News Digest: Hounded, Sikh farmers fleeing Gujarat

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, January 30, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Hounded, Sikh farmers fleeing Gujarat Targeted by land mafia, attacked by goons and booked by cops, Sikh farmers who had made the inhospitable terrain in Bhuj area of Gujarat cultivable, are now forced to flee the land they had made their home. Trash talk: The Delhi Lit(ter) Fest Delhi Litter Fest is built around the age-old Indian fetish for cleanliness, where you sweep your garbage into a heap in front of the neighbour's house. Trash talk: Better sorry than saaf TOI takes a close, hard look at the myths that surround the Great Indian Litterbug More India News»

		Business
		Retail bidders may have to top CIL's floor price The government’s plan to divest up to 10% in Coal India through an offer for sale, priced at Rs 358 per share, has thrown up some opportunities for retail investors to invest in the world’s largest coal miner at about 10% discount to the current market price. Pension scheme deficit at close to Rs 8k crore After falling for two straight years, deficit in the Employees Pension Scheme rose again and reached close to the Rs 8,000 crore mark at the end of 2013-14, although it is still seen to be within manageable levels. Paytm plans to add over 1L sellers, hire 4500 The poster boys of Indian e-tailing, Flipkart and Snapdeal, might soon have tough competition from mobile wallet brand Paytm. More Business News»

		Environment
		Most of Hawaii's coral recover from mass bleaching Coral rely on algae for food and their survival. India's 1st fenced elephant sanctuary comes up near Bengaluru The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - an international animal rights and conservation group - and the Bannerghatta Biological Park, Karnataka have joined hands to create India's first elephant sanctuary in a fenced, forested space that allows elephants to move around freely within the secure area. Germany commits 3 million Euro for Ganga cleaning Germany will provide 3 million Euro to support India's ongoing Ganga rejuvenation plan and explore various options to develop the country's national river. More Environment News»

		World
		27 killed in attacks in Egypt's North Sinai, Suez Twenty-seven people were killed in four attacks in Egypt's North Sinai and Suez, security and medical sources said, in some of the worst anti-state violence in months and after commemorations around the anniversary of the 2011 uprising turned deadly this week. Italy lawmakers fail to elect new president in first round Lawmakers failed to elect a new Italian president today in balloting that tests Premier Matteo Renzi's ability to rally his fractured party behind a candidate that is also acceptable to opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, whose support he has courted for the government's ambitious reform agenda. Man wielding pistol arrested at Dutch TV station A man wielding a pistol forced his way into the studios of the Dutch national broadcaster NOS on Thursday demanding to be allowed to go on air, but was quickly arrested, television footage showed. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kay Kay Menon: No issues with what I call anti-gravity films Rahasya isn’t your run-of-the-mill film, which is probably why actor Kay Kay Menon is a perfect fit for it. Directed by Manish Gupta, the crime thriller also features Ashish Vidyarthi and Tisca Chopra in pivotal roles. Sherlyn Chopra: When it comes to soul sex, I prefer women Sherlyn Chopra is a master seductress with her words, eyes and voice. Here is a sample. To know more, go to www.follo.co.in/sherlyn Most expensive celebrity divorces They say marriages are made in heaven, divorces on the other hand definitely aren't part of that deal. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Co-inventor of laser, Nobel laureate Charles Townes, dead Charles Townes, who shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for invention of the laser, a feat that revolutionized science, medicine, telecommunications and entertainment, has died at age 99, the University of California at Berkeley reported. Two biofuels produced from single algae A common algae commercially grown to make fish food holds promise as a source for both biodiesel and jet fuel, according to a new study. Skull find breaks new ground in evolution study Anthropologists exploring a cave in Israel have uncovered a rare 55,000-year-old skull fossil that they say has a %story to tell of a reverberating transition in human evolution, at a point when and where some early humans were moving out of Africa and apparently interbreeding with Neanderthals. More Science News»

		Sports
		Murray beats Berdych to reach Australian Open final Britain's Andy Murray overcame a blistering start from Tomas Berdych to advance to his fourth Australian Open final with a 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 win on Thursday. Novak and Stan in 'Showdown III' at Melbourne Park Novak Djokovic and defending champ Stan Wawrinka will brace for another epic clash at Australian Open as they bid for a place in the final with Andy Murray. Boxing India decides to boycott National Games BI's tough stand follows the IOA's adamant denial of recognition to the body, which, interestingly, has the support of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). More Sports News»

		Technology
		World's biggest smartphone maker? It's a tie Samsung lost the battle of the big phones last quarter as Apple's copycat large iPhone lured buyers in the crucial Chinese market. Amazon challenges Google, MS with its own enterprise email Amazon.com Inc accelerated its efforts to win over corporate clients on Wednesday by announcing an email and scheduling service that will compete with Microsoft Corp and Google. Xiaomi Mi 4 vs OnePlus One: Which one to buy Xiaomi has introduced its 2014 flagship smartphone, Mi 4, in the Indian market. The phone is priced around Rs 20,000, bringing high-end hardware specifications to the mid-range segment, similar to the Mi 3 smartphone that it launched in July. More Technology News»

		Education
		'Current placement system to blame for IIT grads' burnout' Karnataka to amend RTE rules to teach in Kannada Having suffered a series of legal setbacks, the Karnataka government has decided to amend the rules pertaining to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to make Kannada the medium of instruction up to class 5. Why Rajasthan faces paucity of women teachers for math and science One of the key highlights of the study undertaken with support of MacArthur Foundation shows there is a paucity of women maths and science teachers. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		No mobile phones, midway exit permitted at MNS meet on January 30 In the wake of several senior leaders leaving the party in recent weeks, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has barred the party workers and leaders from carrying cell phones at Friday's meeting. 464 private cabbies barred from plying in Mumbai Four hundred and sixty-four private taxi drivers' applications were rejected during police verification this month, with 33 getting "adverse remarks". After opposition, pay & park policy stayed in SoBo The state government has stayed the implementation of the new pay and park policy which was to be implemented on a pilot basis in 'A' ward. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi gets a weekly haat for art lovers Now a weekly haat in a new avatar will attract art connoisseurs from across the country under one roof. Stylish or offbeat, this fair has something for all From an installation of giant ants to edible chess sets made of laddoos, the latest edition of India Art Fair is nothing if not varied. HC stays tree felling in Vasant Kunj Responding to concerns expressed by local residents the Delhi high court has stayed felling of trees on a road in Vasant Kunj area. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Actor accuses SI of assault Kannada actor Chetan Kumar has accused a Cubbon Park police sub-inspector of assaulting him over a trivial issue late on January 24 night when he was on Church Street with friends. HC quashes law minister's son Karthik Gowda's plea in rape case In a setback to Karthik Gowda, son of Union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda, the Karnataka HC on Thursday dismissed his criminal petition in a rape and cheating case.  Karnataka to amend RTE rules to teach in Kannada Having suffered a series of legal setbacks, the Karnataka government has decided to amend the rules pertaining to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to make Kannada the medium of instruction up to class 5.  More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		8 Andhra Pradesh districts shifted to Vizag passport zone Nearly eight months after bifurcation of the state, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has decided to redraw the jurisdiction of the Regional Passport Office, Hyderabad, and move eight districts of Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam - to the Visakhapatnam passport office jurisdiction. K Chandrasekhar Rao's skyscraper project faces hurdles Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s dreams of skyscrapers around Hussainsagar is expected to start with the construction of a ground-hugging convention centre, Telangana Kala Bharathi, in the vacant land opposite Indira Park. Ban on cultivation draws farmers' ire Following the ban imposed on cultivation in the proposed capital city area, angry farmers from Krishna river bank villages on Thursday staged protests alleging that the state government did not consult them before taking this major decision. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Amma cement: Bonding with rural middle class Since its launch on Jan 5, Amma cement has sold nearly 16,000 tonnes across the state. Officials say that they are only starting out and will soon ramp up procurement to hit their sales target of 2 lakh tonnes. Refugees not averse to Lanka return after regime change With the new government in Sri Lanka sending positive signals on resolving the ethnic problem, refugees in Tamil Nadu have been evaluating the possibility of their return to the homeland. Flyover at Madhya Kailash junction in 18 months A flyover proposed by the corporation at the Madhya Kailash junction will be constructed within 18 months, mayor Saidai Duraisamy told a public gathering in a meeting held at the School of Architecture and Design at the Anna University. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Bapu said 'Ram, Ram' as he died: Manuben 'Hey Ram!' These are believed to be the final words uttered by Mahatma Gandhi before he fell to the bullets pumped into him by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948 at Birla House in Delhi. No ready answers to cut HIV infections through blood transfusions Gujarat recorded the country's highest number - 1,658 cases - of transfusion transmitted HIV infections from 2010-11 to 2014-15, says the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). This has raised a serious question about the quality of blood transfused to unsuspecting patients in the state. Tenders issued for Metro construction There will finally be some ground-level activity on the Ahmedabad metro project in the last week of February. Metrorail Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) may begin construction of the elevated corridor from Vastral to Apparel Park in Maninagar. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		3 idols stolen from Jain temple Unidentified burglars made away with three astadhatu idols worth crores of rupees from an old Jain temple located at Korhar Bazaar under Meja police station late on Tuesday night. Carnival spirit takes over Magh Mela campus Devotees and pilgrims are thronging the Magh Mela to quench their spiritual cravings. However, there are number of others who are arriving at the Sangam to enjoy the festivities and carnival spirit. Soggy Mela area fails to dampen festive spirit Sporadic rain and soggy streets of Mela campus in the past two days have failed to deter over one lakh devotees and pilgrims from taking a holy bath on the banks of Ganga. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Schools work out de-stress routine With board exams barely a month away, schools are working hard to de-stress their students. State to have say in mining leases The Centre on Wednesday clarified to the state government that the January 12 ordinance on mines has not taken away its pre-recommendation rights to examine the eligibility of any application for lease or renewal of lease. Odisha Lokayukta Bill receives President's assent The Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014 on Wednesday received the President’s assent. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Sunshine breaks damp weather run in Bhopal Sunny day on Thursday snapped clammy weather’s six-day run perking up city residents. Met department, Bhopal circle, office said clouds have cleared off. Man set ablaze by brothers-in-law in Bhopal A 35-year-old youth was allegedly set ablaze by his three brothers-in-law in Barkhedi area on Wednesday night when he had gone to house of his wife’s parents, here on Wednesday night. Anhad organises 'Meera Samaroh' at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal The past couple of days have seen the cultural circuit of Bhopal busy with a plethora of events and one such festival that gave the residents several memorable evenings was the recent Meera Samaroh. Organised by Anhad, which is the centre for classical music based in Bharat Bhavan, the festival chronicled the many facets of the saint Meerabai. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Another drug peddler nabbed in Chandigarh Police arrested another drug peddler from Chandigarh on Sunday, who has been sent to police remand for five days. Walkathon to spread awareness about fuel conservation As many as 300 students took part in a walkathon event to spread awareness about conservation of oil and natural gas. 5 new police stations in Chandigarh Considering the increasing population and rising crime graph in border areas of UT, Chandigarh Police have decided to come up with five more police stations to especially cover the technical hub of Chandigarh, IT Park, Manimajra. More Chandigarh News»

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