News Digest: Congress wary of Swamy ahead of chopper debate

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, May 04, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Congress wary of Swamy ahead of chopper debate Put top netas through lie-detector test, says VK LS clears bill to free Rs 41k cr to bolster forest cover More India News»

		Business
		Sensex tanks 207 points to hit 3-week low on global growth woes Global growth worries knocked off 207.27 points from the benchmark BSE Sensex on Tuesday while the NSE Nifty sank below 7,800-level as weak Chinese factory data and forecast of further slowdown in euro zone triggered late sell-off in domestic equities. Sebi slaps Rs 25 lakh fine on Steelco Gujarat A SEBI probe found that the entities had not taken appropriate steps to comply with the minimum 25% shareholding in the company. As per the regulator, the shareholding of the promoters of Steelco Gujarat Ltd (SGL) had increased to 78.26 per cent during February 2002 to June 2002. Coal efficiency drive risks ire of powerful unions State-run Coal India Ltd, the world's biggest coal miner, has already doubled output growth since Modi came to power two years ago, owing to the removal of hurdles to production like environmental clearances and land acquisition. More Business News»

		Environment
		Earth may be home to 1 trillion life forms Altogether, these data represent over 5.6 million species from 35,000 locations from across the world, except Antarctica. The scientists combined microbial, plant and animal community datasets from government, academic and citizen science sources, resulting in the largest compilation of its kind. Rescued S America circus lions explore new home Africa Lions, rescued from Peru and Colombia circuses and airlifted to South Africa, explored their new territory after being released into Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary north of Johannesburg on Sunday. One of the 33 lions, a male called Zeus, let out a mighty roar before stepping out of his cage. US oil field behind global rise in air pollution: Study . More Environment News»

		World
		Blaze destroys hundreds of homes in Myanmar Rohingya camp A major fire on Tuesday damaged or destroyed the homes of some 2,000 Rohingya Muslims living in a camp for people displaced by 2012 communal fighting in western Myanmar. Authorities said a cooking stove caused the blaze at the Bawdupa camp near the state capital Sittwe. Won't allow destruction of Hindu temples: Hafiz Saeed Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Pakistan's banned outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), has said his organisation will not allow destruction of Hindu temples and other holy places of non-Muslims in the country. New hit-list threatens Bangladeshi teachers, netas Bangladesh police were on Tuesday investigating a new hit-list of 10 people that includes the head of a university, journalists and ruling party officials, after a series of gruesome killings. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Accused is asking to speed up matters: Pancholi The Bombay High Court lifted the stay on the trial against the actor. The next hearing of the case will be held on May 5, which will take place at a special women’s court where apparently charges will be framed against Sooraj Pancholi. Bollywood's Top 10 must watch deleted scenes 'Adhyayan wanted closure in the Kangana case' Adhyayan Suman, who recently spoke of his past relationship with Kangana Ranaut, got his share of flak for his frank speak. In defence of their son’s action, Adhyayan’s parents — Shekhar and Alka Suman — chose to put things in perspective More Entertainment News»

		Science
		One in three US antibiotic prescriptions 'unnecessary:' study Miami, May 3, 2016 (AFP) -Nearly one in three antibiotic prescriptions doled out in the United States is "inappropriate," said a study Tuesday that called for improved stewardship of this important medicine. World Asthma Day: Affluent children more prone to Asthma, says study UN chief picks Mexican diplomat to head climate office Paris, May 3, 2016 (AFP) -A veteran Mexican diplomat has been chosen to head the United Nations' newly upgraded climate office, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced in a letter to France's environment minister. More Science News»

		Sports
		IPL 9: Blazing Pant guides Delhi Daredevils to emphatic victory The victory propelled Delhi to the second spot in the points table with five wins and two defeats in their seven matches. Gujarat, however, still sit pretty at the top with six victories and three losses in their nine games. IPL 2016: Gautam Gambhir fined for kicking chair Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir was fined 15 percent of his match fees for his despicable conduct that saw him kick a chair during his team's IPL victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday. ICC rankings: India slip behind leaders Australia, Pak close in Australia has opened up a six-point gap over India at the top of the rankings following the annual update. More Sports News»

		Technology
		7 harsh realities of India's smartphone market The cheap Android smartphone party over the last couple years has definitely benefited consumers in India at large. Is unfollowing the new trend on Facebook, Twitter? Not surprisingly, there are dozens of apps and digital products that can help you keep track of who your real friends are. Indian-origin scientist hacks into Samsung's IoT platform An Indian-origin cybersecurity researcher from University of Michigan and his team have successfully hacked into a leading "smart home" automation system and got the PIN code to a home's front door. More Technology News»

		Education
		IIT Jammu to start this year with 90 students New tuition-free health studies degree launched in non-profit US Online University Seven IIMs hiked fee in last 2 years, Smriti Irani says Seven out of total 19 Indian Institutes of Management increased their tuition fees in the last two years, HRD Minister Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha. She said the hike in tuition fee has not adversely affected students from economically weaker sections since institutes extend financial assistance. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Adarsh scam: Plot too was illegally occupied The Bombay high court has held that the plot on which the 31-storey Adarsh building stands in Colaba was not even available to begin with. The plot was created by carving it out of land reserved for road development without following any legal procedure. Rationalist killings: HC asks CBI and SIT to get cracking The Bombay high court on Tuesday told the agencies probing the murders of activists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare to “rise up to the challenge” and crack these murder cases. HC asks govt details of water plan for villages The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government of the measures it will take to ensure potable water is made available to drought affected villages across the state. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Did farm fires lead to dip in air qualiry during odd-even ? Uttarakhand was not the only region in north India witnessing large scale fires in the latter half of April. Nasa satellite images show a sharp rise in farm fires in Punjab and Haryana during the fortnight that coincided with odd-even II (OE-II) in the capital. In 2 days, 3 fire incidents reported in Ridge areas The forest department has written to all ridge owning agencies to keep vigil after three incidents of fire were reported in two days in Delhi's Ridge areas. Top court offers ray of hope to non-CNG cabs More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Araka and teff could see farmers through drought Even as Karnataka grapples with one of the worst droughts in recent times, a farmer and a research scientist have found two foodgrains which can sustain farmers through such tough times. Up to 40% forest fires are due to dry weather Uttarakhand may be battling its worst forest fire in recent years, but environmentalists here say hundreds of such incidents go unreported in Karnataka. India has just 1 doctor for every 1,681 persons: MCI A 53-year-old throat cancer patient from Chikkamagaluru, who had undergone an emergency tracheostomy in a city hospital, was discharged after being taught some basic suction techniques. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Largest, tallest national flag to be hoisted in Hyderabad Hyderabad, May 3 (IANS) India's largest national flag on the tallest flag-post will be hoisted on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad. Mom faints searching for water, two sons left behind die of sun stroke The death of two young boys in Adilabad district, apparently from sun stroke resulting from thirst is a result of the state government’s failure to ensure availability of drinking water in rural areas, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said. Andhra Pradesh bans Chinese 'manja' Hyderabad, May 3 (IANS) The government of Andhra Pradesh has banned Chinese 'manja' or the sharp string used to fly kites on Makar Sankranti festival and other occasions. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Tamil Nadu election: Bishops council decides to back DMK alliance In a decision that will affect sizeable population of Christian community in casting their votes for political parties, the Tamil Nadu Bishops Council on Tuesday announced its support to the DMK-Congress alliance. NEET effect: Private varsities double MBBS fees Private universities in Tamil Nadu have started increasing the tuition fee for MBBS courses this academic year in anticipation that all states will be mandated to take up the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). HC direction to CMDA on planning permission Chennai, May 3 () The Madras High Court has directed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to process applications and pass orders on planning permission for building constructions. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat has over a third of India's Muslim detainees Gujarat accounts for over a third of the total Muslim detainees in the country, Union home ministry figures show. Of the country’s 658 Muslim detainees, 240 are in PM Narendra Modi’s home state. Tamil Nadu is a close second with 220. Guj govt defends GSPC on KG investment, lambastes Congress Ahmedabad, May 3 () Gujarat Government today said the investment of Rs 19,716 crore made by the state-run Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation for oil and gas exploration in the Krishna Godavari (KG) basin was not a "wasteful expenditure". Guj Cong delegation to raise KG Basin issue with President Ahmedabad, May 3 () Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela today said a Gujarat Congress delegation would meet President Pranab Mukherjee and would raise the KG Basin issue with him. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		EC meets up over discipline issue The executive council of Allahabad University held an emergent meeting at vice-chancellor's office on Tuesday.The agenda of the meeting was indiscipline among students. Purse with ornaments recovered Allahabad: GRP personnel with the help of an AC coach mechanic recovered the purse of a woman passenger, carrying ornaments worth Rs 2.5 lakh, from Haridwar Express on Tuesday. Woman immolates self after tiff with mother-in-law A 40-year-old woman identified as Sarita alias Savita, a resident of Naugava, set herself ablaze after a tiff with her mother-in-law over a petty issue on Tuesday morning. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		NFSA allocation notfair in state: BJD Cornered over the chit fund case, the ruling BJD on Tuesday tried to put up a brave face by targeting the Centre over 'unfair' allocation of foodgrain under National Food Security Act (NFSA). Food panel violatingrules, say activists Food campaigners are up in arms after the state government issued notification to appoint only two members to the state food commission (SFC) though the National Food Security Act (NFSA) mandates appointment of five members. Tough terrain test fordrivers seeking licence Aspirants applying for driving licence will have to undergo tougher tests on serpentine and gradient tracks, inaugurated at the state-run driving test centre at Chandrasekharpur here on Tuesday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Liquor ban: Congress to launch series of protests Upping the ante over the demand for total ban on liquor, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Tuesday announced a series of agitations across the state against liquor sale. Passenger loses leg at Bhopal railway station A man lost his leg while trying to board a train at Bhopal Junction station on Tuesday. Jeetu Chauhan, 35, was travelling with his wife and two children on the Gorakhpur-LTT Express. HC disposes of PIL seeking ban on liquor in state Madhya Pradesh High Court has refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction for a ban on liquor in the state. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Congress to move HC over 'faulty' wheat procurement Punjab Congress has decided to move court over the issue of ‘faulty' wheat procurement in the state that has left farmers in the lurch with delay in payments. Reshuffle in PPCC pending for 2 months The expected reshuffle in Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) structure has been pending for nearly two months now. Two labourers die as earth caves in Two labourers died after earth caved in while they were digging well at Badra village of Barnala district on Tuesday. The labourers were digging a well for pumping groundwater when both got buried in soil. More Chandigarh News»

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