News Digest: PM Modi pushes for simultaneous polls, seeks public debate

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, November 04, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		PM Modi pushes for simultaneous polls, seeks public debate Modi called on the media to debate the various aspects of simultaneous elections, citing constraints that accompany polls held at different times. “The code comes into effect and senior officials are posted for long periods in these states going to polls,” he said. Arsonists again at work in J&K, partially damage school, college A college here and a school in north Kashmir were partially damaged in arson attacks during a complete shutdown in the state on Thursday. Police arrested five people involved in the Baramulla school arson case. Hit by splinters, 15-month-old battles for life in J&K A 15-month-old girl, whose four family members were killed after they were hit by splinters of 82mm mortar shells fired by Pakistan in Samba on Tuesday, is battling for life at a Jammu hospital. More India News»

		Business
		India to keep wheat import tax at 10%, private imports seen at 3 million tonnes India, the world's second-biggest wheat producer, lowered the import tax on the grain to 10 percent from 25 percent in September, helping private traders such as Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and Glencore to import large quantities to combat a looming shortage. Gradually come down to 1 or 2 rates of GST: India Inc India Inc on Thursday suggested the government to gradually come down to "one or two" rates of the Goods and Services Tax. "GST rates structure can be absolute limit of four rates as suggested by the government, and over time, the Government should commit to converge to one or two rates," CII said. Rupee weakens by 4 paise against US dollar Ending its two-day rally, the rupee today closed down by 4 paise at 66.75 per dollar on Thursday due to fresh demand for the US currency from corporates and banks amid capital outflows from stock markets. More Business News»

		Environment
		Large 'smiley' to illuminate Environment Ministry A huge 'smiley emoticon' will illuminate the Union Environment Ministry here on Friday, November 4, evening to commemorate the entry into force of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. One lakh ducks to be culled in Kerala: Minister Kerala Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju on Wednesday said that one lakh ducks will be culled after avian flu (H5N1 virus) was reported in certain areas of the state's Alappuzha district. Hyderabad to host intl conference on climate change A two-day international conference on climate change, water agriculture and food security will be held at ICRISAT Hyderabad on Wednesday. More Environment News»

		World
		Scotland's Sturgeon: Court ruling underlines UK govt Brexit confusion The High Court in London ruled that the government could not trigger the formal start of the two-year leaving process on its own but required prior parliamentary approval. Rebels renew Aleppo attack before Russia ceasefire Syrian rebels renewed their bid to break a government siege of eastern Aleppo on Thursday, shelling regime-held parts of the city hours before a brief Russian-declared ceasefire was due to begin. State media said at least 12 people had been killed in rebel rocket and gunfire. Putin grants Russian citizenship to Steven Seagal Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an order to give Russian citizenship to US actor Steven Seagal, the Kremlin said on its website on Thursday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Why Sana Khaan asked Gurmeet Choudhary to 'stay away' while filming intimate scenes Every individual has his/her own quirks, and Sana Khaan is no different. Father and daughter bonding in 'Shivaay' leaves the audience teary-eyed Ajay Devgn’s Diwali release 'Shivaay', an action adventure drama that has been woven around the tale of a father’s love for his daughter, is tugging at the audience’s heartstrings. Ranveer-Deepika indulge in PDA at a luxury car showroom Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh thought of the perfect way to crush nasty break-up rumours! More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Indian scientists detect crack in Earth's magnetic shield The burst occurred when a giant cloud of plasma ejected from the solar corona struck Earth at a very high speed causing massive compression of the Earth's magnetosphere and triggering a severe geomagnetic storm. Ooty telescope detects massive cosmic ray attack that cracked Earth's magnetic shield Tuning the brain with light or sound waves reduces pain More Science News»

		Sports
		England in India: A brief Test history, Part 2 A look at bilateral series between India and England, on Indian soil, between 1976-77 to 1984-85. Thakur, Shirke putting England tour in jeopardy: Lodha source The source made it clear that the England Test series will be in a limbo if BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke don't file their compliance report and appear in person before the panel. Kumble's support for DRS was instrumental: ICC GM Allardice Kumble, in his capacity as chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee, had gone to MIT where the engineers worked on the upgraded technology of DRS, which largely helped him convince BCCI to come on board for the England series. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus price details revealed, goes up to Rs 92,000 The iPhone 7 Plus 32GB, 128GB and 256GB will cost Rs 72,000, Rs 82,000 and Rs 92,000 respectively Apple slashes prices of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus by up to Rs 22,000 Apple has announced biggest-ever price drop for its smartphones in India. Under the new pricing, iPhone 6S (128GB), carying an MRP of Rs 82,000, will now be available at an MRP of Rs 60,000. iPhone 6s Plus (128GB) will now be available at an MRP of Rs 70,000, the smartphone too has received a price cut of Rs 22,000. Apple's 4-inch smartphone iPhone SE, too has got a price cut. The 64GB version of iPhone SE will now be available at Rs 44,000. WhatsApp privacy policy challenged in Delhi High Court: 5 things to know A public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court (HC) challenges the change in WhatsApp's privacy policy. More Technology News»

		Education
		ICSE board favours detention policy from Class VI The Central Advisory Board for Education’s recommendation to amend the “no-detention” clause in the Right to Education Act and reintroduce pass-fail system from Class V has struck a chord with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination. Enough teachers in govt aided schools: AAP govt to HC The Delhi government told a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar that the prescribed student-teacher ratio was 35:1, but in schools aided by it the ratio was 33.9:1, which was much better. University of Hyderabad to recruit 114 faculty positions The recruitment process will start from November 1 for the faculty positions of Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor, the varsity also known as Hyderabad Central University said in a statement on Saturday. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Static trials for new AC rake begin Five held for abducting, raping minor Amid legal battle, property fee still levied on collector's land More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		No holding charges at IGI, says HC Cop gets life term for murder Acid still sold openly: DCW More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Katta Subramanya Naidu discharged in Karnataka Industrial areas development board case The high court on Thursday discharged former minister and senior BJP leader Katta Subramanya Naidu in the multi-crore KIADB case. Hijab not part of religion: Basavaraj Rayareddy Recover encroached spaces on storm water drains: Koliwad More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Maoists' killing: Students constitute fact-finding team Students from across the country constituted an all India university students fact-finding team on Thursday on the recent encounter that occurred on the AP and Odisha border where 24 Maoists were killed. 478 drunk drivers booked in October Errant motorists paid Rs 20 lakh fine for drunken driving in October on directions of a local court.Of the 478 persons, the court ordered three to undergo 15-day imprisonment. Pilgrimage turns tragic for 4 of a family as car falls into well A pilgrimage-cum-road trip ended in disaster for a family from Hanamkonda in Warangal Urban district on Thursday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Breakthrough in twin murders made, say police Police try to reach out, but elderly unimpressed PEs eye Pune, Hyderabad, give city realty thumbs down More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Mujeeb's mother wants suo motu action by court A day after the burial of alleged SIMI activist Mujeeb Shaikh following the controversial encounter in Madhya Pradesh, his mother, Mumtaz Shaikh , said that the MP high court should take suo motu cognizance of the episode and order an inquiry into the matter. Duo kills man by throwing him into Sabarmati river Murder In Broad Daylight; Eyewitness Called Cops Consumer court asks retailer, dealer to refund TV cost A consumer court has asked an online trading platform and a dealer of electronic goods to refund full price of a television set to a city-based customer as it turned out to be defective. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		E-way land dispute sent to arbitration The Allahabad high court has referred to the arbitration a dispute between Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Jaypee Infratech, regarding payment of enhanced compensation to land owners whose land was acquired for the construction of Yamuna Expressway. Road accidents claimed 367 lives, injured 557 in city: Police data Congmen castigate 'dictatorial Modi' govt More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhitarkanika may get heritage tag The Bhitarkanika National Park may make it to the list of world heritage sites.The large mangrove eco-system has been nominated as one among the nine natural eco-sites of the country for the coveted tag. Naveen rejects Cong coalition talk BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday rejected suggestions the party might be ready to soften its stand towards the Congress. State seeks funds for tribal welfare The state government has urged the Centre for timely release of fund under different tribal development schemes. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		SIMI encounter: Spooked by killings, kids skip classes CM wanted SIMI men dead or alive: BJP Petrol dealers' observe "no purchase" strike in MP More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Racket bust- 4 furnish forged bail bonds papers, held Bathinda chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Vikrant Kumar has ordered arrest of four persons for furnishing bail bonds for undertrials on forged papers. Two climb mobile signal tower near Punjab Bhawan Thirteen days after two unemployed youths, who had cleared the elementary teacher training (ETT) course, from Punjab climbed on the roof of the state's mini secretariat in Sector 9, Chandigarh threatening self immolation Balwant Singh Rajoana goes on hunger strike Convicted in the Beant Singh assassi Singh assassination case, Balwant Singh Rajoana on Thursday an nounced his decision to go on an indefinite hunger strike at the Patiala central Jail even as the decision on the mercy petition filed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) regarding his death sentence in 2012 is still pending. More Chandigarh News»

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