News Digest: CPM slams cops for free run to 'RSS, BJP goons'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, February 18, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		CPM slams cops for free run to 'RSS, BJP goons' It's `jungle raj' of BJP govt: Cong on court violence Hike sin tax on tobacco by up to 40%: Health ministry Tobacco products may again attract higher taxes in the upcoming Union Budget 2016-17. Highlighting a discrepancy between the existing tobacco prices and rising income levels, the health ministry along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other public health groups have proposed a hike in taxes of up to 40% for all tobacco products. More India News»

		Business
		India Inc likely to see 10% pay hike, says study India Inc is set to witness an average salary increase of around 10.3% this year, with sectors such as e-commerce, life sciences and media receiving maximum hikes, revealed a survey. Sebi bars 22 entities for tax evasion via bourses Social mores limit women's job choices: Study More Business News»

		Environment
		30-million-year-old fossil flowers found preserved in amber  Researchers have discovered the first ever fossil specimens of an "asterid" - a family of flowering plants that gave us everything from the potato to tomatoes, tobacco, petunias and our morning cup of coffee. Oil spills in Peruvian Amazon hit wildlife Two recent oil pipeline spills in Peru's part of the Amazon hit areas rich in wildlife and it will take them a year to recover, the government said. The spills released a total of 2,000 barrels of petroleum, energy and mining minister Rosa Maria Ortiz said. Students clean beach to facilitate mass turtle nesting Schoolchildren cleaned about 4km-long beach from Gokharakuda to Podampeta in Odisha - the famous mass nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. Over 100 students of six high schools of the nearby villages together with officials and activists picked up around three tonnes of debris. More Environment News»

		World
		China has deployed missiles on disputed island: Taiwan China has deployed surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island in the South China Sea, Taiwan said, as Beijing insisted it had a right to build "self-defence" systems in the region. China has controlled all of the Paracels since seizing several from South Vietnam towards the end of the Vietnam War. UN condemns use of child soldiers in Afghanistan The United Nations on Wednesday condemned all sides in Afghanistan's conflict for using child soldiers, noting that while government forces have curbed the practice, insurgent groups continue to train large numbers of fighters under the age of 18. WHO launches $56 million Zika response plan The World Health Organization on Wednesday released its initial response plan to the Zika virus outbreak, launching a funding appeal for the $56 million (50 million euros) operation. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Pic: Aishwarya, Randeep in 'Sarbjit' biopic The siblings who are making news: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as a young Dalbir Kaur and Randeep Hooda as Sarabjit Singh in director Omung Kumar’s biopic 'Sarbjit' Celebs who moved out of their parents' home Celebs grow up in the comfort of their parents' home. However, with time, they are choosing to move out of their nests and buying their own properties to settle down. Why Bollywood doesn't need sci-fi films If there is any one genre that has been royally ignored by Bollywood, it has to be science-fiction, or so the pseudo-Hollywood geeks claim. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		India moves to create own LIGO project to study graviational waves The government on Wednesday gave an “in-principle approval” for establishing a state-of-the-art LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) project in the country which will bring unprecedented opportunities for scientists to dig deeper into the realm of gravitation wave. Nasa invites ISRO to US for possible collaboration As American space agency Nasa looks forward to sending astronauts to Mars, it has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for a possible international collaboration. New way to turn sunlight into hydrogen developed Inspired by the way plants convert sunlight into energy, Korean scientists have developed a new type of multi-layered photoelectrode that boosts the ability of solar water-splitting to produce hydrogen. More Science News»

		Sports
		The predicament of being Ajinkya Rahane With a "no-vacancy" sign plastered on India's top order and his utility in the middle questioned by his own captain, Ajinkya Rahane suddenly finds his consistency with the bat means very little. HIL: Waveriders blank Lancers 6-0 to enter semifinals Riding on drag-flick specialist Rupinder Pal Singh's fine brace, Delhi Waveriders put up a dominating show to blank Kalinga Lancers 6-0 in their must-win league clash and made it to the semifinals. Mumbai march into Ranji Trophy final, face Saurashtra Mumbai made their first Ranji Trophy final in three seasons even though they were denied an outright win with fighting centuries from Madhya Pradesh wicket-keeper batsman Naman Ojha and Harpreet Singh More Sports News»

		Technology
		Twitter shows Jammu in Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir in China The micro-blogging site is facing a lot of criticism from the Indian users on social for this debacle. Uber may deliver latest blow to European parcel firms World's cheapest smartphone Freedom 251 launched at Rs 251: 10 things to know The Indian smartphone manufacturer Ringing Bells has launched the world's cheapest smartphone Freedom 251 at Rs 251. More Technology News»

		Education
		Demand-supply gap explains lure of Russian medical degrees Every year, close to 1,500 students fly out of India to pursue a degree in medicine in 20 academies spread across Russia - with the the lure of a Russian degree stemming from the stymied growth in medical education at home, and an affordable option out there in Russia. JIPMER to open branch in Karaikal, Puducherry CM says The centrally-sponsored premier health institute JIPMER would set up its branch in Karaikal and the Union territory government of Puducherry has earmarked 80 acres of land for it, chief minister N Rangasamy said on Wednesday. Institute Chair launched at IIT Madras Department of Management Studies Prof Sridhar Tayur, an IIT Madras alumnus, who was on campus earlier this week to deliver a “Leadership Lecture”, launched an “Institute Chair” in the Department of Management Studies at IIT Madras. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Online toll top-up to cut traffic snarls Motorists commuting daily via the Bandra-Worli sea link can now avail of the electronic toll facility and recharge their toll payment tag online thus avoiding queues at the toll plaza. Similar facilities will be available for all five toll posts on the fringes of the city and the one on Mumbai-Pune expressway from May 1. AI official issued airport pass in Delhi after denial in Mum The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in Delhi has issued an airport entry pass to an Air India general manager despite the fact that the Mumbai branch of the security regulator denied the pass to him after a whistle-blower brought to light an FIR lodged against him in January 2014. No winds, Mum air stays poor for 4th day For yet another day, the city’s pollution levels remained in the very poor category, according to the real time monitoring by the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Wednesday was 307. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		SC quashes HC order for FIR against Gurgaon police commissioner Netizens find 'Final Solution' to problem: #ShutDownJNU The tag has been in use since the day of twenty-somethings speaking their minds among themselves at JNU last week When he clicked, they punched At least two journalists, Tarique Anwar from FirstPost and Meenakshi from Times Now, were thrashed by lawyers at Patiala House Courts on Wednesday More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Tiger Global invests $10 million in video content platform TVF Tiger Global Management has picked up a 25% stake in online video content creator, The Viral Fever (TVF) in a deal worth $10 million, as per documents filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) in December last year. Leopard in the woods, citizens need not worry, says forest dept The Karnataka forest department on Wednesday called off the search operation for the leopard that was caught in Varthur of east Bengaluru, caged in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) from where it escaped on Sunday night. Legal opinion sought for by Governor Vala for sanction of prosecution against CM Governor Vajubhai Vala is said to have sought legal opinion on the request for sanction of prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by an RTI activist in the watch scandal. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Chanchalguda jail to be shifted soon It's official.The 138-year-old jail at Chanchalguda will have to be shifted to a new location. Over 21% Hyderabadis diabetic, finds survey PM applauds state's vaccination effort More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Fuel strike: 60% petrol bunks go dry on Day 3 Rabies deaths double in state, 41 died in 2015 Record placements at IIM-T, CTC up by 22% More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Agariyas of Rann languish in poverty, suffer malnutrition The Agariyas in the Little Rann of Kutch are not only poor moneywise, but also consume fewer calories which exposes them to illnesses. Apart from this the children of the Agariyas are frequent dropouts even from the temporary schools. Breeding centres to help revive wolf population The drastic drop in population of Indian wolves from 1,374 in 2000 to around 250 recently has become a cause for concern for wildlife experts in Gujarat. Today, there are only 1,500 of this species left in the country. The forest department in Gujarat is now set to develop special breeding centres for revival of the dwindling Indian wolf population. 6 teachers selected as Microsoft educators Microsoft India on Monday announced the selection of six Innovative Educators and two Showcase Schools from Guja rat in the 2015-2016 class of Educa tion Innovators. These educators and schools are among 168 Micro soft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts and 45 Microsoft Showca se Schools selected across India. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Mobile Recovery Cell hands over 51 mobile sets to owners Vinay Mehrotra was happy when he got his Android mobile phone back. He lost it three months back. After losing his costlier mobile set, Vinay got a case registered with the mobile recovery cell (MRC) of the police. High Court seeks reply from Centre, UP on petition filed by BJP worker named in Dadri lynching case The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government on a petition filed by a BJP worker from Noida who has alleged that he was being "falsely implicated" in the case relating to Dadri lynching over rumour of beef consunmption case and demanded that probe in the matter be handed over to CBI. Dharmendra Yadav faces protest from ABVP activists at Allahabad University Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Badaun, Dharmendra Yadav had to face stiff protest by the ABVP activists on the campus of Allahabad University on Monday. The MP was at Union Hall of AU to participate in a function organised to honour him by AU student union. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Widow pawns sons to pay for husband's funeral In a heart-wrenching tale of poverty from a mineral-rich region of Odisha, a widow was forced to pawn her two minor sons for money to perform the last rites of her husband in Champua. Amit Shah to attend Bargarh farmer rally BJP national president Amit Shah would attend farmer's rally at Bargarh in western Odisha on February 21. Agricultural scientists adopt 20 villages in Odisha to empower women farmers Scientists of ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA) have adopted 20 villages of the state to provide advisories and consultations to farmers for increasing farm productivity and production. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Bhopal schools forced to shut down due to PM's Sehore rally PM Narendra Modi's Thursday rally in Sherpur, Sehore will sweeten BJP's Maihar by-poll victory but several city schools have to bear it with a grin, as they have either closed for the day, postponed internal exams or are making alternate arrangements for ferrying students. Reason: Administration has procured school buses to take people to 'Kisan Mahasammelan' venue. PM may woo farmers to combat Opposition attack Distressed farmers in Madhya Pradesh see a ray of hope to overcome the agrarian crisis that has agonised them for the past few years as Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his maiden visit to Sherpur in Sehore district to address a farnmers convention on Thursday. Brutally raped, 11-yr-old battles for life in Madhya Pradesh An 11-year-old girl is battling for life after she was brutally raped and left to die in a farm in Hoshangabad district on Tuesday night. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Book in the memory of Neerja released Cut Palm trees to size: Experts Kamini Mehta & Even as Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) continues to plant Palm trees on newly-built roads, experts feel this is a bad idea. 44 traffic marshals asked to quit in 2 years More Chandigarh News»

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