News Digest

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, July 09, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Ex-railway ministers slam Rail Budget, call it 'pro-rich, Modi gadget' Former railway ministers were not on the same track as incumbent Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday, calling the rail budget “pro-rich” and a “ Modi gadget” which has nothing new to offer. Six new trains for Bihar Unlike the earlier years, the rail budget 2014-2015 has failed to enthuse people of Bihar which has given the maximum number of railway ministers namely Jagjiwan Ram, Ram Subhag Singh, L N Mishra, Kedar Pandey, Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Digvijay Singh (minister of state). The funds allocation for Bihar projects is also all-time low. Budget's green signal to bullet train Railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda finally flagged off a proposal for the much-awaited Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train while announcing the Narendra Modi government’s first railway budget on Tuesday. More India News»

		Business
		Sensex tanks 518 points on spending cut fears The Sensex plummeted 518 points on Tuesday, the biggest such fall in the last 10 months on speculative selling in the run up to the Budget as the index closed at 25,582 with a host of frontline stocks crashing over 5% each. It's raining discounts as car makers push sales Planning to buy a car? Now may be a good time. It’s been raining discounts in Motown as car companies step on the gas to push retail sales. SpiceJet's latest sale cheaper than train fares The rail budget may not have made it cheaper to travel, but low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday offered 10 lakh tickets at a base fare of Rs 999. More Business News»

		Environment
		Bengal's forest cover grows by 3810 sq km He said the growth was driven mostly by the increase in tree cover outside forest, commercial plantation, new plantation and open forest areas. High-level co to assess Goa beaches pollution: Javadekar Asserting that Narendra Modi government was committed to "development without destruction", environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said a high-level panel would assess reasons behind pollution in Goa coasts and formulate a redressal plan. China, US sign agreements to cope with climate change The projects address carbon capture, usage and storage, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) reduction, and the move toward low-carbon cities and a low-carbon model for the cement industry. More Environment News»

		World
		N Korea fires two missiles: Seoul North Korea today fired two suspected short-range missiles off its eastern coast in the latest in a series of missile tests, South Korea said. South African train collision injures at least 52 Two trains collided in the South African city of Durban on Tuesday evening, injuring more than 50 passengers in an accident that officials said could have been much worse. US diplomat to visit India ahead of Kerry's trip In advance of the bilateral strategic dialogue, a top US diplomat will be visiting India this week as a part of preparation for the highest level talks between the two countries. More World News»

		Entertainment
		I can't invite everybody in my bathroom: Salman Even as Salman Khan-starrer Kick is getting ready for release, the actor has pleasantly surprised everyone with his rendition of the mushy melody, Hangover. Anushka and Virat spotted together again? Actress Anushka Sharma, who is in an alleged relationship with cricketer Virat Kohli, took time from her busy shooting schedule of 'Dil Dhadakne Do' to meet him. When Tina Munim turned down Anil Ambani More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Smartphone breaks make workers more productive Want to be more productive and happier during the workday? Try taking a short break to text a friend, play Angry Birds or check Facebook on your smartphone, according to a new study. Error nearly wrecked Curiosity's landing The landing of the Curiosity rover in August 2012 could well have turned out to be disastrous owing to a blooper by Nasa engineers in calculating Mars's gravity. Alzheimer's blood test a step closer A simple blood test could soon predict a person's chance of getting Alzheimer's with 87% accuracy. Scientists have identified a set of 10 proteins in blood which can predict the onset of Alzheimer's in a significant step towards developing a blood test for the disease. More Science News»

		Sports
		Germany crush Brazil 7-1 to enter final Germany scored five goals in first-half on the way to a 7-1 destruction of Brazil to leave the hosts in a state of stunned disbelief at the most amazing World Cup result. Sublime Messi vs blistering Robben The sublime dribble of Messi set against the blistering pace and theatrics of Robben. It will not be just a personal duel between the 'two-left feet' though. Klose scores 16th goal to break record Germany striker Miroslav Klose scored after 23 minutes of the semifinal against Brazil to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Small-town India turns out to be hub of cybercrime Cyber offences may appear to be an urban phenomenon, but in an indication of how deeply internet has penetrated the country, government data show a majority of hacking and obscene posts on the internet having been reported from rural areas and small towns. Xiaomi launches Nexus 5 rival Mi 3 at Rs 14,999 Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi has launched its Mi 3 smartphone, a rival to the likes of Nexus 5, in the Indian market at Rs 14,999. Samsung, Intel, Dell team on IoT standards Samsung Electronics, Intel and Dell have joined to establish standard ways for household gadgets like thermostats and light bulbs to talk to each other. More Technology News»

		Education
		TimesPro launches PG diploma in banking mgmt  The top 20 industries are struggling to get skilled manpower. And though millions of candidates graduate each year, just 10% to 15% are employable by any industry, said Times Centre for Learning Ltd president Deepak Lamba. British universities bending over with scholarships to attract Indian students British universities are bending over with scholarships, to attract Indian students into their campuses. Govt introduces merit-cum-means based scholarship schemes for minorities The ministry of minority affairs is implementing pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means based scholarship schemes for the educational empowerment of the minority communities. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Bangalore boy Prabhu tops JEE Andheri’s Parth Kothari topped the state in the exam with his score of 319 and secured an all-India rank of 11. Girl whose breasts chopped off by pimp suffers acute psychiatric problem The 23-year-old Bhiwandi woman, whose breasts were chopped off by pimps last year for refusing to join prostitution, now has acute psychiatric problem and needs expert treatment, a Mumbai hospital treating her informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Thane, Navi Mumbai flat prices up 85% A five-year price analysis of residential realty market in 11 cities shows that the ever-expanding Navi Mumbai and Thane have registered the highest percentage of increase in home prices across the country. They are followed by Mumbai. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Girl whose breasts chopped off by pimp suffers acute psychiatric problem The 23-year-old Bhiwandi woman, whose breasts were chopped off by pimps last year for refusing to join prostitution, now has acute psychiatric problem and needs expert treatment, a Mumbai hospital treating her informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday. She was fearless and spoke her mind, recall neighbours Rekha Duggal's neighbours remembered her as outspoken and fearless.Her cousin Rohit Sethi, a war hero, was also murdered last month by his domestic help and caretaker in west Patel Nagar, central Delhi. Rohtak firing: Woman aide of kidnapper dies of injuries The woman injured in an encounter with Delhi Police on Monday at Rohtak in Haryana died of injuries early on Tuesday, police said. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Ailing pet finds blood donor via Facebook An SOS post on Facebook has put Jixy the Labrador on the path to recovery. Ambulance patient makes way for accident victim It was a ride back home after a hard day's work but 22-year-old Sheikh Israel's dream of a new life in a new city was fatally crushed after his cycle was hit by a speeding car. As he lay bleeding, a 108 ambulance stopped by. Clubs encouraging gambling through games of chance, says government The state government has contended that recreation clubs are conducting games of chance, leading to encouragement of anti-social activities like gambling. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Land disputes led to Arsh Mahal communal riots: APSMC The AP State Minorities Commission (APSMC) said on Tuesday that one of the causes for the communal riots that rocked Arsh Mahal in Old City last May was land disputes and recommended that the AP State Wakf Board (APSWB) and revenue authorities carry a joint survey to determine the nature of all open land parcels within the vicinity of the affected area. Bibinagar Nims back on track The Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims) branch of Bibinagar is set to become operational in a couple of months. GAIL blaze finds city running out of CNG The city is feeling the heat of the recent GAIL pipeline blowout at Nagaram village in East Godavari district with the supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fast dwindling. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		'Treatment of refugees against the spirit of our Constitution' Despite having lived in India for decades, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have little rights that are universally ac cepted for refugees. Timeless stories that link neighbours Further east, at the famous Srirangam temple in Trichy, a separate `sannidhi' has been dedicated to Thirupaanalvar, one of the 63 Tamil bhakti poets who lived in the Chola court. No funds for Ooty heritage train Fans of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) are quite disappointed as the railway budget had nothing for their beloved heritage train. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gulbarg Society massacre case: Submit final report, court tells SIT A special SIT court hearing the Gulbarg Society massacre case on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court-appointed SIT to supply within15 days all documents related to this case from its final report on Zakia Jafri’s complaint. 2 from Mumbai held for cheating A team of city crime branch arrested two members of a Mumbai-based gang involved in cheating cases in the city. Police recovered valuables worth Rs 14.27 lakh including a car worth Rs 3 lakh. Kakkad in police remand till July 14 Judicial magistrate H G Pandya on Tuesday sent Sunil Kakkad of Sai Infosystems Ltd, who is an accused in a multi-crore scam, to police remand till July 14 after the SOG-crime branch sought custodial interrogation for two weeks. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Order for HC security on pattern of Supreme Court The Allahabad High Court had directed that the security arrangement in Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow Bench shall be made in principle on the pattern of the Supreme Court. Women offer Taraweeh in Sangam city In the posh area of Kareli, the holy Quran is recited during the ‘Taraweeh’ amidst the serene surroundings of Masjid Amina. There is one marked difference in this mosque as women too offer Taraweeh. Generally, men offer prayers in congregation in the mosques. 1,130 illiterates among 5,286 people ended life in state Uneducated people and educated up to primary and middle classes form the bigger chunk of people committing suicide in the state, revealed the data released by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Like building, hopes collapse Landless Gobardhan Swain, 45, went to Chennai to shore up his family income, but fate had willed it otherwise. Centre's largesse silences Modi critics in Odisha Though Odisha resisted the Narendra Modi wave in the elections, his government on Tuesday allocated over Rs 1,420 crore to the state for different railway projects. Jagannath glitters in golden get-up It was a sight to behold as the deities of Jagannath Temple on Tuesday appeared in golden get-up (Suna Besha) aboard their chariots in front of the shrine. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Shivraj Singh Chouhan hails railway budget Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said railway budget is a sign that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started process of re-building the nation.  Rail budget a bummer for Madhya Pradesh; Bhopal gets it's due State capital may have enough cause for cheer but the rest of the state has been largely ignored, including the zonal railway headquarters; Jabalpur and even the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh-Indore, by the NDA government in the rail budget.  Shatabdi comes to Habibganj, TOI told you so Residents in Bhopal, has reasons to cheer. Not only will 12 new proposed trains pass through state capital, but the long pending demand for extension of New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express to Habibganj, has finally come true. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		PGI doctors down with football fever The healers are in the grip of a fever — the FIFA World Cup. As the football teams wrestle for the finals, the excitement is catching up with medicos at PGI. All see red over few green signals The railway budget has disappointed Chandigarh. No bullet train between Chandigarh and Delhi. No new train, expect Chandigarh-Ferozepur express, which too was introduced earlier. Rail Budget: Speed need met, Chandigarh glum Shortly, Delhi will be around 2 hours away from the city. And, Shatabdi commuters will save precious 1 hour and 30 minutes. More Chandigarh News»

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