News Digest: Govt assessing plan to hold simultaneous state, LS polls

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, March 23, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Govt assessing plan to hold simultaneous state, LS polls The government told members of Parliament on Wednesday that it is examining the proposal of conducting simultaneous elections to Parliament and state assemblies. Renewal of FCRA licence denied to 1,300 NGOs in 2016 More than 1,300 NGOs were refused renewal of licence to receive foreign funding last year over violations of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2010 and the rules made there under. BJP MPs' attendance rises post PM's reprimand A day after PM Narendra Modi admonished BJP MPs for poor presence in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, attendance in the treasury benches was high in both Houses on Wednesday morning though the enthusiasm waned in the post-lunch session that is often marked by a low presence of MPs. More India News»

		Business
		Rupee retreats from 17-month high, down 14 paise to 65.44 Sensex tanks 318 points, Nifty slumps below 9,100-mark Stock markets across the world have been under pressure on concerns over Donald Trump's ability to deliver on his key policies, and missile tests by North Korea, brokers said. Indians leave bankers in the cold in telecoms mega-deal Indian companies struck a record $72 billion in M&A deals last year, doubling from the previous year. However, total fees for investment banking declined to $463 million last year from $491 million a year ago. More Business News»

		Environment
		Wild chimps have long life spans: Study Wild chimpanzees can lead surprisingly long lives under the right ecological conditions, according to a new study of a large community of our close primate relatives. Beijing to expand funding for reducing air pollution Beijing will expand funding to reduce air pollution in 2017, including phasing out thousands of automobiles and replacing coal furnaces in hundreds of villages, a media report said on Saturday. So far in March, more than 10 days of clear, blue skies have been recorded. Indian grey hornbills make nests early this year Indian grey hornbills, the birds that nest in cervices of trees have shown a remarkable change in their nesting behavior in the city. This year the birds have built their nests a much earlier. More Environment News»

		World
		33 dead in US-led north Syria air strike At least 33 people were killed in a US-led coalition strike on a school used as a centre for displaced people near a jihadist-held Syrian town, a monitor said Wednesday. Donald Trump: Different strokes Chinese premier visits Australia to expand bilateral ties Li Keqiang is the most senior Chinese official to visit Australia since 2014 when President Xi Jinping finalized a bilateral free trade deal with Australia which started in 2015. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Emma's costume hand-embroidered in India Salman becomes highest advance tax payer Salman Khan has paid the highest advance tax for the financial year 2016-17, according to reports. Sunny Leone's beach holiday pictures The actress, who last took a beach holiday to Cancun, Mexico in 2015, is back to the same destination to soak up some sun. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		NASA prepares 'futuristic' clock for space In a key advance for safely navigating future human exploration of the solar system, NASA said it is set to send its next-generation atomic clock to space in late 2017. Stephen Hawking plans to travel to space British physicist Stephen Hawking is planning to travel into space onboard Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spacecraft. Hawking, 75, said he had not expected to have the opportunity to experience space but that the Virgin boss had offered him a seat. Experiment to brew beer on Moon not selected to fly on TeamIndus spacecraft The US based Team Original Gravity - which had proposed to brew beer on the Moon as part of its yeast based experiment - has not been selected to fly on the TeamIndus spacecraft. 3 Indian teams with other experimental missions have been selected. More Science News»

		Sports
		2-3 Aussie reporters trying to tarnish Kohli's image: Clarke Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that India skipper Virat Kohli should not be "bothered" by a couple of Australian journalists who are trying to "tarnish his image". BCCI doubles annual contract fee for cricketers Ravindra Jadeja has been rewarded for his all-round show in the ongoing home season as BCCI elevated him to Grade A in the annual contracts for the 2017-18 season announced on Wednesday. India beat Cambodia 3-2 in international football friendly India made heavy weather of their 3-2 win over lower-ranked Cambodia in a FIFA international football friendly at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Google Maps has just got a new feature that you may love and hate Google believes the new tool will be a more convenient way for people to let someone know where they are without having to text or call them. Twitter shut down six lakh accounts due to terror-related links: Report Micro-blogging website Twitter has blocked more than six lakh terror-related accounts in last one and a half years, media reported. Data accuracy and neutrality are of top importance, says broadband speed tester Ookla Clarifying its testing method, broadband speed tester Ookla on Wednesday said data accuracy and neutrality is of utmost importance and the company goes to great lengths to ensure that the information collected on any speedtest internet test is verifiably correct. More Technology News»

		Education
		CBSE unveils new exam format for classes VI to IX All students will be under a “uniform assessment“ process from Class VI onwards and schools will have to adhere to CBSE's template, from examinations to report cards, which will now bear the logo of the board. NTS to hold most of CBSE entrance tests from 2018 Once the Cabinet's nod is given, the agency will start with the National Entrance Examination for Technical Institution. The move is aimed at decluttering CBSE and the IITs so that they can focus on key areas like quality of education and curriculum. IT-Kharagpur develops superpower drone BHIM More Education News»

		Mumbai
		19 MLAs suspended for 9 months over ruckus The state assembly on Wednesday suspended 19 opposition MLAs for nine months (till December 31, 2017) for creating a ruckus in the Lower House and burning copies of the state budget in the assembly premises on Saturday. Editor who set the bar high for Marathi journalism passes away Renowned journalist Govind Talwalkar helped shape public opinion for five decades with his razor-sharp analysis of contemporary issues at a time when India was passing through critical decades.The former editor of `Maharashtra Times' passed away in Houston, US, early on Wednesday. He was 91. Firm that stashed Rs 20cr in bank locker under scanner A firm which had stored currency in a bank locker to pay farmers for land acquisition is facing a probe by three agencies-Income-Tax, CBI and ED. On Wednesday, the ED attached Rs 14.69 crore cash in the case. The income tax was the first to get into the act after officials found bags supposedly carrying cash being removed from a bank locker in Pune.The person kept moving in and out of the bank multiple times, raising doubt, an official said. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Sisodia seeks industry help on skill growth Seeking partnership of the Indian industry in skill development, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday asked them to participate in improving infrastructure and standards in Delhi government schools. He also asked them to assist in planning for skill training with focus on employability. Last day, last show: CP's landmark Regal theatre to shut on March 31 CP's Regal theatre, which opened in 1932 and fondly calls itself “New Delhi's premiere theater“, will pass into history on March 31, with the last screening of Anushka Sharma starrer Phillauri. Resident doctors in govt hospitals to take protest leave today Resident doctors in all public hospitals in Delhi are likely to stay away from work from morning to 4pm on Thursday in protest against increasing assaults on doctors and to show solidarity with their colleagues in Maharashtra, who have been agitating on the same issue. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		VK Sasikala flooded with hate mail in jail ncarcerated AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has received a barrage of letters from Tamil Nadu, accusing her of killing J Jayalalithaa.Angry letter-writers have said their curses will haunt . SMK joins BJP, says new India emerging under Modi 679 extra CCTV cameras to secure CBD More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Chitter-chatter about the Raj raged at this high tea These Hyderabadis dominated round 1 of India Speed Week A delightful display of minimalistic art More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		`Time to revive forgotten board games' Pedal your way out of traffic blues: KK Nagar gets Chennai's first cycle track State lab ready again to make pentavalent vaccine, seeks nod TN lab seeks nod to start manufacturing pentavalent vaccines More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Time bomb: Cops saw red in green wire GPCB official nabbed taking Rs 1.20L bribe Make in India an old idea: Ex-RBI governor More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Akhara Parishad wants political parties out of talks Allahabad Municipal Corporation seals illegal abattoir at Atala, AIMIM resents move The Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Sunday evening sealed a slaughter house at Atala after it was found to be functioning illegally for the second time in nine months after being shut. The move was resented by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and the outfit has demanded the civic body to revoke the order. HC wants govt's stand on cases against MPs, MLAs The Allahabad high court on Monday directed the state government to apprise the court about its stand in respect of early disposal of criminal cases pending against former and present Member of Parliaments and MLAs. The court also directed the state to inform about the formation of a committee to monitor such type of cases. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Millet farming helps tribal farmers to eke out a living Odisha MLAs want salary hike The MLAs in Odisha cutting across party-lines want a salary hike and more local area development (LAD) fund under their disposal. Amit Shah to visit Odisha in April More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Madhya Pradesh: BJP MLA calls nursing homes, 'slaughter houses' Job snub leaves MANIT topper at a loss for words Vijayavargiya gets active in state amid rumours of his return to state More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Rohtang opens for pedestrians Rohtang pass which is covered in 20 to 30ft of snow and is under attack of blizzards, avalanches and chilling winds has been opened for pedestrians from Kullu and snow-bound Lahaul valley but the pedestrians will have to cross it at their own risk. HC notice to Haryana govt on transport policy The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Haryana government on a plea challenging the state’s transport policy. Sharpshooters kill undertrial ex-sarpanch in Jhajjar court In yet another incident of gang war in Haryana, two sharpshooters shot dead an undertrial in the Jhajjar court complex on Wednesday. More Chandigarh News»

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