News Digest: 'Cong launched a terror campaign against my book on Sonia Gandhi'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, January 17, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		'Cong launched a terror campaign against my book on Sonia Gandhi' 'The Red Sari', a dramatized biography of Sonia Gandhi, is set for release in India. Its author Javier Moro says for years the English version of the book didn't get a publisher due to an intense Congress campaign. Mysterious death of dera follower adds twist to 'MSG' On Friday, when the controversial movie ‘Messenger of God’ featuring Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was scheduled to be released, death of one of his followers in Sangrur has given another twist to the issue. CBI probe no reason to disallow movie: Rajyavardhan Rathore Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore on Friday said the ongoing CBI probe against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh could not be made a reason to stall the release of his controversial movie. More India News»

		Business
		Jet, AI gear up to match Vistara There’s a bonanza in store for full service flyers in India. The promise of unmatched comfort by Tata-Singapore Airlines' (SIA) JV Vistara has made legacy carriers Air India and Jet Airways constantly come up with passenger-friendly moves. RIL Q3 net falls 5% to Rs 5,256cr Reliance Industries, the oil-to-retail conglomerate, has reported its first fall in profit in over two years as its core business of refining and petrochemicals disappointed. Naik grooms insiders to succeed him at L&T Anil Manibhai Naik, group executive chairman, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is grooming two insiders to lead the charge at India’s largest infrastructure engineering company even as he tries to simplify its complex structure comprising 21 companies into seven broad verticals by the end of fiscal 2017, after which he will hang his boots when he turns 75. More Business News»

		Environment
		Dismal tiger count in Buxa Tiger Reserve The Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in North Bengal may be home to around five tigers. An official revealed this referring to the trend in the countrywide tiger census report that will be made public on January 20. It's official: 2014 was the warmest year ever Last year was the hottest in earth’s recorded history, scientists reported on Friday. Latest tiger census 'positive': Official A senior environment ministry official said today that preliminary indications suggest that the overall figure of tigers in India has improved. More Environment News»

		World
		Europe needs to better integrate Muslim communities: Obama Europe must do more to better integrate its Muslim communities, and not "simply respond with a hammer," US President Barack Obama said on Friday in the wake of last week's terror attacks in France. Security for British Jews to be tightened says Cameron Britain is to step up police patrols in areas with high Jewish populations, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday, while warning that it was impossible to provide "100 per cent protection". Mexico detains new suspect in disappearance of 43 students A purported drug cartel hit man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and alleged killing of 43 college students in southern Mexico in September, authorities said on Friday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Soha and Kunal to marry at home Much against speculations by media about the grand marriage of Soha Ali Khan with Kunal Kemmu on January 25, we have exclusively learnt that the private couple will, in fact, be getting married under the Special Marriage Act in the presence of a registrar at their home itself, in the presence of their immediate family and some close non-filmi friends. Bigg Boss 8 contestants plan a vacation One of the housemates that Sonali Raut is in touch with is Sushant Divgikar. Surprising fashion choices of actresses More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Robot found on Mars after decade lost in space In the most amazing twist, one of the pioneering robots that went into space almost a decade ago to land on Mars but disappeared has been found on the surface of the Red Planet, almost intact. Other side of woman's heart: Power to predict illness There’s something special about a woman’s heart —and we aren’t talking love. Mars Mission Missing lander Beagle-2 finally located on Mars, agency says The European Space Agency's Beagle-2 lander, which had been lost on Mars since 2003, has been found, the agency said Friday. More Science News»

		Sports
		Sania Mirza wins first title of season with Bethanie Sania Mirza won her first title of the season when she and Bethanie Mattek-Sands shocked Abigail Spears and Raquel Kops-Jones in Sydney International final. PV Sindhu, Jayaram reach semis of Malaysia GP Gold PV Sindhu and Ajay Jayaram notched up contrasting wins in the women's and men's singles respectively to reach the semifinals of the Malaysia Grand Prix Gold. Constantine preferred due to India experience: AIFF AIFF secretary Kushal Das said Stephen Constantine was preferred head coach of Indian team over Ricki Herbert mainly due to his earlier Indian experience. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Only 1,000 fired in India due to non-performance: TCS India's largest software services provider TCS on Thursday said only 1,000 jobs have been axed in the country due to non-performance, clarifying that this is a part of normal working and not due to any mass restructuring exercise as being speculated. Xiaomi announces India launch date of Mi 4 Hugo Barra, head of international operations for Xiaomi, HAS confirmed that the phone would be launched on January 28. 10 tips to protect your Android device Android is the most popular mobile platform in India as well as the world. More Technology News»

		Education
		1,571 nursery seats for special kids As per the Directorate of Education’s records, there are at least 229 schools in Delhi that are capable of teaching students with some form of disability or the other. FMS students learn about banking system, entrepreneurship M S University’s Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) has started inviting guest lecturers for imparting practical knowledge and skill to the students in order to acquaint them with real proceedings of the field. Be fit and score marks at Calicut University University of Calicut has taken the dictum a sound mind in a sound body to heart. The varsity is now dangling six grace marks each semester to students who undergo fitness education programme. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Indian deck cadet injured on Panama car carrier ship off Mumbai coast An Indian deck cadet onboard Panama flag merchant vessel suffered serious injuries after hit on his temple and eyes while lowering life boat on Friday. Cashier spikes mates' tea, drives off with Rs 2cr In a crime straight out of a film thriller, an employee of a security agency spiked the tea of his three colleagues on a cash van and scooted with Rs 2 crore after his accomplices waylaid the vehicle in Vile Parle on Friday. Record Rs 1.9cr payout for lift mishap victim The national consumer panel has ordered a record compensation of Rs 1.89 crore to the father of a Khar-based 25-year-old man who died in an elevator mishap in his Andheri office in 2005. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Moot court begins in DU The Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, is hosting the 11th K K Luthra Memorial Moot Court, 2015, from January 16 to 18. Najma Heptulla morphing case: Court asks CBI to furnish probe records The Delhi High Court Friday asked the CBI to furnish relevant records of the steps taken to investigate allegations of morphing of a photograph of India's first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and union Minister Najma Heptulla. BJP puts together strategy to win back the middle class from Kejriwal With the battle for Delhi hotting up, BJP is banking on weaning away the middle class voter from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) camp to stump its main rival. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		BMTC bags award for lowest accident rate in 2013-14 Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has done the city proud. It received an award for recording the lowest accident rate in 2013-2014. Government colleges in Karnataka get a smart touch Karnataka became the first state to go the Western way of virtual classes. Cloudy sky ups mercury, but it's still winter Along with day temperatures, night temperatures have also shot up, thanks to cloud formation. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Cop in dock for posting morphed Charminar photo City police commissioner M Mahender Reddy on Friday ordered a probe into the issue of a morphed picture of Charminar being posted on a social networking website, allegedly by a police constable. Activists join forces against land pooling Land pooling in the proposed AP capital region is likely to run into rough weather as more social activists have joined the farmers in their protest against the government's move. Tussle over RTC assets brewing The sprawling facilities owned by the AP State Road Transport Corporation in the city are emerging as the latest bone of contention between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		DMK comes out in support of author In his face book update Stalin said that Tamil Nadu has always been a place where healthy debates have taken place for thousands of years on various subjects including religion and social issues. Housing board's policy comes under court scanner The Tamil Nadu Housing Board’s (TNHB) arbitrary rental and sale policy may come in the way of its bid to retain ownership over about 20 houses in the prime CIT Colony area in Nandanam, as the Madras high court has asked the board to maintain status quo as on date with regard to the property. Selling mileage booster that sent electric shocks costs firm Rs 13,000 Mile Man Mileage Booster: Once fitted with the product, the Coimbatore based company which manufactured it, claims the vehicle will save upto 50% extra mileage, reduce engine heat along with a host of associated benefits. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Boyfriend prime suspect in Naranpura murder The needle of suspicion in the Naranpura murder case now points to Birbal Prasad, the 26-year-old boyfriend of Vandana Prasad, 22, who was stabbed to death on January 14. Order on bail pleas of Vanzara, Pandey on Jan 28 A special CBI court on Friday completed hearing on bail pleas by jailed IPS officers P P Pandey and D G Vanzara and scheduled its verdict on January 28 in the Ishrat fake encounter case. City police chief urges DGP to hand Prajapati murder probe to CID As the special investigation team and city crime branch hunt for the killers of former Asaram aide Amrut Prajapati and Asaram's personal attendant turned prosecution witness Akhil Gupta who was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh, the city police chief, Shivanand Jha, urged the DGP to hand the probe into Prajapati's killing to CID crime. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		VHP meet to press for reconversion as a right Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) would deliberate on issues like religious conversion and ‘Ghar Wapsi’ in its annual ‘Sant Sammelan’ to be held on Friday and Saturday. 11 lakh take dip on day 2 of Makar Sankranti in Allahabad Amid chants of 'Har Har Gangey' and 'Ganga Maiyya ki Jai', over 11 lakh devotees on Thursday took the holy dip at the Sangam — the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati — on the second day of Makar Sankranti. Babaji's 'khichdi' kindles warmth in devotees ‘Khichdi’ is quite hit among pilgrims and along with tea has turned into a medium to beat intense cold wave prevailing at Sangam. In fact, pilgrims flock tents of various social and religious organizations situated in different parts of the Magh Mela campus to savour hot khichdi and tea being served free-of-cost. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Village retail to WhatsApp Timeless Tapestry The craftsmen of Pipili churn out fascinating artworks of embroidered appliqué NDRF shifts focus to industrial safety To prevent industrial accidents in the state, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at Munduli, on the outskirts of Cuttack, is planning mock drills in 24 major accident hazardous (MAH) factories. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Mob thrashes school teacher for raping minor in Anuppur A school teacher who allegedly raped a minor on Wednesday night was attacked by a mob in Anuppur district on Thursday. MP minister removed FIR clause to protect college owners Madhya Pradesh medical education minister Narottam Mishra got a special panel’s recommendation for lodging FIRs against colleges owners and other officials involved in selling state quota medical seats removed, documents available with TOI have revealed. Cold wave back; Shivpuri, Sheopurkalan coldest at 5o C State capital woke up to a thick envelope of fog on Friday that reduced visibility to less than 50 meters affecting road, train and air services. Icy winds swept across the city as cold wave prevailed in Bhopal, after a break of few days. Though, night temperature in the city was about 10 degrees celsius, there was a decline in maximum temperature making the day colder. With fog not allowing sunshine, morning remained chilly. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Romanian students get taste of Indian culture After a warm welcome by Indian students, a group of theatre artistes from Romania gave them a glimpse of their talent at Panjab University on Friday. NAAC visit: VC to review preparations on January 22 With dates confirmed for the visit of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team on March 2-5, Panjab University (PU) vice chancellor Arun Kumar Grover will soon review the preparations for the same. Missing credit for ex-MP delays CRIKC bus service Missing out on credit to Pawan Bansal, the former MP of the city who sanctioned money through the MPLADs funds to get air-conditioned buses for promoting research in Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC), has delayed the start of the shuttle service. More Chandigarh News»

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