kicks off with mixed agenda Russian President Vladimir Putin will face hostile Western leaders around the table at the G20 Saturday, having been accused of being a bully and harbouring tsarist ambitions in the ill-tempered build up to the gathering of world statesmen. US House passes Keystone pipeline bill The Republican-led US House of Representatives approved the Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, but a similar measure struggled to get enough support in the Senate and President Barack Obama indicated he might use his veto if the bill does get through Congress. This President declines $1m offer for his 27-year-old car "We could never sell it. We would offend all those friends who pooled together to buy it for us," Mujica said. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kim Kardashian in Bigg Boss 8? Keeping up with its trend of getting a controversial international celebrity, Bigg Boss is apparently now trying to rope in Kim Kardashian 10 celebs mentored by Salman Khan Salman has always been a helping hand to his close ones. The actor trained Sooraj Pancholi and is also producing his debut film. Stars who have never put on weight More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Defying odds, comet lander phones home The mission of the first robotic probe to land on a comet reached a high point on Friday when the spacecraft radioed back to Earth that it had successfully drilled into the comet's body. From cars to cycles: Urban elite go in search of 'pedal chic' Bikes with alligator skin saddles, frames adorned with 24 carat gold leaf, or just two wheels designed to your very own personal specifications. Comet lander Philae starts drilling; batteries a worry The good news: The spacecraft that landed on a comet has begun drilling beneath the surface to see what secrets the celestial body can reveal. More Science News»

		Sports
		World Championship: Anand draws fifth game against Carlsen Now in the fifth game scheduled for Friday, Anand will again play with white pieces and is likely to push for victory yet again against Carlsen. Saina, Srikanth in semis, Kashyap exits in China Open Saina Nehwal and male shuttler Kidambi Srikanth reached the semifinals of the China Open Super Series Premier as Parupalli Kashyap lost in the quarterfinals. Djokovic trounces Berdych at Tour Finals, seals No. 1 spot Novak Djokovic added another processional victory to the lengthening list at ATP Tour Finals with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of subdued Czech Tomas Berdych. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Review: Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Android's sweet new "Lollipop" flavour brings security improvements and easier ways to view and respond to notifications. 10 best value-for-money phones you can buy today The year 2014 has witnessed the rise of the ‘value for money’ smartphone category with new and old players introducing devices that offer top-notch features.Here we bring to you a list of 10 hottest value for money smartphones available in the Indian market… Google accused of pay, overtime violations Google was sued this week by a worker who claimed the company did not pay overtime, improperly classified him as an independent contractor then terminated him. More Technology News»

		Education
		ICSE chairman calls sacking illegal A resolution to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) still seems far off. Govt firm on move to junk German in Kendriya Vidyalayas Smriti Irani denied that German was being substituted by Sanskrit, saying students will have the freedom to pursue any modern Indian language apart from Sanskrit as the third language. MSU department publishes special issue of 'Studies in Museology' The Department of Museology of M S University’s Faculty of Fine Arts has published a special issue of ‘Studies in Museology’ – one of the oldest journals of the university. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Congress, NCP floundered on Maratha quota, BJP takes it up The high court order staying quotas for Marathas and Muslims is being viewed as a setback for the Congress and NCP which hurriedly introduced them earlier this year in the mistaken hope of profiting in the state elections. Maharashtra: MLA guilty of electricity theft on power reforms panel The appointment of BJP MLA Suresh Halvankar, who had been convicted in a power theft case, as chairman of a committee on reforms in the power loom and textiles sector has raised eyebrows. 'CM didn't disclose cases to EC' A lawyer, Satish Uke, has alleged that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis suppressed information about two pending criminal cases in the affidavit to the Election Commission More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Party seeks suggestions on manifesto Delhi BJP launched its new website on Friday. The party plans to connect with people through this website and has sought suggestions from the public for its manifesto for the forthcoming assembly elections. Day on, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission withdraws tariff hike Less than a day after Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) announced a hike in consumer power tariff through power purchase adjustment charges (PPAC), it withdrew the order. Legal service body to focus on street kids In a unique initiative, the Delhi Legal Service Authority (Northeast branch) and government departments on Friday assembled at Karkardooma court to focus on street children. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Girl gets her admit card 10 days after exam gets over This was perhaps her only chance to wipe away her family's financial woes. Cycle Day at HSR Layout tomorrow It's Cycle Day again, and this time it's at HSR Layout on Sunday. Notice to govt over amending KMC Act A PIL in the Karnataka high court had challenged the inclusion of zilla panchayat presidents, MLAs, MLCs and MPs in the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), calling it unconstitutional. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Centre moves CLB to 'take over' DCHL management According to legal experts, the Centre’s bid to bring in majority directors means appointing government nominated directors to run the company. Lack of clarity on land pooling angers farmers Farmers in the proposed capital region are growing restive with the cabinet sub-committee on land pooling failing to come out with a concrete assurance on compensation package. Another major co moves into AP The decks have been cleared for Kribhco (Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited) to set up the long pending fertilizer plant in Nellore district. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Factional leaders come together in show of unity at Congress event Bringing together the various warring factions, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E V K S Elangovan used Jawaharlal Nehru's 125th birth anniversary to showcase unity in the state unit. Days after issuing notice on Jaya, assembly secretary told to go Tamil Nadu assembly secretary A M P Jamaludeen got his marching orders just days after he issued a gazette notification announcing the disqualification of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa from contesting elections and holding any public office for 10 years. Mentally ill man bites passenger to death on train A 30-year-old man, believed to be mentally unstable, bit a 50-year-old man to death in a compartment of a passenger train stationed at the Jolarpet railway junction in Vellore district on Friday morning. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Law deadline 60 days, cases stretch for years A resident of Shahpur, Shabanabanu Shaikh, filed a case in January 2009 under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, against her husband Mushtaq Shaikh. The protection officer submitted the ‘domestic incident report’ within two weeks. 'Gujarat should be disability rights champion' Pranav Desai, an Indian-American, wears many hats. Apart from being an engineer, a management graduate and part of major MNCs in India and US, he has most recently been part of Narendra Modi's successful Mission 272+ campaign during Lok Sabha elections this year. Crorepati thief brought from Trichy in handcuffs The crorepati thief from Trichy is back in the city, this time in handcuffs. Gopal Subramaniam Devar, a resident of Ramjinagar in Tiruchirapalli - it also known as Trichy - was brought to Ahmedabad on Friday by city crime branch from his town in Tamil Nadu. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Tracking portal reunites 12-yr-old with family The ‘missing child tracking portal’ enabled city police to trace 12-year-old Pranav and reunite him with his family on Thursday. The class VIIth student had gone missing about a month back and was traced to neighbouring Bhadohi district. And Pranav is not alone. Police have been able to trace 73 other missing children in the last 10 months with the help of the portal. HC issues notice to AMU V-C on library issue The Allahabad High Court on Friday issued notice to AMU vice-chancellor and registrar on a PIL alleging that they had adopted discriminatory attitude while denying girl students access to the varsity’s main library and said that any effort to regulate problem of over-crowding on the campus must be on a gender neutral basis as its breach would go against the right to equality as provided in the Constitution. HC issues notice to AMU V-C on library issue The Allahabad High Court on Friday issued notice to AMU vice-chancellor and registrar on a PIL alleging that they had adopted discriminatory attitude while denying girl students access to the varsity’s main library and said that any effort to regulate problem of over-crowding on the campus must be on a gender neutral basis as its breach would go against the right to equality as provided in the Constitution. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		15713 children rescued in Rayagada A total of 13 children, including nine girls, were rescued from a bus at Rayagada on Wednesday night.They were reportedly being taken to Balugaon in Khurda district by an agent to be engaged as labourers. Boy loses arm to acute poverty Abject poverty forced a Class VI student to quit school and work at a maize processing unit in Nabarangpur district. CM: Use tech in public delivery Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday stressed use of information communication technology (ICT) to expedite public service delivery system. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Madhya Pradesh Cong leaders quit after party fields accused SIMI leader's brother Commotion in the Madhya Pradesh Congress office continued on Friday as two more leaders, Dr Govind Singh and Prem Chand Guddu, submitted their resignation letters from posts of state-level office-bearers in protest against the distribution of urban local body election tickets to “favoured” supporters. Arvind Joshi's anticipatory bail plea rejected District court on Thursday rejected bail application of IAS officer Arvind Joshi, following objection raised by state government. Corporators make hay as civic polls get delayed Cutting across party lines, civic corporators are making the most of the delay in civic body election in Bhopal. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Pak Kabaddi team relishes on Punjabi cuisines Sport is said to be a great leveler as it has the ability to unite people. Duo rape married woman Jamalpur police on Friday booked two people, who allegedly raped a married woman in Bhamiyan area of the city. No new stamp on Nehru, but a collection On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, fondly known as 'Chacha Nehru', India Post pays a tribute to him every year by releasing a new stamp on the day, popularly called 'Children's Day'. More Chandigarh News»

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