News Digest: Rare sculptures thrown out as modern temple comes up at ancient Pallava site

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, April 30, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Rare sculptures thrown out as modern temple comes up at ancient Pallava site A year ago, when a group of people approached the villagers of Thatchur near Kallakurichi in Villupuram district to construct a temple on an ancient Pallava site, little did they realise that it would be at the cost of some rare 9th century sculptures. Nepal earthquake: The rock cover saved us, says Everest veteran Love Raj He is one of India’s top mountaineers who has summited Mount Everest five times. This was to be his sixth attempt. Govt does volte face, asks TN fishermen not to trespass into Lankan waters Reiterating the Centre's stand that Tamil Nadu fishermen should not cross the international maritime boundary line (IMBL), external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday advised a fishermen delegation that met her in New Delhi not to trespass into Sri Lankan waters and invite trouble. More India News»

		Business
		Vedanta writes down Rs 20k cr on oil business In the biggest write-down in India’s corporate history, Anil Agarwal-led Sesa Sterlite, which was renamed as Vedanta last week, has been hit hard by falling crude prices as it booked nearly Rs 20,000 crore ($3 billion) as “goodwill impairment charges” related to its oil and gas business. RBI fines 3 banks Rs 4.5cr, cautions 8 in FD fraud The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 crore each on Dena Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Oriental Bank of Commerce and cautioned eight other public sector banks following its investigation into last year’s fixed deposit fraud. Govt, FIIs agree to seek fast-tracking of MAT case The government and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) — which have been contesting income tax department’s minimum alternate tax (MAT) demand — have mutually agreed to seek fast-tracking of the dispute, which is now in the Supreme Court. More Business News»

		Environment
		Chandaka eco-tourism project stuck in land transfer The authorities of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, on the outskirts of the city, have initiated a process of taking possession of a land under the Cuttack district administration and develop it into an eco-tourism site. India plans to have more clean coal technology: Minister India plans to go in for more clean coal technology as thermal power will continue to be mainstay in India's energy mix, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. Groups decry whale entanglements off US coast Conservationists on Tuesday called for new safeguards for gray whales and humpbacks after a record number of the federally protected mammals got entangled in fishing gear in coastal waters off California, Oregon and Washington. More Environment News»

		World
		Charlie Hebdo cartoonist says will no longer draw Prophet Cartoonist Luz, who drew Charlie Hebdo's front cover picture of the prophet following the massacre of the satirical weekly's editorial team by jihadists in January, has said he will no longer draw the prophet. Nepal PM faces fury of earthquake victims Protests on Wednesday greeted Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in relief camps as anger spilled over to the streets with people seizing food and water supplies, four days after a devastating quake claimed over 6,000 lives. US supreme court split on same-sex union In its storied existence of over 225 years, the US Supreme Court has heard cases on such seminal matters as slavery, segregation, free speech, executive privilege and right to privacy. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'There were people crying and collapsing' Having spent three days in Kathmandu after the horrifying earthquakes, Jannat director Kunal Deshmukh returned to Mumbai Tuesday early morning with his girlfriend Sonali Rattan, who was with him during this time. Director apologises to his Bollywood friends RJ Anirudh Chawla, who has directed one of India’s first reality films Sabki Bajegi Band, produced by Yusuf Shaikh, had recorded candid conversations on sex and relationships. 5 Bollywood boyfriends we wish we had Die hard romantic: That one look which melts your heart and that one touch which runs shivers in your body, who doesn't want a boyfriend like Shah Rukh Khan? More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Low awareness, stigma delay autism diagnosis It took five years for Sushant Sharma to understand that what he considered poor learning abilities of his child were in reality the initial signs of a neurodevelopment disorder called autism. Why smartphone batteries sometimes explode Scientists have been able to track the entire process of what happens inside lithium-ion batteries that leads to their overheating and exploding. Indian Institute on responsible conduct of science, research launched The first ever Indian Institute on responsible conduct of science and research will be based in Mangaluru. More Science News»

		Sports
		IPL 2015: Bangalore-Rajasthan match abandoned due to rain Rain played a spoilsport as IPL 8 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals has been abandoned after RCB posted 200/7. IPL: Sunil Narine banned from bowling off-spinners In another setback for Sunil Narine, the Windies bowler has been barred from bowling off-spinners in all matches organised by BCCI, including the ongoing IPL. Real Madrid, Atletico facing transfer bans: Reports Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid could be banned from registering new players for a year for irregularities in the signing of minors, Spanish radio reported. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Galaxy S6 edge vs iPhone 6: The big shootout Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy S6 edge is now available in the Indian market for purchase. 'Samsung replaces Apple as top smartphone maker' Samsung Electronics has said it expects earnings to rise in Q2 after posting its highest profit in three quarters in January-March. Gionee Elife S7 review Gionne promises that its new phone won’t be just another anorexic device and will also offer improved performance and new features. More Technology News»

		Education
		DU, JNU, IIT depts make it to global top 100 list Indian universities might struggle to make the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings list, but their individual departments are amongst the best in the world. Delhi University tops the list, achieving the highest rank of all 20 Indian universities that have made the cut, while being placed 17th globally on the development studies subject table. Funds crunch slows down restoration work at Andhra University Shortage of funds has slowed down the repair and Hudhud debris clearance work at Andhra University, which suffered considerable damage due to cyclone Hudhud last year. Gujarat: Cheats proffer staple excuses to exam board Students nabbed for using unfair means at exam centres across Gujarat are now facing the music and the excuses they are coming up are uncannily similar. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		'PM should not vilify nation on foreign soil' NCP President and former union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi critical remarks against his own country on foreign soil. JJ doctors perform rare surgery on man When 27-year-old Bambam Kumar Mandal walked into JJ Hospital’s casualty ward on March 16 with complaints of intense chest pain and vomiting, doctors realized they had a rarest of rare case at hand. State unwilling to bring the guilty to book, say kin of slain activists When it comes to the murder of activists in Maharashtra, the state machinery seems to come to a grinding halt. That’s something Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of slain anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, Megha Pansare, daughter-in-law of veteran communist Govind Pansare and Sandeep Shetty, brother of slain RTI activist Satish Shetty, know all too well. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Eminent personalities participate in the 6th anniversary of Forward Press held in Delhi "A caste-ridden society is worse than a society of slavery, and even apartheid," said Arundhati Roy, during a function held at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, on Wednesday to mark the sixth anniversary of Forward Press. Bulldozers back, Rangpuri squatters homeless again Tension gripped Rangpuri Pahari, a settlement area in south Delhi near Vasant Kunj, again on Tuesday evening when DDA officials came with earthmovers and police force to raze shanties. Stricter emission norms only on paper The debate over air pollution due to vehicular emissions is not new. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Learn 1.6L Kannada words in English Fascinated by Kannada words but fumble when it comes to their English translation? Here's something that will come in handy. Autos, buses off roads in Bengaluru; airport cabs to operate About 1.2 lakh autorickshaws will go off Bengaluru roads on Thursday as transport unions join the All India Transport Congress strike against the Road Transport and Safety Bill. Heavy rain brings down flag at memorial The monumental flag at the National Military Memorial, Chowdaiah Road, Bengaluru, is one of 11 such flags in the country that are not lowered at sunset, like others. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Stuck at 18k feet, mountaineers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh cry for help  Stranded at 17,598 feet above sea level for five consecutive days, 20 mountaineers from the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are now desperately calling out for help. Kargil veteran looks to crowd-funding to save his son With the army withdrawing financial support for his terminally-ill seven-year-old son Mihir, battling with a rare congenital genetic disorder at a corporate hospital for the last ten months, city-based Kargil war veteran Manoj Kumar Sikdar has decided to go for crowd-funding to meet the medical expenses. Rs 1,000 crore to make Hyderabad 'swachh' The state government announced Rs 1000 crore for ‘Swachh Hyderabad’ programme that will launched on May 16, aimed at transforming the Telangana capital into a clean city. More Hyderabad News»

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		Ahmedabad
		Ahmedabad citizens offer helping hand by the glassful The burning heat where even a glass of water becomes a panacea has spawned water philanthropy in the city. Gujarat govt to appoint 496 Adhyapak Sahayaks The commissioner of higher education has decided to appoint 496 Adhyapak Sahayaks in arts, commerce and home science streams in the 164 grant-in-aid and government colleges. Poor quality plastic items banned in Ahmedabad From Friday this week, bags, tea cups, and wares made of poor quality plastic will be banned from all vending points in the city. We Amdavadis are plastic addicts. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Karwarias' bail plea to be taken up today The bail application of former BSP MP Kapil Muni Karwaria and his brother MLC Suraj Bhan Karwaria in SP MLA Jawahar Yadav murder case will be heard by the additional sessions judge (ASJ) on Thursday. Interviews for principals' post from May 18 The long-awaited interviews for filling 900 vacant posts of principals in aided colleges across the state would start from May 18. NCTE helpline to tackle anomalies, plaints If you are among the ones who want to report a given institution offering fake degrees or one that is flouting norms on appointing faculty or purposefully delaying issuing of certificates on completion of a course, help is just a call away. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Neem tree for Jagannath at Raghunathpur Ending days of speculation, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration on Wednesday announced the location of the neem tree to sculpt Jagannath’s idol. Centre withdraws, Odisha govt likely to fund police modernization The state government is actively considering to fund modernization of police scheme. Govt to recruit 31 sportspersons in Odisha police As part of its policy for direct recruitment of meritorious sportspersons in police force, the state government would offer appointment order to 31 talents in the first phase. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Rajasthan losing its big cats to Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan seems to be losing its tigers to Madhya Pradesh. State forest officials and members of world wildlife federation (WWF) have found sub-adult tiger T-71 – fourth in the row – that strayed from Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger reserve on Sunday. Engineering colleges drive home students' safety to drivers A week after an accident in which a girl student lost her life, engineering colleges on April 22 have decided to organize regular training programmes for bus drivers and conductors for making them aware of driving with safety of students. Mayor's vehicle hit by speeding car in BRTS Like local residents in state capital, mayor and civic body commissioner are not left unaffected by brazen driving in bus rapid transit system (BRTS). Both were jolted by a drunken speeding vehicle that rammed official car of Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma along BRTS on Saturday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Exporters to Nepal keeping their fingers crossed At a time Nepal is counting the losses caused by the earthquake, the industries that export many products to Nepal are also suffering losses, because their payments have been stuck, and business would take a long time to normalize, further adding to their woes. Now, land at Amritsar airport in zero visibility One can now fly to Amritsar without worrying about flight diversions during heavily foggy days as the work for installation of CAT III-B instrument landing system (ILS) has begun at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport, which will enable the aircraft to land in zero visibility. Help pours out for quake victims There's been an outpouring of support for providing aid to the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday. More Chandigarh News»

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