News Digest: Sonia has to be more assertive: Margaret Alva

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, September 22, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Sonia has to be more assertive: Margaret Alva Many Youth Congress Leaders know nothing about party's history, says Margaret Alva Living in India for over two decades, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs seek citizenship Afghan Hindus and Sikhs living in India have urged the Narendra Modi government to grant them Indian citizenship, so that their children don't have to live with uncertainty. French help for Kannauj attar likely The legendary French perfume industry may soon help some good news to waft into Uttar Pradesh, especially in the attar-making belt of Kannauj. More India News»

		Business
		Govt unlikely to change FY15 borrowing target The government has indicated that it may not immediately change the market borrowing target for the current financial year given the stiff tax collection targets and may use some of the fresh mop-up to ensure that schemes are not starved of cash, like the past two years. Lagarde backs more role for India at IMF International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde on Sunday backed a reform of the multilateral body, which will give more say to countries like India and China in running the agency. Global spotlight on stolen data India’s concerns related to stolen data — especially those related to bank account holders in HSBC Geneva — are now being discussed by the Global Tax Forum, OECD’s international platform on transparency and information exchange. More Business News»

		Environment
		From solitude to oblivion Critically endangered in the wild, several animals are now threatened even in zoos. Lucknow zoo has not been able to find partners for rhinoceroses, giraffe and hoolock gibbons as other zoos have no spare ones for exchange. Decline in wind may affect predator-prey balance A new study by a University of Wisconsin Madison zoologist has found that declining wind may alter predator-prey relationships. Over 1,500 participate in march on climate change in Delhi Over 1,500 people on Saturday took part in a march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar here to press for stronger action on climate change, a statement said. More Environment News»

		World
		Pakistan developing sea-based nuclear-arms Pakistan is developing sea-based missiles and expanding its interest in tactical nuclear warheads to give it a “second-strike” capability if a catastrophic nuclear attack destroyed all its land-based weapons, according to a media report on Sunday. Free Henning, wife pleads with ISIS The wife of the British taxi driver being held hostage by the ISIS has issued a plea for his release. Alan Henning from Eccles in Salford was seized while on an aid mission to Syria last December while driving an ambulance. Iran seeks give and take on militants, nuclear programme Iran is ready to work with the United States and its allies to stop Islamic State militants, but would like to see more flexibility on Iran's uranium enrichment programme, senior Iranian officials told Reuters. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Dear Deepika, our point of view... Over the past few days, there’s been a flood of tweets and stories in other media in support of Deepika Padukone’s response to a video and tweet posted in the online entertainment section of TOI. Bigg Boss host Salman Khan has a soap fixation! Salman Khan is popular with all age groups. The actor has made a mark for himself in Bollywood. Celebs who refused to do Bigg Boss Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, who was convicted of raping his maid and sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a Mumbai court, has been allegedly approached to be a part of Bigg Boss. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Computers to get faster, greener Faster, smaller, greener computers, capable of processing information up to 1,000 times quicker than currently available models, could be made possible by replacing silicon with phase-change materials, according to a new study. Nasa launches $20,000 Mars challenge Attention, space enthusiasts! Nasa is offering a $20,000 prize to anyone who can come up with a design idea for small science and technology payloads that could also provide the necessary weight to balance spacecraft entering the Martian atmosphere. Can menopause be erased in 20 years? A pioneering scientist has claimed that menopause could be eliminated within 20 years. More Science News»

		Sports
		Live Blog: Incheon Asian Games 2014, Day 3 A day after Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal assured the country of two more medals, Indian athletes would look to improve their performance on the third day in Incheon. Leicester rally stuns Manchester United 5-3 Louis van Gaal's difficult start to his time as United manager continued as Leicester City sensationally came back from 3-1 down to win 5-3 in EPL match. Lewis Hamilton wins in Singapore, takes F1 title lead Lewis Hamilton regained title lead when he claimed victory in Singapore GP after his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg limped out with electronic problems. More Sports News»

		Technology
		iCloud hacking: Now, 'nude photos' of Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Hudgens leaked Photos showing an apparently nude Kim Kardashian West are among a group of images that have appeared online in what appears to be a second leak of hacked personal pictures of celebrities, weeks after stars including Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton were targeted. 1 lakh, and counting: TCS is now top employer of women Within TCS, a major chunk —over 40% — of its women employees are either new recruits or at junior levels, while about 11% are in the senior management. 6 free must-have productivity tools available online Here's how you can get lot of stuff done without downloading anything. More Technology News»

		Education
		Q & A - Need accountability According to the survey, maths scores of the children surveyed in 2013 show a decline in the learning levels when compared with 2006? What is the reason for this decline? Career Guide After completing my MBBS, I would like to specialise in sports medicine. Do institutes in India offer courses in this discipline? What is the scope in this field? Indian universities vis-a-vis global institutes The long-anticipated improvement in Indian universities' position in world rankings will have to wait at least another year: the country has held its own in today's QS World University Rankings, but still does not feature among the top 200 in stitutions. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Maharashtra government yet to withdraw petition seeking review of forest land order Over two weeks after it decided to withdraw the review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s decision on private forest land that was delivered in January, the state government is yet to instruct its lawyers to do so. Bengal artisans in Mumbai to sculpt idols for Durga Puja Groups of Bengali sculptors have arrived in the city with clay collected from the river bed of the Hooghly. They use this precious raw material to carve idols of Goddess Durga and her kin at makeshift workshops across Mumbai. Insurance company has to reveal claim computation Right to information is recognized under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). If an insurance claim is partially repudiated, the insured has a right to know how the claim has been computed and the reason why it has been rejected, either fully or partially. If this information is not given, it may be a pointer that the insurance company has not computed the claim properly. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		787 killed by DTC buses in 10 years As many as 787 people have been killed and 2,678 injured in accidents involving Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses in the past 10 years. Delhi Tree committee hasn't met for over a year Delhi Tree Authority, a committee of forest and civic agencies formed to preserve trees in the city, hasn’t met for over a year now. Govt aid for university students The Delhi government has invited applications for scholarships/reimbursement of half of the tuition fee from socially and economically backward students of non-technical professional courses. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Don't protect land-grabbers, Karnataka CM told Of the 1.50 lakh acres of government land in Bangalore Urban district, 34,100 acres, valued at Rs 61,000 crore, have been encroached upon. A joint house committee headed by A T Ramaswamy had identified most of these encroachments in 2007. Salary delayed, Metro ticket staff protest Commuters were surprised to see empty ticket counters at Indiranagar Metro station at 7.30am on Sunday. Ten ticket machine operators were staging a protest against the delay in payment of salary. No booing at Karnataka CM, state BJP advises its workers To boo or not to boo. After previous instances of chief ministers in non-BJP states being jeered at by its workers after sharing public platforms with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Karnataka BJP wants to spare chief minister Siddaramaiah the embarrassment. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Excess prime land for Hyderabad metro rail project In what could turn out to be the next big land scam, huge tracts of excess land was acquired by the government for the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, even as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the executing agency, maintains that it has got only the agreed 269 acres. JNTU student commits suicide A 20-year-old engineering student, who was reportedly suffering from depression due to poor health and financial condition, committed suicide on the university campus in Kukatpally in the early hours of Sunday. Two minor girls commit suicide in Hyderabad Two minor girls allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves from a ceiling fan at Brahma Shankar Nagar in Jubilee Hills on Sunday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Pet dogs save family from snake Two dogs saved a family in Madambakkam on Sunday when they prevented a venomous snake from entering their house. Fest gets students to think out of box Several students met and interacted with alumni and professors at the third edition of Centre for Innovation open house at IIT-Madras on Sunday. Engineering student and 2 guards held for series of robberies in Chennai The city police arrested three youngsters, including a third-year engineering student, for a series of robberies targeting women who were alone at home. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		FB post on Gujarat CM's kin: Accused released on bail Roshan Shah, an NRI who was arrested for posting lewd comments against chief minister Anandiben Patel's grand daughter on his facebook (FB) account, has been released on bail by the court. Successful end to IGU sub-jr event in Gulmohar The West Zone IGU Sub-junior and Feeder Tour held the 6th tournament of the calendar at Gulmohar Greens Golf and Country Club from the 19th to 21st September 2014. Gujarat sect adopts Kenya's orphaned elephant calves Orphaned elephant calves in Kenya have received some spiritual succour from Gujarat. Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan of Maninagar will adopt 67 calves in Kenya in memory of the people killed in the Westgate Mall terror attack a year earlier in 2013. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Firing at ABVP rally; no FIR, none hurt Gun shots were fired by unidentified miscreants at a rally of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Sunday creating ripples across the Allahabad University and adjoining areas under Colonelganj police station. No one was injured in the firing. Police and PAC have been deployed in the university following the incident. CBSE's creative writing contest on Jan Sangh leader Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had introduced creative writing contest on Bhartiya Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya, also known for his association with Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). Students can also submit entries through Whatsapp or online mode. Cops aim to end tenant-landlord tussle through verificatio Taking a note of cases of dispute between tenants and landlords, cops have launched ‘know your tenant’ campaign, asking landlord and lodge owners to given details of tenants to police for verification. This step had been taken in view of two recent violent incidents at Chhota Baghada locality. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Melody groups to regale revellers As the beat of the dhak makes its way across the state, orchestra groups are gearing up to usher in a productive season. AIIMS sees 3 lakh patients in its first year In a short span of around a year after AIIMS Bhubaneswar started outpatient (OPD) services in June 2013, the hospital has provided consultation to more than three lakh patients, a hospital spokesperson said here on Saturday. Naveen acts on expected lines Given his track record, it came as no surprise when Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced vice-president Prafulla Chandra Ghadai's expulsion from the BJD. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Armed men break into scientist's house at Patel Nagar For the second consecutive week, Sunday turned out to be a bloody day with armed men breaking into the house of a senior scientist at Patel Nagar. They fled with cash, some foreign exchange and a mobile phone after injuring the scientist. 22-year-old kills youth for illicit relations with mother A 22-year-old murdered a youth three years elder to him for allegedly having illicit relations with his mother. Madhya Pradesh: Even SBI exams rigged by proxies of scam-riddled MPPEB The shocking disclosure of rigging of bank exams surfaced during interrogation of two key players arrested by special task force (STF) probing the MPPEB scam. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab govt warns against de-reserving of SC/BC posts Punjab government has issued directives against de-reserving posts of reserved categories without getting prior approval from the welfare department's reservation cell. Someone is instigating students not to eat with dalit schoolmates: Officials The caste divide among students of a government middle school in Mandi has left education department officials apprehensive. Student outfits threaten to intensify stir After receiving cold response from the vice-chancellor and the chief minister, student organizations in Himachal Pradesh University have decided to intensify their struggle. More Chandigarh News»

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