News Digest: President calls for strong poll reforms to boost democracy

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, April 09, 2017
		Today's Headlines

		India
		President calls for strong poll reforms to boost democracy Ken-Betwa link gets forest panel's nod but with reservations Trafficking along Indo-Nepal border scary: Sashastra Seema Bal An official statement said while a total of 33 victims, both Indian and Nepalese, were apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) from these areas in 2014, the figures went up to 336 in 2015, 501 in 2016 and till March this year, 180 boys and girls have been rescued by it. More India News»

		Business
		PMO discusses ways to involve realty firms in housing scheme The meeting called by the Prime Minister's principal secretary Nripendra Misra discussed how the benefits of the interest subsidy on affordable housing could reach the prospective home buyers at the earliest, sources said. RBI warns banks of action for not passing rate cut benefits RBI deputy governor SS Mundra said that banks have been not transparent in passing on the interest rate cuts to borrowers, nor have they migrated majority of loans to marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR). Silver tumbles by Rs 800 to Rs 41,750, gold steady In Delhi, silver ready dropped Rs 800 to Rs 41,750 per kg and weekly-based delivery plunged Rs 1,010 to Rs 41,380 per kg. However, gold remained flat at Rs 29,300 per 10 grams even as it strengthened overseas. More Business News»

		Environment
		3 tiger cubs destined for zoo in Syria rescued in Lebanon The tigers, which were being transported from Ukraine, arrived at the Beirut airport on March 7, inside a ventilated 0.3-cubic-meter (10.6-cubic feet) crate, where they could not stand or move and were forced to urinate and defecate on each other, according to Animals Lebanon. NGT declines to modify SC order on BS-III vehicles A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar declined to grant the relief to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) saying that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the plea. Some of Greenland's coastal ice may be lost by 2100: Study More Environment News»

		World
		Warplanes strike Syrian town hit by chemical attack Warplanes on Saturday struck the Syrian town where a chemical attack had killed scores of people earlier this week, as Turkey warned that a retaliatory US missile strike on a Syrian air base would only be "cosmetic" if greater efforts are not made to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Cong goes on break, Trump awaits big progress on agenda Trump is approaching the end of his first 100 days in office without having signed a single major bill into law. Looking ahead, prospects for healthcare are dicey, while other initiatives like infrastructure spending and carrying out his proposal for spending cuts aren't ready for prime time yet. Donald Trump: Different strokes More World News»

		Entertainment
		This video of Badshah translating his lyrics to English has #viral written all over it Speaking exclusively to TOI Entertainment, Badshah decodes some lyrics for his fans. Kamal Haasan escapes fire tragedy at Chennai residence unhurt Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Saturday said he escaped a fire accident at his Chennai residence on Friday night. AbRam sports matching tattoo like SRK and it's adorable More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Govt asks ISRO to share technology for manufacturing Lithium-ion batteries for vehicles The government has asked Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to allow interested players including from private sector to obtain the technology for mass production of Lithium-Ion batteries for electric vehicles. ISRO will now come up with a framework to make this process smooth. How paedophiles hide sexual abuse images in innocent-looking sites Tech-savvy paedophiles are using a series of digital techniques known as "masking" and "breadcrumbing" to hide illegal materials from regular web users online, while allowing others to track down illegal images and film by following a series of covert clues. Unexplained radio signals are coming from space, not Earth, scientists confirm New work confirms that the mysterious bursts of radio waves, tracked over 10 years, are actually coming from somewhere else in the universe. More Science News»

		Sports
		IPL 2017: RCB pull off 15-run win despite Pant heroics The Royal Challengers Bangalore (157/8) held their nerves to beat Delhi Daredevils (142/9) by 15 runs despite a brilliant 37-ball 69 from Rishabh Pant. IPL 2017: Maxwell fires KXIP to six-wicket win Captain Glenn Maxwell led from the front with a quickfire knock to fashion a six-wicket win for Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League opener against Rising Pune Supergiant on Saturday. Bopanna, Balaji seal India's place in World Group play-offs Bopanna and debutant Balaji defeated Farrukh Dustov and Sanjar Fayziev 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in the doubles rubber of the Asia/Oceania Group I second round contest at Bengaluru's KSLTA stadium. Uzbekistan needed to win the doubles rubber to keep the tie alive but Indians proved too good for the visitors. More Sports News»

		Technology
		MuveAcoustics Drive earphones review: Striking the right chord What is it that makes the MuveAcoustics Drive worthy of that price tag? We spent an ample amount of time with the earphones and this is what we think. Samsung Galaxy S8+ with 6GB RAM could hit other markets, but on one condition Samsung Galaxy S8+ with 6GB RAM is priced at KRW 1,155,000, or around Rs 65,700. Microsoft Surface Pro 5 details emerge “Surface Pro 5 will not change the Surface Connect power connector, I was just told. Kaby Lake, nothing dramatic,” tweeted Thurrott. More Technology News»

		Education
		NEET in Urdu: Govt says not biased against Muslims UP government exempts PhD holders from NET for post of assistant professors Maths section tricky and lengthy in JEE (Main), aspirants say More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Paralyzed waist down, Bandra man achieves swimming success at sea Of black ink and other student blues: Telecounsellors tackle exam anxiety Newly-found milestone first seen by a history buff in 1988 More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		'AAP government did not use central money to help urban poor' The other Madhuris and Karismas Did more for Delhi in 2 years than BJP did in 15: Arvind Kejriwal More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Online paper moderately difficult: Students The Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE Main) online paper held on Saturday was lengthy and moderately difficult, said students.While chemistry and physics papers were moderate, mathematics was easier, they said. Truckers' stir called off The 10-day truckers' strike was called off on Saturday after the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) agreed to reduce the third-party premium hike. For Karnataka CM, trust vote; for Yeddyurappa, dalit vote bank BENGALURU: The outcome of bypolls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet on April 13 matters more to the Congress than the BJP, as the party is on the threshold of going in for a midcourse correction to face assembly elections in 2018. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Triple talaq: Jamaat-e-Islami to start awareness campaign Reborn in Hyderabad: Victim of Taliban brutality back on feet, set to fly After a successful hip replacement operation at the Osmania General Hospital last February, courtesy the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Afghan youth Abdul Kahar is all set to fly back to his home town Paktika. TRS plenary to address backwards welfare A massive public meeting will be organised in Warangal on April 27 on the occasion of the Formation Day celebrations of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), senior party leader K Keshava Rao said here on Saturday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		'We caught Dhinakaran's men red-handed giving out cash' TTV Dhinakaran's campaign runs like well-oiled machine The election campaign of AIADMK (Amma) faction and its star candidate T T V Dhinakaran in R K Nagar assembly byelection works like a well-oiled machine. Chennai to be dry for 4 days, tipplers stock up The spirits have rarely been this low for Chennaiiites. First, the Supreme Court ban on liquor vends within 500 metres of state and national highways kicked in on April 1. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Cops ground con call centre on wheels City crime branch on Saturday nabbed five persons running a con call centre from moving cars to avoid being tracked. After the recent crackdown on con call centres by Thane and Ahmedabad crime branch, they had changed their modus operandi. Fugitive who shot man in Vastral arrested The special operations group (SOG) of city crime branch nabbed Amit Gajjar, alias Totdo, an absconder in a murder case, for shooting a man named Gautam Sindhav in Vastral last Friday. Of Sagar Thakar and his web of deceit As Sagar Thakar alias Shaggy, the alleged mastermind behind con call centres in Maharashtra and Gujarat, has been apprehended by Thane police, city police have upped the ante in their search for new information on the intricate network of con call centres in Ahmedabad and its periphery. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		It is my conviction that Ram temple will be built at Ayodhya: Uma Bharti "It is my 'astha' that a temple will be constructed at the spot where we have believe Ram Lala to have been born," the firebrand BJP leader said. NRHM scam: Allahabad HC seeks CBI reply Now, burning agricultural residue in open to attract fine In compliance with the National Green Tribunal order, Allahabad district administration will impose a fine on farmers who burn agricultural residue in the open, in a bid to contain rising pollution levels in thedistrict. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhadrak tense: Odisha seeks 4 companies of RAF The state government has sought four companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) to be deployed in Bhadrak town in view of the communal tension being escalated there. The demand for Central forces came after the government extended clamping of curfew till Sunday morning. Week-long Odia New Year Celebration begins In the run up to Odia New Year to be celebrated on April 14, Odisha government has started a week-long celebration of Odisha’s culture and traditions in a grand manner from Saturday. Various competitions on Odia cultural activities, popular practices and festivals will be held during the week and also noted artists will perform popular dance and music shows. Special stall by readers of noted writer Manoj Das draws huge crowd in Bhubaneswar Book Fair More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Ater & Bandhavgarh go to polls today with VVPAT aid Amit Shah to take part in Narmada Yatra on Apr 17 Unprecedented security for Ater bypoll More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Now, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh says he is 'committed' to farm loan waiver Amarinder said the state government has approached the Centre for farm loan waiver. The Congress government is committed to fulfil every poll promise. In a first, court to send summons via WhatsApp With technology revolutionising communication, a financial commissioner (FC) court in Haryana -- a quasi-judicial body -- headed by senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka has ordered that summons in a partition suit be served via WhatsApp. School board thumbs down cheating menace More Chandigarh News»

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