News Digest: When Rajiv arm-twisted Thatcher to curb UK Sikhs

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, January 03, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		When Rajiv arm-twisted Thatcher to curb UK Sikhs The declassified records of the UK cabinet meetings in 1984, uploaded on www.discoversikhism.com, show that the UK government was only too willing to bend as “export contracts worth £5 billion could be at stake”. Pakistan resorts to shelling, India retaliates; 2 Rangers killed Pakistan Rangers on Friday night yet again violated the ceasefire with heavy firing on forward outposts along the international border in Samba and Kathua sectors, drawing a strong retaliation from the BSF which killed two Rangers. Bill on conversion needs consensus, Amit Shah says BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday said his party was keen on a consensus on the issue of religious conversion. More India News»

		Business
		Number of housing loan accounts dips 2.7% The housing market in 2013, the last year for which data is available, seems to have catered to high-end users more than the middle class. Manufacturing activity at 2-year high: Survey Manufacturing sector activity grew at its fastest pace in two years in December boosted by new businesses and overseas orders, a survey showed on Friday, bringing cheer for policy makers battling to revive growth. PM to banks: Back Swachh Bharat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited the banking sector to embrace his pet Swachh Bharat project and asked them to finance young entrepreneurs willing to float ideas with hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness as the main themes. More Business News»

		Environment
		Eight species of birds on the verge of extinction, says study Eight species of birds like francolins and quails are on the verge of extinction in the Malwa region, a recent study has revealed. Insects deal death sting to greenery Mafia hand suspect as big, leafy trees die out in epidemic-like infestation. The death of the trees has risen proporionately with the spike in price of lac, say experts Bhutan crew films Sikkim's first organic festival Sikkim has set for itself the goal of becoming an organic agricultural state by 2015. More Environment News»

		World
		US slaps more sanctions on N Korea after Sony hack North Korea was hit with more sanctions on Friday designed to impede access to the US financial system in the wake of a cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, which the Obama Administration has said was supported by the reclusive country. Bad weather hinders wreckage hunt, 30 more bodies found Ships and aircraft criss-crossed the seas off Borneo on Friday hunting for the wreck of an Indonesia AirAsia passenger jet, but bad weather again hindered the search for the plane and the black box flight recorders that should reveal why it crashed. UK prince named in 'underage sex slave' case in US A woman has alleged that she was repeatedly forced to have sexual relations with prince Andrew as part of a lawsuit in a Florida court that claims a US investment banker passed her around rich and powerful friends as a “sex slave” while she was still underage. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Everything changes every Friday' In 2014, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh’s bromance, which started from their film and spilled to TV with their chat show appearance, found a lot of followers with fans excited to see the duo partying, chilling and acting exactly the way guys are supposed to, in all their social appearances. Rahul Mahajan has a crush on Sonali Raut? Rahul Mahajan, who’s set to enter Bigg Boss again as a contestant, has his eyes set on a girl. No, it’s not his estranged wife, Dimpy Ganguly Mahajan, but Sonali Raut. Celebs talk about intimate scenes More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Cholera bacterium kills other bacteria to steal their DNA Scientists have discovered the unconventional way the cholera bacterium stabs and kills other bacteria to steal their DNA, making it potentially more virulent. Researchers find new role for proteins Scientists have found for the first time that the building blocks of a protein can be assembled by another protein and without genetic instructions. Chinese biologists discover molecule behind bamboo flowering cycle A team of Chinese biologists has discovered the molecule responsible for the coordination of the different genes involved in the mass flowering cycles of bamboo, a key food for panda bears, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday. More Science News»

		Sports
		Chelsea will bounce back from Spurs mauling: Terry Chelsea will bounce back from their shock 5-3 English Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, captain John Terry said on Friday. Kohli first cricketer to cross 5m followers on Twitter Newly-appointed Indian Test captain Virat Kohli (@ImVkohli) became the first cricketer to cross the 5-million mark on Twitter with 5004544 followers. Steven Gerrard to leave Liverpool at end of season Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is to leave the club at the end of the season, the player announced, saying it had been "the toughest decision of my life". More Sports News»

		Technology
		India unblocks Vimeo, 3 other sites Vimeo, Dailymotion, gist.github and Weebly are accessible on all internet networks at present, while the others remain blocked. What to expect from Apple in 2015 2015 could be one of the most interesting years in Apple's history. The worst tech logo makeovers of all times Every once in a while, companies decide to reinvent themselves. Part of doing that is creating a new company logo. More Technology News»

		Education
		HRD ministry 'goofs', makes professor university's chancellor The ministry has appointed a senior faculty member Jandhyala BG Tilak of the prestigious National University of Educational Planning and Administration as chancellor of the same university. Puducherry students bag awards at science congress A paper on transforming barren lands into cultivable lands using organic manure and a poster on seasonal impact on butterfly abundance and its species diversity done by a few students from the Union territory of Puducherry. Extensive vacancy in government colleges affects PU board examination result The huge number of vacancies in government colleges seems to have affected the PU board examination results. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Bill on conversion needs consensus, Amit Shah says BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday said his party was keen on a consensus on the issue of religious conversion. Advocate in custody for 'offensive' Facebook post Kurla advocate Vijay Gaikwad, who was booked by the police for allegedly posting objectionable material from his Facebook account, surrendered before the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg police on Thursday. State may auction liquor licences to boost its kitty A week after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed concern over the state’s deteriorating financial state, the cash-strapped government is considering auctioning of liquor licences to mobilize funds. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		KMC ends service of former principal College sources said the governing body has submitted the order of termination to vice-chancellor, Dinesh Singh, who will take the final call. Bring same party at Centre & Delhi, says Naidu Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday called upon Delhiites to vote for BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections stressing the need of a common party heading both the state and the Centre. BJP pushes for emergency lane On a day when TOI reported about how women had to deliver babies in ambulances due to roads being choked by traffic, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay has pushed for dedicated lanes on the capital’s roads for emergency vehicles. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Time to pedal in Malleswaram Get ready to hop on to the saddle as Cycle Day will return to Malleswaram this Sunday. BJP meets governor on KPSC appointments head of BJP national president Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru late on Friday, the party swung into action and met governor Vajubhai R Vala. It's art mart on Kumara Krupa Road, Bengaluru Vibrant landscapes and portraits will make a splash as artists from across the country descend on Kumara Krupa Road on Sunday. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Chandrababu Naidu to meet party leaders every week Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to allot one day a week to meet his party MLAs, MLCs and MPs. Privatisation of garbage transportation on the anvil With problems of frequent strikes by workers unions that are hitting transportation of garbage in the city for several days at a stretch, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is mulling to privatize sanitation works, especially garbage transportation in some parts of the city soon. Temporary capital at Mangalagiri Beset by space problem in the joint capital of Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to build a temporary capital at Mangalagiri by July this year so that it could shift major departments until the construction of new capital is completed. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Major police operation to trace missing children in Chennai When two-year-old Kavitha went missing from her house in Saligramam on September 19, 2011, her family was devastated. Foreigner in Chennai gets heart from Coimbatore CHENNAI: Six organs of a 26-year-old web designer, who lost his life in a bike accident near Coimbatore, were donated on Friday morning. Action taken on plaints, fibs Chennai corporation Since it was launched to allow residents to complain about grievances, the city corporation’s toll-free number 1913 has been inundated with calls. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Denied information under RTI, Jashodaben files appeal Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s estranged wife Jashodaben has filed an appeal under the Right to Information Act after Mehsana district police declined her earlier application seeking information about her security cover. Crime branch to probe theatre vandalism case The complaints of vandalism at two theatres screening Aamir Khan-starrer 'PK' have been handed over to the city crime branch. Kandhal Jadeja moves HC to drop Arms Act charges Kutiyana MLA and the son of 'godmother' Santokben Jadeja, Kandhal Jadeja, has moved Gujarat high court urging that charges be dropped against him in a 1998 arms case in Porbandar district. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Rain, dam water wreak havoc on Mela campus The water released in Ganga from Narora and Tehri reached Sangam and uprooted the pontoon bridges. The swift pace of 1,500 cusec water also led to further erosion of the banks Orissa-based gang of thieves busted, 6 held Based in Orissa, the gang had been involved in several criminal cases reported in the district, including Chirgaon and Rajgarh. Only 4 out of 14 sr docs found on duty during inspection Senior health and administrative officials were bombarded with complaints by patients during an inspection of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital on Friday More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Surya shines bright for Odisha Pradhan leads pacer trio’s attack in Lahli as Haryana out for 127 Odisha bag first win of season Beat Haryana by 7 wickets; Suryakant named MoM for all-round show Naveen faces flak for taking car 'too close' to Puri shrine Chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri on New Year’s Day sparked a controversy on Thursday as a socio-cultural organization lodged a complaint with the shrine police alleging that the CM’s vehicle went too close to the temple’s main entrance violating age-old tradition. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Former VC Nisha Dubey appointed chairperson of BU's women cell Former vice-chancellor of Barkatullah University Professor Nisha Dubey has been appointed chairperson of university’s women cell. Bhopal win state level throwball championship Bhopal team won men and women title of the senior state level throwball championship concluded in the state capital on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh mulls sharing stakes of thermal plants with NTPC Unable to improve performance of its thermal power plants, Madhya Pradesh government is mulling to entrust operations of thermal plants to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) even if it entails sharing its stakes with the corporation. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		SAD, BJP in slugfest over anti-drug dharnas Continuing their battle over the Rs 6,000-crore drug scam and rampant substance abuse in Punjab, allies SAD and BJP entered into a fresh row on Thursday over the former's January 5 dharnas against BSF in Amritsar and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe against party leaders. Bathinda 'ghar wapsi' a no-show Vishwa Hindu Parishad's much-hyped "ghar wapsi" function at Bathinda, aimed at bringing back Christians to the Hindu and Sikh fold, was a non-starter. Vigilance counting losses to exchequer due to DTO's malpractices The Punjab vigilance bureau is assessing the loss caused to the exchequer due to the alleged malpractices by Faridkot district transport officer Nachhattar Singh Brar who was booked for cheating, forgery and under the Prevention of Corruption of Act on January 1. More Chandigarh News»

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