News Digest: Govt nixes EC's idea of hiding origin of votes by mixing them

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, February 21, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Govt nixes EC's idea of hiding origin of votes by mixing them The Centre has rejected the Election Commission's recommendation to amend election laws to permit 'totalising' of votes polled through electronic voting machines (EVMs) in different booths to camouflage area-wise voting pattern to prevent candidates from wreaking vengeance after polls. 1.6 lakh peer educators to address health queries of adolescents "We were among the first countries to launch an exclusive programme related to adolescent and well-being which was called RKSK.We have been debating how to push RKSK. Substandard drugs dip from 5% to 3% in 5 yrs The incidence of substandard medicines in India has come down substantially in the last five years, findings of a latest study show. During a survey conducted in 2014-16 across the country, around 3% of medicines in the market were found to be of substandard or not of standard quality, whereas 0.023% were spurious or counterfeit drugs. More India News»

		Business
		Reliance Jio crosses 100m users in under 6 months Led by free voice and data services, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom venture Reliance Jio has managed to cross 100-million in subscribers, achieving the number in less than six months of its launch. Rupee firms up for 2nd session, up 9 paise to 66.92 The rupee resumed lower at 67.06 per dollar as against the last Friday's closing level of 67.01 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on initial demand for the American currency from banks & importers but recovered afterwards to 66.90 before ending at 66.92, showing a gain of 9 paise, or 0.13%. India looks to expand energy ties with Myanmar Numaligarh refinery Ltd (NRL), a unit of India's state-run Bharat Petroleum Corp, is looking at selling gas oil into northwest Myanmar, its managing director said. "Initially, it will be a small quantity. We will look for a long-term contract for diesel exports after expansion of our refinery." More Business News»

		Environment
		Yamuna pollution: SC seeks report on sewage treatment plants South Asian nations vow to meet challenges of climate change World's oldest seabird hatches new chick at Midway Atoll More Environment News»

		World
		Iraqi forces reach vicinity of Mosul airport Pakistan says airstrikes have killed 'dozens' of militants The warplanes targeted militant hideouts in the Wucha Bibi area of North Waziristan, the Pakistani army said in a statement. The information could not be independently confirmed, as media access to the region is heavily restricted. Russia says 4 of its soldiers die in Syria roadside bombing The Defense Ministry says the explosion happened as a Syrian military convoy, including the vehicle with Russian military advisers, was driving to the city of Homs in central Syria last Thursday from the Tiyas air base, which is close to the ancient town of Palmyra held by the Islamic State group. More World News»

		Entertainment
		It's a wrap for 'Toilet - Ek Prem Katha' Hrithik: Inspired by Ranbir, Ranveer and Tiger CBSE wants a disclaimer for 'Sarkar 3' trailer More Entertainment News»

		Science
		India can develop space station, says ISRO chief "We have all the capabilities to set up a space station. The day the country takes the decision, we will 'ok' the project. Just draw a policy and provide us necessary funds and time," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman A S Kiran Kumar said. India's record satellite launch ramps up space race: Chinese media India has done a better job than China in promoting satellite launch technology which could prompt Beijing to fast-track commercialisation of its rocket launches to vie for the world's small satellite market, Chinese officials said on Monday. Glow-in-the-dark mice brings next-generation gene therapies closer: Scientists Stanford scientists have successfully developed glow-in-the-dark mice using compounds that create proteins responsible for lighting up fireflies, an advancement that may pave the way for new gene therapies. More Science News»

		Sports
		England's Ben Stokes, Tymal Mills headline record spending England allrounder Ben Stokes was the biggest purchase at the 2017 IPL player auction in Bangalore, finding his first Indian franchise in Rising Pune Supergiants who forked out Rs 14.5 crore for his services - more than seven times his base price. Reality check for Ishant, Irfan as they find no takers Ishant Sharma suffered for a huge base price of Rs 2 crore as he went unsold during both the rounds. Irfan Pathan got a reality check of a different kind. 2017 IPL auction: Five uncapped Indians who hit pay-dirt Of the 30 uncapped Indian players who were purchased at the 2017 IPL, these five really made it large. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Banks exetnd help to startups in need of credit Private sector lenders HDFC Bank, Axis, IDFC, Kotak Mahindra and Yes Bank have started extending short term credit to meet working capital needs for Ola, Power2SME, Flipkart, OYO, Zinka, Capital Float, investment banker-turned-entrepreneur Fulguni Nayar-owned Nykaa and many others, throwing a new credit lifeline for startups starved of equity capital, signalling some sort of maturity in the sector. Telecom tribunal asks whether Jio's offers are base plans or special vouchers Telecom tribunal TDSAT today asked regulator TRAI to place all documents pertaining to Reliance Jio's free offers and specify whether the tariffs were a regular plan, base plan or special tariff voucher. Samsung India's most successful brand, Apple most innovative: Report Samsung has emerged as the most successful mobile brands in the first decade of smartphones in India, followed by Cupertino-major Apple and HTC More Technology News»

		Education
		Delhi govt to launch mobile app for school management bodies By next year, centralised admissions for nursery US university receives $1.5 million grant for Jainism studies An Indian-origin philanthropist in the US has made a grant of $1.5 million to a prestigious American University to advance studies in Jainism. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		No budget session for jailed MLA as court says law same for all Shrill vehicle horn? Now, police can penalize you HC to government: Ask cops not to allow loudspeaker use in silence zones More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Gunrunner arrested, 21 pistols seized SC directs Unitech to pay 14% interest to homebuyers The Supreme Court directed real estate giant Unitech on Monday to pay interest at the rate of 14% per annum to 39 flat buyers whose money was refunded due to delay in granting possession of their homes in Vista project in Gurgaon. JNU files FIR against students More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		In border village Veerapura, only one school, quacks for the sick Veerapura, around 150km from Bengaluru and 21km from the taluk headquarters of Madhugiri, houses around 160 families, with a population of 600. Just about 10km from the Andhra Pradesh border, the village has seen little development. Veteran RSS leader M C Jayadev is dead Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak M C Jayadev passed away in Bengaluru on Monday at a private hospital. He was 85. BJP protests, Siddaramaiah says Congress will retaliate While the BJP staged a a protest against the Congress government in the cash-for-high command controversy here on Monday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said that Congress too will retaliate. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Selling car online: Man held for fraud A fraudster, who cheated a car buyer of 1.80 lakh using OLX app, was arrested by the Alair police from Rajahmundry on Monday. The Alair police said Vinod, who had been educated up till class 7, was nabbed as a result of a inadvertent error. Charging phone with PCs not smart, claim experts It is not uncommon to find people plugging in smartphones at public charging stations such as malls and commercial complexes. While people may not think twice about this every day phenomenon, experts warn that this simple act could come at a huge price -compromised information. ​ Indian man trapped & tortured in Qatar freed A 24-year-old Indian, who was stripped and whipped by his employer with a hunter rope in Qatar has been rescued. He has returned to India. After TOI report on UP resident, Parvez Ahamad's trauma on January 27, the ministry of external affairs swung into action. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Clear picture on civic polls likely today Preventing officials from attending meetings amounts to interruption in discharging my duties, warns Bedi Tasmac to lose Rs 60cr/year as state shuts down 500 outlets More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		8 air monitoring stations to be operational across Ahmedabad Ahmedabad to host Olympics Task Force workshop Father arrested for raping minor daughters More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Uttar Pradesh governor asks people to vote for good government Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Sunday exhorted the voters to exercise their franchise in the polls and choose "a good candidate, a good party and a good government". Congress will ditch Samajwadi Party soon: Ravi Shankar Prasad Launching a broadside on the SP for its so-called development work, Prasad said that there has been zero investment of the companies in the past five years of the SP rule in the state. Rahul, Akhilesh love each others' company: Smriti Irani Taking a dig at the law and order situation in UP under Akhilesh Yadav government, Irani said, "The Supreme Court had to intervene and ask the state government to register a case against a leader of the ruling party who had not only raped a woman for two years, but had also started physically harassing the woman’s daughter." More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Town to be plastic-free soon, assures Sonepur municipality Coming under the radar of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for not taking adequate steps to dispose plastic waste, the Sonepur municipality in Subarnapur district has filed an affidavit with the green panel assuring it that it will make the town free of plastic waste after the end of ongoing panchayat polls. Voters in Malkangiri district defy Red rebels' threat Defying Maoist threat, villagers of Marigeta and Bodigeta panchayats in Kalimela block of Malkangiri district voted on Sunday for the rural polls after a gap of 15 years. Film festival to feature international fare The best of alternative cinema from the slopes of the Hindukush and beyong are all set to rub shoulders with features from the heartland of the tropical haven that is India. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Govt paid 3000 crore to private power cos Unreasonable PPAs Burn A Hole In Consumers Pocket 501+GFX Keep coke away: Ramdev The cola giant should be kept away from Narmada, said Ramdev before leaving to join the Namami Dev Narmada Yatra, the ambitious state government's campaign to clean the river. Road repair gathers pace, finally TOI visited the area on Monday and found that the pace of work has been stepped up. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Hookah bar busted, owner held Acting on a tip-off, the state tobacco control cell on Monday busted a hookah bar being run from inside a restaurant in Patiala, situated near the railway crossing number 22. Quota seats: Notice to Punjab, BFUHS The ongoing admissions to postgraduate medical courses by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, has come under the scanner of the Punjab and Haryana high court, which on Monday issued notices to Punjab government and the varsity on a plea challenging reservation of 60% state quota seats for in-service PCMS doctors. Medical shortcomings: Armed forces best judge on recruitments, says High Court In a far reaching verdict, especially for those rejected on medical shortcomings for joining armed forces, the Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that "armed forces are best judge of its own needs as to who should be recruited to guard the frontiers". More Chandigarh News»

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