News Digest: Five things to know about 66th Republic Day

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, January 26, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Five things to know about 66th Republic Day US President Barack Obama will on Monday be chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, a spectacular projection of the nation's military might and cultural diversity. PM Modi seeks views of ministries on Sethusamudram plans Before the Narendra Modi Cabinet takes a final decision on realignment of the politically sensitive Sethusamudram project, the Prime Minister wants some key ministers to be appraised about the alternative plan. Sources said he wants a consensus among the informal group of ministers. Eager to get Ghulam Nabi Azad back in Rajya Sabha, Congress woos National Conference Congress is ardently wooing the National Conference (NC) for support in Rajya Sabha elections, desperate as it is to secure re-nomination of leader of opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad. More India News»

		Business
		Govt aims to clean up accounts The target of tax refunds for the fiscal year is estimated to be Rs 1.17 lakh crore. 'Make in India not just about import substitution' Anand Mahindra is keeping close tabs on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and American President Barack Obama’s dialogue on defence and renewable energy, where his companies have interests. Financial strategies for the new rich If you save money and build assets consistently, there is little to worry about when you retire. More Business News»

		Environment
		Panel to find ways to gauge pollution level The Central Pollution Control Board — country’s main pollution watchdog — has set up a panel to develop easy to understand "standard operating procedures" for evaluation of the impact of polluted air, water and land/soil on human health, flora and fauna in the "severely" polluted areas. Forest department plans to domesticate wild elephants in Kolhapur The territorial forest department of Kolhapur region has planned the domestication of wild elephants in Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Australia orders waste dumping ban on Great Barrier Reef Australia has ordered a ban on dumping dredge waste on most of the Great Barrier Reef, the environment minister said on Saturday, as part of a push to stop the UN declaring the site in danger. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine: Phone calls prove rebels attacked city, killed 30 Ukraine's president said Sunday that intercepted radio and telephone conversations prove that Russia-backed separatists were responsible for firing the rockets that pounded the southeastern city of Mariupol and killed at least 30 people. Greek radical left wins election A radical left-wing party vowing to end Greece's painful austerity program won a historic victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections, setting the stage for a showdown with the country's international creditors that could shake the eurozone. Talks in Yemen between political parties, rebels break down UN-sponsored talks between Yemeni political parties and Shia rebels who occupy the capital broke down on Sunday, with several main factions calling for renewed protests against the rebels. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shamitabh's song shot in several restrooms Director R Balki says that Shamitabh, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and debutante Akshara Haasan, has an unconventional story. And from what we hear, the film’s songs too, are rather unconventional. 'Honey Singh is not a drug addict' Recently, a person who calls himself by the name of ‘Yo’ made news when he alleged that Yo Yo Honey Singh was a drug addict and thus, he was in a rehab in Chandigarh. Actresses who wore bikinis in their debut films More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, paper-thin, faster flexi-screens for computers The next generation of transistors may pave the way for flexible, paper-thin computer screens that provide faster response times and better efficiency, scientists say. 8,383km in six days: '2 Eagles' seek to cross Pacific on balloon Two balloonists took flight from Japan on Saturday in a bid to break world records for distance and duration for gas balloon travel, in what they hope will be at least a six-day trans-Pacific flight reaching the US West Coast, officials said. Found: Why rain gives off aromatic earthy smell MIT scientists have identified the mechanism that releases an earthy smell in the air after light rain. More Science News»

		Sports
		Saina Nehwal beats Carolina to retain Syed Modi Grand Prix title Ace Indian shuttler and top seed Saina Nehwal rallied to beat second seed Carolina Marin of Spain 19-21, 25-23, 21-16 and retain the Syed Modi Grand Prix title in Lucknow. Satpal gets Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri for Sardar Iconic wrestler-turned-coach Satpal was named for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, while national hockey captain Sardar Singh was among the five sportspersons chosen for this year's Padma Shri awards. HIL: Punjab Warriors beat Kalinga Lancers 4-2 Jaypee Punjab Warriors skipper Jamie Dwyer led from the front as his team put up a clinical show defeating Kalinga Lancers 4-2 in a HIL match on Sunday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		HTC Desire 820 review Successor to the popular Desire 816, HTC's Desire 820 packs in better hardware and sports a similar price tag. Here's our review... How to choose better gadgets This is the only way we can make you stick to the pledge that you will no longer buy gadgets in blissful ignorance! How Microsoft Windows has changed over the last 30 years The story began three decades back -- in 1985. Here's how Windows has evolved over the past thirty years. More Technology News»

		Education
		'Work hard and believe that you can make it big in IT' You must see the larger picture, work hard and believe that you can make it big in IT, says Vishal Chalana, co-founder of a US-based IT company. Retell the past A DU college is setting up an archive-cummuseum and a translation centre. Skilled for the future When it comes to IT careers, mobile app development, user experience design and big data analysis are some of the major skills in demand. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Vegetables grown along railway tracks highly toxic: PIL The latest PIL filed by an NGO in the Bombay high court regarding toxic levels found in vegetables grown along railway tracks in the city has once again highlighted health hazards due to “gutter water farming”. Woman gives birth to boy on train A woman gave birth to a baby boy inside a local train on Sunday. State government refuses to take blame for police recruitment deaths More than seven months after four candidates died while undergoing a police recruitment test in the city, the state has said that the police department was not at fault. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Former ACP's bail rejected in rape case A trial court cancelled the bail given to a former ACP in a rape case after he threatened the alleged survivor by using his contacts in the police force. Court stays order to shelter home for mentally ill women Coming to the rescue of mentally ill homeless women, the Delhi high court on Friday stayed a Delhi government order to hand over maintenance of one such shelter home to a private body. Planners doubt multilevel parking fix Shopping at Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh markets may soon become a more comfortable experience with corporations already implementing National Green Tribunal’s order to ban parking on tarred roads. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Air Asia flight returns after 10 minutes in air An Air Asia flight from Bengaluru to Pune took off but had to return after remaining in the air for 10 minutes because of technical issues on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic aboard the aircraft. Illegalities now dog all 480 sites in layout The alleged forgery of official signatures to sell illegally eight sites in a layout in east Bengaluru has got bigger. Birds falling to death in city everyday The young kite rescued from the Metro tracks on Saturday was lucky, thanks to some alert citizens and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation officials who saved it. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		3 die, 87 test positive for H1N1 On Sunday, five doctors from Osmania Medical College (OMC) have been tested positive for swine flu, triggering alarm bells in the medical fraternity. Rajaiah gets marching orders; Kadiam made Telangana deputy CM Dr T Rajaiah was on Sunday axed from his position as Telangana’s deputy chief minister and the health minister. Fear of swine flu keeps Numaish visitors at bay In view of the swine flu scare and holidays, the Exhibition Society, which is organizing the 75th All India Industrial Exhibition (Numaish) at Exhibition Grounds at Nampally has decided to allow visitors from 12 pm during weekends. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Universities start schools to catch them young The Jeppiar Educational Trust, which runs Sathyabama University, also runs Jeppiar School in the vicinity. Sand lorry owners say govt depts have them in a bind Private sand lorry owners are crying foul, saying they are being made to pay penalties because two government agencies are working at cross purposes. Burglars loot gold jewellery from house in Poomaellee Burglars looted a house in Poonamallee and escaped with 15 sovereigns of gold jewellery on Saturday night. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Japan festival bids sayonara in style The fortnight-long festival hosted a grand feast of cultural and academic events comprising four theme-based exhibitions, three award winning films, nine Japanese art demonstrations and workshops. Two girls accuse professors of sexual harassment Two girl students of a private management institute in Usmanpura have lodged a police complaint alleging that their professor Arvind Pandey has been sexually harassing them. Vatva youth held for minor girl's murder Vatva police on Sunday nabbed a youth Ramdev Chauhan, a resident of Vatva, for killing the 13-year-girl with whom he eloped five days ago. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Robbers break into cash-less bank, return empty-handed Few unidentified persons entered UP Gramin Bank at Tharwai by cutting its window frame but returned bare handed as it had no money. The incident came to light on Saturday morning when bank manager came to open the bank. An FIR was lodged with the Tharwai police station. This is the second case of bank robbery in Tharwai in the last six months. 4 pantry car workers held for holding passenger captive Four workers of pantry car in Mumbai Mail were arrested near Bhirpur Station on Saturday for holding a passenger captive. The train, coming from Howrah, got stranded near the station as the passengers pulled the chain. Order food in trains through phone calls, SMSes Railway authorities have decided to provide e-catering facility through phone calls and SMSes in trains running without pantry cars. This facility has been introduced in seven trains passing through North Central Railway region. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Ammonia leak spreads panic in Sambalpur Panic gripped Sambalpur after ammonia leaked from a private cold storage at Panchgachhia under Ainthapali police limits on Saturday afternoon. Tight security for R-Day In the wake of Intelligence Bureau's tip-off about possible terror attacks in Odisha, police have decided to deploy extra security personnel ahead of state-level Republic Day parade in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Man arrested for lover's death For seven days she lay on the hospital bed, enduring excruciating pain of 90% burns, but did not disclose name of the man, who poured kerosene and set her on fire. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Traffic diversions in place for Republic Day function in Bhopal Traffic diversions would be put in place for January 26 function at Lal Parade grounds on Monday. Blackbird stamp authority in national kart racing championship With features of adjustable seats and air pods, team Blackbird from University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun won overall first prize in the national kart racing championship organised at go kart track, Ratibad on Sunday. Two arrested with tiger hide in Madhya Pradesh State forest department on Sunday arrested two persons with a tiger hide from Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Haryana may appeal against fetuses in septic tank case Director General Health Services (DGHS) Haryana, Narinder Arora, is planning to file an appeal in one of the most shocking female feticide cases in the state, almost four years after the doctor was discharged on technical grounds. Congress 'Lalkar' rally sets poll ball rolling Sounding a battle cry against drugs, Amritsar MP Amarinder promised to eradicate the drug menace if his party is voted to power. No more mining in Bangarh area from now The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to impose a complete ban on mining in Bangarh area of Una district with immediate effect. More Chandigarh News»

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