News Digest: 'Modi must speak out against Hindu hardliners'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, January 14, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		'Modi must speak out against Hindu hardliners' Economist and Columbia University professor Jagdish Bhagwati is seen as the Modi government's guiding light. The PM is taking bold steps, he tells TOI, but cautions that he must not let Hindutva hardliners undermine his economic agenda. AP to launch initiative to fight infant mortality In key health indicators, Andhra Pradesh figures just below Bimaru (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) states and is at the bottom among the southern states. Chandrababu Naidu recruits journos to build PR In perhaps the first instance of a state government recruiting a large number of journalists for promoting its cause, the TDP regime has embarked on an exercise to enlist scribes on its payroll. More India News»

		Business
		PM to back multi-brand FDI: Bhagwati Prime Minister Narendra Modi will consolidate himself and is likely to open up the multi-brand retail sector to foreign investors in due course, noted economist and thinker Jagdish Bhagwati said on Tuesday. Indian rich warm up to art insurance The Indian rich are warming up to insuring their art and valuable collections thanks to the value-added services provided by insurers and their flexibility in accepting ‘agreed value’ covers. France's BlaBlaCar drives into India French startup BlaBlaCar, which has become the world’s largest long-distance ride-sharing community on the back of deteriorating public transport systems across the world, is launching in India on Wednesday. More Business News»

		Environment
		'India key to Paris climate talks' UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday asked India to take a leadership role in reaching a "meaningful” climate change pact in Paris later this year. Rs 5,000 fine for throwing waste in Yamuna The National Green Tribunal has announced a fine of Rs 5,000 on individuals spotted throwing waste and 'religious items' in river Yamuna. World lends helping hands to Australia's bushfire injured wildlife A call by an Australian wildlife welfare body for help in the recovery of animals injured in wildfires which ravaged parts of Australia last week has seen an unprecedented international response Tuesday, thanks to social media. More Environment News»

		World
		Ohio man accused of threatening to kill US House leader Federal prosecutors allege that a man threatened to murder US House Speaker John Boehner last fall. '1,000 recruits joining fight in Syria and Iraq each month' For more than a decade, Western governments have struggled to stem the flow of their citizens traveling to fight in war zones in Muslim countries, increasing surveillance of those who have expressed an interest in joining extremists, creating computer programs to track suspicious travel patterns and taking other measures. Mother of teen to Islamic State: 'Leave our children alone!' The suburban Chicago mother of a 19-year-old American facing a terrorist charge for trying to join the Islamic State militants accused the group on Tuesday of brainwashing youths into joining their ranks via social media. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Kareena, Alia Bhatt have the same designer Bollywood’s top actresses, Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, were recently spotted flaunting designer Khushali Kumar’s designs on the cover pages of magazines. Tena Desai helped Zayed Khan with bold scenes Zayed Khan has reportedly lost 10 kilos to achieve a lean look in director Gurmmeet Singh’s Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene. Badlapur: Five reasons to watch the film The official teaser has already won Varun rave reviews and we list five reasons why this film is a must watch. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Soon, a powerful, cheaper battery for electric cars A next-generation cheaper, lighter and more powerful rechargeable battery for electric vehicles is one step closer to reality. Worms on ISS offer clues to keep astronauts healthy on space trips A tiny millimetre-long roundworm may hold the key to keeping astronauts healthy on long-duration space missions, Nasa scientists say. New program to help robots 'see' better MIT scientists have developed a new algorithm that could enable household robots to better identify objects in cluttered environments. More Science News»

		Sports
		I want to match Messi in Ballon d'Or race: Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on Argentine striker Lionel Messi's achievement of winning the coveted Ballon d'Or award a record four times. Female players caught leaving coach's room in CCTV footage In a shocking revelation, few female table tennis players from Chhattisgarh were caught on camera while coming out of their coach's hotel room late at night on Dec 26 last year. Lionel Messi's purple patch of confusion at Ballon d'Or Superstar striker Lionel Messi confused everyone at the Ballon d'Or awards with his purple tuxedo and his comments about his future at Barcelona. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Azim Premji's son Rishad may become Wipro vice-chairman Rishad Premji, the eldest son of Wipro's billionaire chairman Azim Premji, could assume the vice-chairman's position in the coming months. Idea plans to cut discounts on voice, data tariffs Idea Cellular has said that discounts and freebies on voice and data tariffs will be reduced in the coming months. 10 experimental Gmail features you must try As if Gmail wasn't powerful enough, you can find all sorts of goodies and extra features in Gmail Labs. More Technology News»

		Education
		Pune: Rural pupils flunk reading, maths In a telling truth, the quality of education in rural Maharashtra has dipped in 2014. Enrolment in Rajasthan pvt schools up by 22%: Report The enrolment of students in private schools in Rajasthan has jumped from 20% in 2006 to 42.1% in 2014 in the age group of 6-14 years, says Annual Statues of Education Report (ASER) released in New Delhi on Tuesday. Learning levels all time low in Raj govt schools, says survey Only 19% Class V pupils can do division More Education News»

		Mumbai
		HC sets aside MLC's election The Bombay HC on Tuesday set aside the election of member of legislative council (MLC) Jayawantrao Jadhav of the NCP. Justice Rajesh Ketkar declared Shiv Sena’s Shivaji Shahane as the MLC elected from the Nashik Local Authorities Members’ Constituency. Greater flexibility in state-appointed panel's choice-based credit system A state-appointed committee had recommended the choice-based credit system (CBCS) for all public universities in the state a few months before the University Grants Commission (UGC) came up with its latest guideline. Mumbai makes a dash for trainers in the run-up to marathon Long-distance coaches are working overtime to train sports enthusiasts who are going to participate in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) to be held on January 18. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		BJP had maximum number of crorepatis and criminal netas in outgoing Delhi assembly Seven in ten legislators in the outgoing Delhi assembly are crorepatis while 36% have criminal cases pending against them. Another Delhi cop killed, this time by bootleggers Two bootleggers on a bike shot a constable in Alipur, outer Delhi, on Monday night and grappled with a home guard when the duo flagged them down for checks. Truck crushes cop at east Delhi checkpost A sub-inspector was killed and two other policemen were injured after a recklessly driven container truck hit them at a checkpost near Mayur Vihar Extension late on Monday night. The driver managed to escape leaving the truck behind. Police have detained the owner. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		16,000 govt jobs up for grabs in Karnataka The Karnataka government is set to launch a massive recruitment drive to fill around 16,000 posts vacant in various departments this year. Girl, 10, dies of cardiac arrest in classroom According to Jayashree KR, principal, Preethi English school, Harshita was busy playing with other children when she developed uneasiness around noon. Ban on goods vehicles hitting buyers: FKCCI Vegetables, grains and other essentials are likely to cost more, thanks to the police ban on goods vehicles entering the city during the day. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Prisoners likely to give Hyderabad primary schools a fresh lease of life DG moots prison labour for school renovations Scramble for space in Telangana secratariat GAD struggles to accommodate officials with many seeking additional rooms Smart city project: Capital agencies have their jobs cut out The two consultancy firms entrusted with the task of developing the core master plan for the 8 sq km area of proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh have got their work cut out. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		DMK declares candidate for Srirangam byelection DMK on Tuesday announced its candidate for Srirangam byelection, seeking to allay the impression that it was hesitant to enter the fray without the backing of strong allies. Jaya portraits to stay, HC refuses to order removal Portraits of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa will continue to adorn government offices in Tamil Nadu, as the Madras high court on Tuesday refused to order their removal. Book fairs a new show these days I have been a regular visitor, not necessarily a buyer, to the book fair from the time the Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India began the annual affair during the final days of the year at Quaid-E-Millath College. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Only half of kids in rural areas can read Gujarati nly about half of all children in rural Gujarat who have five years of schooling can read Gujarati text. Nearly 67.4% children finish eight years of schooling in Gujarat’s rural schools but are yet to learn basic skills in arithmetic. IM suspects who escaped Khandwa jail stayed in Ahmedabad In a major revelation, the city crime branch has said that three Indian Mujahideen (IM) suspects who had escaped from Khandwa jail in Madhya Pradesh in October 2013 had stayed in Ahmedabad twice between July and August 2014. The crime branch had been working on intelligence inputs on this. Magical breath of master In one of the earlier Saptak editions, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty - a Patiala-Kasur Gharana notable - had told the audience that singing was an inalienable right of humans. The very act of breathing, he had hinted, revealed our capacity to express ourselves in a song. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Noida-based driver's body found in Etawah, car in Allahabad Body of a Noida-based travel agency was recovered on Saturday near bridge over Sengur river in Bharthana police circle of Etawah district. Kalpwasis demand ration cards A group of kalpwais on Saturday raised voice against mela authorities for not providing ration cards and other basic facilities. Extension of TGT exam date demanded Scores of students preparing for competitive examinations handed over a memorandum to chairman of UP Secondary Education Service Selection Board (UPSESSB) Parshuram Pal demanding extension of the date of TGT exams. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Biju's Cuttack house to turn into museum Anand Bhawan, the ancestral house of legendary leader and former chief minister Biju Patnaik, will be converted into a museum.Biju was born in the house on March 5, 1916, and spent his childhood there. Foothills come alive with rituals and fair on Magha Saptami Come Magha Saptami, a large number of saints and monks will arrive at the Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills from across the country to take part in the 10-day Magha Mela. Actor-director Hara Patnaik loses battle against cancer Bhubaneswar/ Film director and actor Hara Patnaik, the archetypal bad man of Ollywood, died in a city hospital on Tuesday.He was 57 and suffering from cancer.He is survived by his wife and two daughters. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bullets fly in Chuna Bhatti, two injured in firing Two people suffered bullet injuries in posh Chuna Bhatti area of state capital on Tuesday evening when masked assailants inside a car opened fire on them.The victims were travelling on a bike. Rusticated medicos seek evidence from Gandhi Medical College Medical students, who were rusticated from Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal for use of unfair means in pre-medical test (PMT), are banking on a last opportunity to prove their innocence. Minister to urge ten ambassadors to give up subsidies on cooking gas Union minister of state for petroleum and gas Dharmendra Pradhan may soon be in Madhya Pradesh to appeal to persons with paying capacity to buy non-subsidised cooking gas cylinders. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Farmers accuse Haryana govt of not keeping its promise to acquire land for nuclear plant The villagers have now submitted a complaint to the chief minister's window at Fatehabad asking the state government to fulfill the conditions on which the land was taken. Captain may be Congress campaign chief During the last Lok Sabha elections, the party had constituted the campaign committee very late and this resulted in the other parties setting the agenda for the polls. Now Chugh ridicules Captain for drug rally and remarks BJP has ridiculed Capt Amarinder Singh for barbs against the saffron party and his 'Lalkar' rally against drugs in Amritsar on January 22. More Chandigarh News»

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