News Digest: Andhra reorganization bill poised to be passed despite TRS, BJD opposition

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, July 06, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Andhra reorganization bill poised to be passed despite TRS, BJD opposition The first bill that the Modi government has lined up in Lok Sabha is the Andhra Pradesh reorganization ordinance that it expects will be passed despite the opposition of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and BJD. Digvijaya writes to Chouhan with 'proof' of graft Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday wrote a letter to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with a 180-page annexure containing “proof” of alleged corruption involving his family. Jharkhand state topper's brother wrote exam The state topper in Jharkhand Polytechnic Examination, 2014, secured the rank through fraudulent means. More India News»

		Business
		Bringing economy back on track will take some time: Rajnath Terming the condition of Indian economy as "serious", Union home minister Rajnath Singh today said though the new government is working to bring the situation back on track, it will take some time to do so. Gas price revision can happen before October 1: Pradhan Weeks after implementation of a contentious gas pricing formula was put off by three months, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan today indicated that gas price revision may happen well before October 1. US company signs $1.175 bn Iran energy deal A US company has signed a preliminary agreement to invest $1.175 billion (864 million euros) in Iran, in a rare joint commercial project to turn rubbish and human waste into electricity. More Business News»

		Environment
		Whales are engineers of ocean ecosystems: Experts Whales have a powerful and positive influence on the function of oceans, global carbon storage, and the health of commercial fisheries, a new study suggests. Pay heed to water use in climate change mitigation: Experts A more integrated approach might make some options considerably more attractive than others, said Philip Wallis from Monash University in Australia. Accidents killed 13 lions in 1 year in Gujarat The state government has admitted that 13 lions died in accidents in Gir-Somnath, Amreli and Jungadh districts in the year beginning June 1, 2013. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine hoists flag over pro-Russian bastion Kiev's ability to win back Slavyansk marks a key turning point in three months of low-scale warfare that has threatened the very survival of the ex-Soviet state. Palestinian teen 'burned alive': Clashes in Israel Mohammed Abu Khder, 16, was abducted from his Shuafat neighbourhood in occupied east Jerusalem. Gunfire in Kenyan coastal area of Lamu: Officials The Kenya Red Cross said it had dispatched its emergency teams to the area, situated north of the port of Mombasa, adding that the shooting had ceased. More World News»

		Entertainment
		5 OMG Poonam Pandey moments Kingfisher model Poonam Pandey was an unknown face that shot to fame after her infamous stripping proclamation during the 2011 World Cup. Why Raj Kapoor and Nargis did not get married? Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to hug again? As the auspicious month of Ramzan has begun, Muslims across the world are looking forward to the grand Iftar parties. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Scientists spot new objects beyond Pluto Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered two new objects beyond Pluto for NASA's New Horizons spacecraft to visit. A hearing test that's a talking point Indian couple wins The Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2014 for their innovative device that diagnoses hearing impairments in infancy. What turns food to fads? Marketing plays a huge role in determining the popularity of everything from croissant doughnut hybrids to bitter vegetables. More Science News»

		Sports
		Tim Krul saves send Dutch into semis Super-sub keeper Tim Krul was the hero as the Netherlands ended their penalty shoot-out jinx to beat Costa Rica and set up a World Cup semifinal showdown with Argentina. Injured Neymar says WC 'dream' stolen Brazil star Neymar said that his dream of playing in the World Cup final had been stolen from him by a fractured vertebrae inflicted by a Colombia defender. Higuain fires Argentina into WC semis Higuain's superb early strike secured a 1-0 win for Argentina against Belgium and sent the South Americans through to semis for first time in 24 years. More Sports News»

		Technology
		iWatch coming? Apple poaches Tag Heuer senior VP Apple has poached a senior executive from Swiss luxury watch brand Tag Heuer, which could be to help it with the launch of its iWatch expected this autumn. 7 Android KitKat smartphones under Rs 7,000 Here are seven phones you can get in sub-Rs 7,000 range that run on Android KitKat. Ex-IT services bigwigs engage with startups IT services bigwigs quitting a company would previously find a top role for themselves in another IT services company. More Technology News»

		Education
		Seat in IIT? No thanks, say some students The Indian Institutes of Technology are the country's premier technical schools, the only ones to make it to the top 300 in global university rankings and the No.1 destination for engineering aspirants. 75% of enginnering seats in counseling alloted for core courses Mechanical engineering has been allotted 39,000 seats, while 38,000 seats have been allotted for ECE. Centre to unveil policy to empower mentally challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to introduce a national policy for empowerment and self-sustainability of mentally-challenged in the country, Union fertiliser and chemicals minister H N Ananthkumar today said. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Pancholis file Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Jiah's mother Actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, whose son Suraj is facing charges of abetting the suicide of actress Jiah Khan, have filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit in the Bombay High Court against Rabia Khan, the mother of the deceased. Signal snag disrupts Western Railway, Harbour services Services on Western Railway as well as that of Harbour line on Central Railway were disrupted around noon on Saturday following signal failure near Andheri on all the six lines. Classic wild: Vintage scooters kick into gear for monsoon rally Mischief is tired. She saunters into the living room and crashes sideways at an angle to the air conditioner. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Friend kicks dog, teenager thrashed In another case of assault over a trivial matter, an 18-year-old youth was allegedly beaten up in north Delhi's Burari area for trying to intervene during an argument between his friend and a neighbour. Plan for open jail in Dwarka revived A proposal to set up Delhi's first 'Open Jail' at Baprola in Dwarka, which has been gathering dust for over a decade, is now back on the table with the concept being discussed at a top-level meeting attended by the chief secretary recently. Staff crunch spoils 'VIP' number e-auction plan The Delhi government's ambitious plan to auction fancy numberplates online has been delayed by a shortage of manpower. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Rowdy leader? CCTV clips show MLA slapping wife and niece Both Kashappanavar and Gowda were wearing full-sleeve white shirts and are clearly seen in the CCTV footages. Rooftop chase leaves constable critical The constable, attached to Rajagopalanagar police station in North Bangalore, was rushed to Nimhans where he was operated on, and is still in a critical condition. JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy in cash-for-seat CD The 35-minute audio CD, released by Vijugouda Patil Abhimanigala Balaga (Vijugouda Patil Fans’ Association), is a conversation between Kumaraswamy and supporters of Vijugouda. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Andhra reorganization bill poised to be passed despite TRS, BJD opposition The first bill that the Modi government has lined up in Lok Sabha is the Andhra Pradesh reorganization ordinance that it expects will be passed despite the opposition of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and BJD. Secundarabad Club may go dry very soon The elite Secunderabad Club is heading for dry days as the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has refused to give permission to serve liquor to its patrons. 80 workers from Iraq return home Almost a month-long ordeal for 80 workers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, working in the crisis-hit pockets of Iraq, came to an end on Saturday as they safely touched down at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad here at around 2.40pm. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Madras high court comes to rescue of woman branded as transgender, denied cop job Nangai was born into a poor family in Ariyalur district nearly 24 years ago, and she was sexually identified as a female. Chennai building collapse: Victims unregistered with board, deprived relief The relatives of 61 victims of Moulivakkam building collapse, who are yet to receive compensation from the government, are faced with a much bigger struggle. Cops arrest conmen who sold conch for Rs 1.5 cr How much would you pay for a conch that can attract rice and makes you a millionaire? A businessman paid Rs1.5 crore, and lost it too. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Cut! Flashback to low tech or pay up American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino expressed his reservations against the digital projection of films during the Cannes Film Festival recently, terming it television in cinema. Engineering college no longer the top choice According to experts, instead of picking a low priority branch of engineering education, students now prefer Bachelor of Science courses. Realty slump forces builders to look outside state Low profit margin and a saturated market in Ahmedabad and better opportunities in other cities are pushing the real estate companies in the city to look outside Gujarat. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Understaffed cops in UP look for numbers The UP Police are understaffed and ill-equipped.Around 56% posts in country's largest police force are lying vacant. Injection leads to complication, probe ordered Four patients admitted to medicine ward of Sawaroop Rani Hospital of MLN Medical College on Friday developed complications following administration of an injection. Old city areas reel under traffic chaos Sangam city has undoubtedly undergone major changes as far as its approach is concerned towards widening roads and the exercises that have been carried out to check frequent road blockades. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Education of tribals priority: Oram Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram on Friday said livelihood and education of tribals to empower them tops his agenda. Crime Branch moves govt to attach chit firm's assets The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch on Friday sent a proposal to the finance department, seeking attachment of assets of Sai Pragati Group, a sham money circulation company. Sewerage woes for Sailashree Vihar The ongoing sewerage work at Sailashree Vihar in Ward 7 has turned moving around in the locality into a nightmare for residents. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		National Green Tribunal admits Sharmila, others plea on 300m construction curb in Upper Lake In a relief to Sharmila Tagore, wife of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and others, National Green Tribunal (NGT) admitted their plea in which she and others urged that they be allowed a chance to be heard as intervener in the wake of green panel’s order to ban any construction within 300 metres of full tank level (FTL) of Upper Lake. Bhopal kid locked in car dies of suffocation In a tragic incident, a two-and-half-year-old kid, Atishay Jain, was found dead in a car outside his father’s shop in New Market on Friday afternoon. It is believed that kid died of suffocation after getting locked in the car for around two hours. Matter is under investigation, police said. Woman kills husband with paramour's help Another case of a woman using paramour to eliminate husband came to light with arrest of three on Friday, a week after 21-year-old accused plotted murder of husband and had it executed with help of lover and an aide. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		MCI stand on add'l seats foxes MBBS aspirants Most students from Punjab who cleared the All India Pre-Medical Test (APIMT) are in a dilemma. Legal experts say convicts can be tried for murder While the Jalandhar police are exploring possibilities of slapping murder charges on the accused convicted for the murderous attack on Yannick Nihangaza, a student from Burundi who died on July 1 in his home country, legal experts are of the opinion that the accused can now be tried for murder. Abohar halwai who won Rs 1 cr lottery gets PAN blocked Fate had served Subhash Chander Sharma, 51, a halwai from Abohar in Punjab, with a generous helping of good luck when he won Rs 1 crore in the state government's Baisakhi Bumper Lottery in May. More Chandigarh News»

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