News Digest: Like UPA, Modi govt ignoring healthcare: Amartya Sen

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, January 07, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Like UPA, Modi govt ignoring healthcare: Amartya Sen Nobel laureate Amartya Sen argued for more government spending in healthcare amid media speculation that health allocation may be slashed by 6% in the coming Union Budget. Help us 'restore' democracy: Bangla opposition to India The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has sought New Delhi's help to “restore democracy“ in Bangladesh, which has been witnessing violent clashes between BNP and ruling Awami League supporters for the last few days. Role of terror fugitives in Bengaluru blast suspected Confirming that the December 28 blast here bore signature of July 2008 serial blasts in the city, an intelligence bureau source said they are looking at the involvement of absconding terror suspects. More India News»

		Business
		Spectrum windfall to help rein in fiscal deficit The government appears to be confident of meeting the fiscal deficit target set for the current financial year despite a challenging revenue situation. India Inc urges Arun Jaitley to push reforms in Budget India Inc made a strong pitch for reviving investment, easing interest rates, reworking the Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) and restoring the incentives for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) during their pre-Budget interaction with finance minister Arun Jaitley and his team. Transfer funds sans recipient's bank account info The rapid adoption of mobile banking and banking apps is prompting bankers to forecast a complete transformation in the manner in which banking is done in two years. More Business News»

		Environment
		'Fears of man-made global warming exaggerated' Two of three scientists at a session on climate change and society at the Indian Science Congress on Tuesday felt fears of man-made global warming were greatly exaggerated. Snakes may not have evolved as previously thought: Study Researchers have found that snakes may not have evolved the way it was thought previously as they found that their vertebral bones are similar to those found in the backbone of four-legged lizards. High-level panel suggests single window system for green nods Observing that corporates seek "short cuts" to get clearance for their environment projects, a high level committee has suggested setting up of a 'single window' clearance system for green projects to significantly reduce the processing time. More Environment News»

		World
		Kurds kill 24 jihadists in Syria's Kobane: monitor At least 24 Islamic State jihadists were killed in clashes with Kurdish fighters today in the Syrian town of Kobane, where a battle has raged for almost four months, a monitoring group said. Rajapaksa in race for third term as Lanka goes to polls tomorrow Amidst apprehension of possible post-poll violence and backlash, Sri Lanka is all set to go to polls on Thursday to elect a president. Bangladesh opposition chief faces murder charge threat Bangladesh authorities on Tuesday threatened to bring murder charges against besieged opposition leader Khaleda Zia and arrested her deputy over accusations that they incited a nationwide wave of violence. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shah Rukh Khan beats Salman While Happy New Year keeps Shah Rukh and Deepika firmly at the top spot for the second month in a row, Kill Dil gets Ranveer, Govinda and Ali a place in the top 10 in Times Celebex 'I can never make a sleazy film' North India is not as bad as it is made out to be, it just looks that way because it is in focus right now, says Boney Kapoor, ahead of his UP-based film Tevar Bipasha Basu and her love for horror genre Bipasha Basu has been known for her bold and sexy image. But what is more interesting is her apparent liking for the horror genre due to which she has done six horror flicks in her career till date. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Recipe found for Earth-like planets The basic ingredients and mixing process that went to make Earth could go in to building exoplanets around distant stars, astronomers have found. Genome editing technology can alter stem cells A“genome editing” technology known as CRISPR can precisely and efficiently alter the human stem cells, scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found. Spin speed of star reveals its age, says astronomers Finding the actual age of stars is one of the biggest mysteries of our solar system. But now, scientists have finally found a way to crack it. More Science News»

		Sports
		No Yuvraj; Axar, Binny in India World Cup squad India World Cup Squad: Dhoni, Dhawan, Rohit, Rahane, Raina, Kohli, Rayudu, Jadeja, Ashwin, Axar, Bhuvneshwar, Ishant, Shami, Binny, Yadav. AIFF offers Constantine Indian football coach's job Former Indian national men's football team coach Stephen Constantine was offered the top job for the second time by All India Football Federation (AIFF). Sunil Gavaskar all praise for India's World Cup squad Sunil Gavaskar said while batting line-up for the World Cup looks formidable, the all-rounders in the side are expected to play a major role in defending the title. More Sports News»

		Technology
		TCS job cuts: Trade unions crack IT code The last bastion has been breached. The Indian information technology sector, which was untouched by trade union activity, is suddenly being targeted by both organised and unorganised groups. Snapdeal messes up again, delivers second-hand phone Having gone for for cash on delivery option for the order, Gautam Sachdeva claims he took the money back from the delivery person as soon as he opened the box. 5 Twitter dos & don'ts for employees The 140 characters on Twitter, with their reach and impact, can give an employee's image a push or shred it. More Technology News»

		Education
		Ministry of environment and forests largesse to benefit big education institutes Educational institutes across the country have been exempted from the mandatory environment clearances for construction projects on more than 20,000 sq m area, according to a notification issued on December 22, 2014, by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). Solar-powered e-shalas are the new learning schools A drive down a mud road from Banwara Circle, on Hessarghatta Road, Soladevanahalli, takes you to Gopal Vidya Kendra. This private school is run in an unfinished two-storey building, the extended premises of principal Murali Dhar G's residence. 6 IIMs yet to take off as HRD ministry drags feet on land, mentors When around 2 lakh students appeared for the Common Admission Test last year, their goal was one of the Indian Institutes of Management. Their chances of getting a seat there went up after the HRD ministry promised six new IIMs, bringing their tally to 19. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Jilted lover stabs girl, then dies in hit and run In a strange twist of fate, a 23-year-old youth who knifed his girlfriend in an auto at Dahisar (east) on Monday night died minutes later in a hit-and-run on the same stretch. Report illegal posters on BMC helpline Complying with the high court’s order on August 6, 2014, the BMC has launched a helpline to encourage citizens to report unauthorized posters and banners. Goregaon murder: Cops find no leads More than three weeks after a housewife, Rubina Qureshi-Mansuri (24) was found murdered at her Goregaon (W) flat, the police have been unable to identify the killer. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Cops will send legal notice if you block an ambulance Obstructing the path of an ambulance on the city roads will now attract legal action and a fine of Rs 2,000, no less. Murder charge supports Kerala hospital report The conclusion of Delhi Police that Sunanda Pushkar was murdered has substantiated the discharge summary report of the Kerala hospital where she had undergone treatment in her last days. Govt: Vegetable prices have gone down Faced with criticism against rising vegetable prices in the city, Delhi government on Tuesday said that there had been a significant decline in prices of several vegetables including onion, potato, tomato and cabbage in December 2014, as compared to the prices in December 2013. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bengaluru duo takes students on cosmic tour Karnataka's state-of-the-art planetarium is housed in Bengaluru and children from other cities in the state have to come this far to feel the pulse of the universe. But now, two BSc students hope to change that. Youths save drowning girl, video goes viral A group of youths apparently saved a college girl from drowning near Chunchanakatte Falls in Krishnarajanagar, 45 km away from Mysuru. Karnataka ministers, MLAs will be appraised by Feb-end The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will assess the performance of all ministers and party MLAs. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Man burnt alive for 'practising' black magic in Andhra Pradesh A group of villagers burnt a man alive accusing him of practising black magic at Rajapur village of Koderu mandal in Mahubnagar district on Tuesday. Andhra MPs urge Centre to grant more trains, new railway lines Andhra Pradesh MPs on Tuesday urged South Central Railway (SCR) general manager PK Srivastava to send a report to the Centre seeking more trains and new railway lines for the state. Three engineering students drown in Krishna Three engineering students drowned in river Krishna at Maddur village of Kankipadu mandal in Krishna district on Tuesday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Sexual abuse of Rajasthani women in police booth confirmed In a damning admission of guilt, the Hosur police constable accused of sexually assaulting two Rajasthani women and two children has confessed that he had indeed illegally detained the victims and beat them with a lathi before molesting and robbing them on October 8. Groom, not bride, should pay dowry: Arcot Prince The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali has urged the Ulema, Islamic scholars, to condemn the practice of demanding dowry from the girl’s family in a marriage. Transgenders to get lesson in Diabetes detection It may seem like a simple lesson in learning how to insert a needle a collect a blood sample but for Shanthi (name changed), a transgender, the lesson is also one of empowerment. Shanthi is part of a pilot project to train transgenders to perform tests for diabetes detection. There was a time when people would shy away at the mere sight of Shanthi, but now there is a chance she can hold a stable job that gives her an opportunity to help sick people. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		'Please, lock me in my barrack' While 24 of the serial blasts accused of 2008 face trial for jailbreak attempt for digging a 213-foot tunnel in Sabarmati Central Jail, one of their co-accused has requested jail officials not to forget to lock him inside his barrack. Akhilesh govt UPs the ante With its 'UP-Rising' campaign, Uttar Pradesh is probably the only state other than Gujarat that is aggressively wooing investors and top leaders from across the globe set to take part in the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) and Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS) in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad this week. Big demand for interpreters in Chinese Entrepreneurs in the state are hoping to strike big deals with businessmen coming here to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit (VGGIS) from across the globe, particularly from China. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Rlys tighten security, plies special trains for Magh Mela North Central Railway has geared for the first bathing day, Paush Poornima in Magh Mela on Monday. Special trains are being plied and extra coaches have been attached in the trains. The security at the Allahabad railway junction and the adjoining small stations has also been increased. Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) forces have been deployed at the sensitive points at the Allahabad junction and small stations to keep vigil on the suspicious elements. Saints declare water unsuitable for bath, threaten boycott Saints belonging to Dandi Bada have decided to boycott auspicious Paush Purnima bath on Monday in protest against mela authorities failure to make the river suitable for bathing and providing basic amenities to seers camping in the mela area. Magh Mela begins today with Paush Purnima 'snan' The 44-day Magh Mela is set to begin today with approximately 25 lakh pilgrims, including scores of kalpwasis, expected to take a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of Yamuna, Ganga and mythological Saraswati, on the occasion of Paush Purnima. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		BJP replays scams tape, calls for regime change BJP on Tuesday limited its much awaited 'charge-sheet' against the Naveen Patnaik government to the chit fund, land and mining scams while calling for a regime change in the state at the widely publicized 'Mahasangram' rally addressed by party president Amit Shah. Oil min questions state's auction move Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said the BJD government tried to act smart by taking a delayed decision to auction minerals. Odisha CM unveils housing scheme for poor The state government will soon launch a scheme to provide low-cost houses to poor families. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Now, eldest woman member is head of family in MP Madhya Pradesh government has decided to consider oldest woman member in a family as head of the family. Congress fails to name candidates as nomination deadline ends It was high drama within Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) as party failed to announce its mayoral candidate for Chhindwara, even on the last day of filing nomination papers. 10 campionites to participate in CBSE athletic meet As many as 10 athletes and students of Campion School, Arera Colony, will be participating in CBSE athletic nationals meet between January 7 and 12. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Disabled ditch Class XII in Chandigarh Kamini.Mehta@timesgroup.Disabled students in the city are not getting enough senior secondary education in the city beautiful, with many dropping out after Class X. Mohali, Panchkula down in the dumps over dustbins While the Mohali and Panchkula administrations were equally involved in the 'Swachh Bharat Campaign' along with the country, the absence of dustbins in markets and residential and industrial areas is rendering the exercise useless. Mohali MC's anti-encroachment plan flops Diljot Singh| When the municipal corporation (MC) tied up with Panchkula-based Global Securex in July to remove encroachments from the city under the watch and ward scheme, it promised to give the city a new look. More Chandigarh News»

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