News Digest: First world's medical device rejects flood Indian markets

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, March 26, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		First world's medical device rejects flood Indian markets Complaints are coming in from the developing world about medical devices being 'dumped' or 'sold at inflated prices' by first-world countries and trading companies. Strong Left can realign forces for real alternative: Karat Only a strong independent Left could lead to realignment of forces favourbale for a real alternative (to the Congress and BJP), CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said on Wednesday. Shailesh: A businessman who made political capital? In a family full of political workers, Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav’s son Shailesh Yadav was the only one with no formal affiliation to a political outfit. Instead, Shailesh chose to be a businessman, running a petrol pump at Banthara on Lucknow’s outskirt, and looking after some land. More India News»

		Business
		Suzlon to sell SE Forge, other assets Tulsi Tanti-led Suzlon Group plans to raise Rs 2,500 crore by selling its Vadodra-based forging unit, SE Forge, and other assets, as the world's fifth largest wind turbine maker looks to reduce its debt. Amazon to take kirana stores online E-commerce major Amazon is taking your neighbourhood kirana store online.The e-tailer is launching an express delivery platform in partnership with mom-and-pop stores, calling it Kirana Now. Kraft and Heinz to form North America's No.3 food company Kraft Foods Group Inc, the maker of Velveeta cheese, will merge with ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co, owned by 3G Capital and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, to form North America's third-largest food and beverage company. More Business News»

		Environment
		Delhi HC seeks Centre's action plan to curb air pollution Observing that air pollution in the national capital was "terrible", Delhi High Court today directed the Centre as well as an amicus curiae to prepare an action plan with suggestions to address the issue. Centre mulls giving 90 per cent afforestation fund to states In a bid to boost afforestation activities, the Centre is mulling to hand over 90 per cent of the Rs 36,000 crore compensatory afforestation management fund directly to all the states, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said. African jumbos may be extinct in 20 years African elephants could be extinct in the wild within a few decades, experts warned on Monday at a major conservation summit in Botswana that highlighted an alarming decline in numbers due to poaching for ivory . More Environment News»

		World
		US launches Tikrit air strikes to support Iraqi forces US aircraft on Wednesday launched bombing raids to support Iraqi forces fighting to recapture Tikrit from the Islamic State group, after Baghdad issued a request for air power, US officials said. France gets audio from jet's black box Midway through a flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf on Tuesday, Germanwings Flight 9525 was chilling in its normalcy. Netanyahu extends 'hand of peace' to Palestinians Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday Israel wants peace with the Palestinians as he was tasked to form a government a week after saying they won't get a state if he is re-elected. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Rajeev and Kritika clarify the slapgate incident While the first teaser of Sony Entertainment Television’s Reporters got viewers excited about Rajeev Khandelwal’s comeback to television, its latest promo has sent the excitement levels soaring. The promo featuring a bold kiss between Rajeev and Kritika Kamra, followed by a tight slap, has become the talk of the town. Manasvi in Hera Pheri 3? Manasvi, Miss India World 2010, may soon be seen in Hera Pheri 3. Double Roles in upcoming Bollywood films Bollywood films are all set to give the audience a dose of double roles. Several upcoming films will now have actors in interesting double roles. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Energy from rivers to heat UK homes More than one million homes across Britain could be heated using green Scandinavian-style technology that takes heat from nearby rivers and canals and pumps it into the home, the government will announce soon. Soon, chocolate to get healthier and tastier Researchers have found a way to make chocolate more flavourful and nutritious with greater levels of anti-oxidants. New artificial hand uses smart wires as muscles Researchers have developed an artificial hand which uses smart wires that can tense and flex as its muscles to perform extremely precise movements. More Science News»

		Sports
		SCG awaits gladiatorial contest between India and Australia A battle of nerves beckons, as India and Australia lock horns at the cricketing citadel of the Sydney Cricket Ground in the World Cup semifinal. World Cup: Bullish Rohit Sharma ready to take on Australia India opener Rohit Sharma has every reason to be confident about his chances of success against Australia in the World Cup semifinal in Sydney. Michael Clarke credits Dhoni for Indian team's redemption Australian captain Michael Clarke lauded the efforts of MS Dhoni in turning things around for his team, as they wait to battle in the World Cup semifinal. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Azim Premji leads $80m funding round in Android rival Premji Invest has led an $80-million round of funding in US-based mobile operating system startup Cyanogen. RBI blocks Tatas' plan to buy out DoCoMo in telecom JV Tata Sons’ plans to buy back the 26.5% stake held by Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo in their Indian joint venture 30 tech skills that will get you $110,000-plus salary IT seems to be a lucrative career option offering of high-paying jobs. More Technology News»

		Education
		Only 29% of seats for weaker sections filled under RTE in 5 years In last five years the Right to Education Act's key provision of providing 25% reservation to disadvantaged children has been poorly implemented with only 29% of the 21.4 lakh seats reserved for them getting filled. Delhi fares well in economically weaker sections admission Delhi can give itself a small pat on the back. Though there is still much ground to be covered, the implementation of the Right to Education Act’s Section 12(1)(c), which requires private-unaided schools to reserve 25% seats for kids from economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups (DG), has been most successful in Delhi. Mamata writes to Centre on teacher shortage in Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Union HRD minister Smriti Irani with a plea to consider appointment of untrained teachers for limited period as the state is reeling under severe teacher shortage in schools. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Offices induce fans with ultra-HD sets & snacks, restaurants with discounts As India face off with Australia in a few hours, Mumbaikars have come up with various strategies to not miss out on the most-anticipated match of the Cricket World Cup on a workday. Desi feel in Aussie air as fans fly down to Sydney Probably for the first time in history, Australian skipper Micheal Clarke and his boys will find today that the Sydney stadium is no longer their home ground. Metro III car shed at Aarey stayed: Fadnavis Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified in the legislative council on Wednesday that the plan for the Metro III car shed at Aarey Colony had been stayed. He said a committee had been formed to suggest another location for the car shed. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		'Don't shield VIPs from water crisis' From now on, VIPs will have to face water shortage along with the common man. DERC chief summoned to assembly Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman P D Sudhakar will be summoned to the next Delhi assembly session which is likely to take place at the end of May or the beginning of June. BJP blames Delhi govt for municipal crisis Several BJP councillors along with the three mayors protested against the state government outside Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday for not releasing funds to the municipal corporations. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Platform visit costlier than 20km train ride Starting April 1, Rs 10 will get you entry to any Bengaluru City railway platform, while Rs 5 will take you to Malleswaram, Cantonment or Nayandahalli stations. CM on stage, ace historian is pushed around Eminent historian and scholar M Chidananda Murthy, 84, was pushed around, shoved and evicted right under the nose of chief minister Siddaramaiah here on Wednesday afternoon. Snack maker's doctor daughter gets 5 gold medals It was probably the biggest day of her life as she finally added Dr to her name. Mangala Gowri, 23, was conferred with five gold medals at the 17th RGUHS convocation on Wednesday. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Men in Blue hold sway over city as punters bet on India win Over 5,000 miles away from the Sydney Cricket Ground, Hyderabadis are all set to paint the city blue on Thursday. Docs 'doctor' rules to perform surgeries Throwing ethics to the winds, scores of doctors working in Aarogyasri-empanelled government medical institutions are perfecting the art of impersonation. Telangana govt to take up only three airports for now The Telangana government may have to rethink about its ambitious plans of building greenfield airports in all the districts due to lack of funds and other issues. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		After 66A is scrapped, Sec 67 of same Act lands Chennai techie in jail  The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Section 66A of Information Technology Act saying the clause struck at the root of liberty and freedom of expression.  Paper leak: HC asks why Class 12 maths test shouldn't be re-held In a poser sure to send shivers down the spines of Plus Two state board students and their parents, Madras high court has sought to know from Tamil Nadu government as to why it should not order re-examination of mathematics paper which was held on March 18. CM's recipe: Spend today, repay later Chief minister O Panneerselvam who holds the finance portfolio, kept Tamil Nadu firmly on the path of a welfare state in his budget unveiled on Wednesday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Betting racket: Probe begins into Gujarat police role The anti corruption bureau (ACB) has started a preliminary inquiry into the alleged involvement of Gujarat police officials in the Rs 4,000 crore international cricket betting racket unearthed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Vadodara district last week. Naroda Patia survivors ask CJ to change appeals bench Survivors of the Naroda Patia massacre approached Gujarat high court acting Chief Justice V M Sahai on Wednesday to request him to shift the case from the bench of Justices Ravi Tripathi and R D Kothari. Cops to launch app to make autos safer One of the biggest apprehensions of the passengers taking autos from places such as railway stations and bus depots is the credentials of the auto as there is no way out to ascertain whether the driver is involved in any crimes earlier or whether he has a legal badge to ply. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Snag orphans 'fire-fighter'; Rs 6.5cr hi-tech machine caught in red tapism The fire department’s Rs 6.5 crore, Hydraulic Platform, from Italy, sourced to douse flames in buildings have more than 30mts height, is lying defunct since February due to red tape. Beauticians decorate goddess statue in Allahabad temple A 132-year-old ‘shaktipeeth’ in the city has employed a team of women beauticians for daily ‘shringar’ of Goddess Durga. Since the beginning of Navratri on Saturday, the beauticians are decorating the various manifestations of the goddess as per Vedic rituals. Thieves dig 90-metre tunnel, steal Rs 2Cr worth IOC diesel Thieves dug up a 90-metre tunnel and stole diesel worth Rs 2 crore from Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) Barauni-Kanpur pipeline under Manda police station between February 16 and March 18. While the pipeline was targeted at least seven times, the falling pressure of diesel flow prompted the IOC officials to set up and enquiry and an FIR was lodged on March 21. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		National award for Odia film 'Adim Vichar' After a gap of seven years, an Odia film finally bagged a national award, announced on Tuesday. Adim Vichar, a film by award-winning filmmaker Sabyasachi Mohapatra, was declared the Best Odia Film. Govt will buy potato: Rout The state government will buy 6,600-tonne potato at the minimum support price of Rs 6 a kg from farmers, cooperation minister Damodar Rout said here on Tuesday even as opposition BJP and Congress stalled the assembly for second day over distress sale of the tuber. Spl police teams to handle crisis situations The Odisha police will form two quick rapid action teams (QRATs) to effectively combat ‘crisis’ situations during Nabakalebara at Jagannath Temple in Puri. The teams will comprise special operation group (SOG) jawans. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Minor whisked off in van, found at Kaliasot dam A 4-year-old girl, who was standing with mother outside her modest house in Kolar area on Wednesday morning, was kidnapped by bundling her in a van. NGT seeks clarity from MoEF on land levelling misuse National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought response from Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) after it came to light that illegal mining is being carried out in garb of levelling of land in parts of state. Diggy says cops fudged MPPEB proof “MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) is the biggest scam in independent India. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Dolly Ahluwalia bags National Award for Best Costume for Haider Chandigarh-based Dolly Ahluwalia has bagged the National Award for Best Costume for her Hindi film 'Haider'. 4 arrested for betting in World Cup Pinjore police, along with the Kalka ACP, arrested four men from Dharampur Colony, Pinjore, for betting in cricket World Cup on Tuesday morning. Rock. Pop. Sufi. Fusion. You will be spoilt for choice in Kasauli The fourth edition of the Kasauli Rhythm and Blues Festival 2015, organized by the Genesis Foundation, is a line-up of non-stop entertainment for a cause. More Chandigarh News»

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