News Digest: India picks new envoys from PM, President's offices

India picks new envoys from PM, President's offices
The annual MEA talk-shop for its heads of missions, from May 4-7 here, is likely to also project greater diplomatic outreach in the regions that get less attention, like Africa and Latin America. PM Narendra Modi is expected to address the ambassadors.

SC orders medical check of defiant judge's mental health
The Bengal police has been directed to form a special team to ensure Karnan appears before a medical panel as the SC said it needed to deal with the judge rather than allow him to retire in June. The court said contempt proceedings would not end with his retirement on June 11.

Govt arms lobbying for pharma companies: Swadeshi Jagran Manch
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an RSS outfit, has written to PM Narendra Modi accusing arms of the government– health ministry, department of pharmaceuticals (DoP), department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) and the Niti Aayog– of acting in collusion with pharma companies to scuttle efforts to make medicines cheaper.

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LPG price hiked by Rs 2, kerosene by 26 paisa
Subsidised cooking gas (LPG) price was on Monday hiked by about Rs 2 per cylinder and kerosene rate by 26 paisa a litre as government looks to eliminate subsidy on the fuel through small hikes.

Core industries grow by 5% in March, fastest in 3 months
Eight core industries grew by 5 per cent in March, the fastest in three months, on the back of higher coal and steel production.

Erdogan pitches for free trade agreement with India
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pitched for free trade agreement with India as a starting point to expand the ambit of bilateral economic ties. The visiting president further said the Turkish-India business council should be a more active mechanism.

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AAP govt asks schools to install air purifiers
"The ambient air quality of Delhi needs to be improved. In view of the gravity of harm to human health due to inferior ambient air quality, schools should take action to install air filters as per need," a communication sent to schools on Friday reads.

Leopard rescued from 60-feet-deep well in Madhya Pradesh

El Salvador becomes the 1st country to ban mining of metals
The law bans "prospection, exploration, exploitation, extraction or processing of metallic minerals in El Salvador". Some Latin American countries thrive on mineral exports but local communities complain of environmental risks from toxic metals used in the process.

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New Hamas program softens language, but goals remain
Hamas officials say the group's leader will present a new political program that accepts statehood in parts of historic Palestine, but does not drop the quest for "liberating" all the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, including what is now Israel.

Macron, Le Pen exchange May Day blows
Centrist presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen attacked each other's visions of France and the role it should play in Europe on Monday against a background of May Day rallies and protests.

Donald Trump: Different strokes

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Neha Sharma: Success isn't about being No. 1

Big B sings 'Ganesha Aarti' for 'Sarkar 3'

Rahul Khanna shares throwback picture with late father Vinod Khanna
A few days after Vinod Khanna's demise, his son and actor Rahul Khanna shared a beautiful throwback picture with the late ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ actor.

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Indian origin scientist helps develop robot drill for 50 times faster skull surgery
A new computer-driven robotic drill that can make a type of complex cranial surgery 50 times faster than standard procedures has been developed by scientists including one of Indian origin.

Blood group may predict heart attack risk: Study
People who have a non-O blood group, such as A, B or AB, may be at an increased risk of suffering a heart attack, a new research has found.

China, Europe planning to build 'Moon Village'
The plan was first revealed by Tian Yulong, the secretary general of China's space agency. Pal Hvistendahl, a spokesperson for the European Space Agency (ESA), confirmed the discussions.

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IPL 2017: Super Stokes seals stunning Pune win
RPS recovered from 42/4 on the back of a superb unbeaten 63-ball 103 from Stokes to chase down 162 with five wickets remaining at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

IPL 2017: MI beat RCB to jump to top spot
: Despite Pawan Negi’s all-round show Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to break their losing streak with Mumbai Indians posting a five-wicket victory over them in Match 38 of Indian Premier League season 10 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday.

Hockey India recommends Sardar Singh for Khel Ratna
Hockey India (HI) on Monday recommended senior player and former captain Sardar Singh for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, country's highest sporting honour.

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Reliance Jio's 'Welcome Offer' fall-out: Trai to make new testing rules
Having seen the controversy related to Reliance Jio's free trial run stretched too far, Trai today started a consultation process to frame rules for the network testing before full-fledged commercial launch.

Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka finally has good news for IT industry
Infosys' chief executive officer Vishal Sikka's recent commentary on stable pricing for the first time since the second quarter of financial year 2014-15 is an indicator of pricing stability in the sector, which is a positive development, said brokerage UBS in a note.

Startup developers are the heroes, even for the big boys
The developer is at the centre of the trends that are happening. On one hand, we have really valuable data coming at a rapid pace from all verticals, different industries.

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Now, CBSE to hold Central Teacher Eligibility Test only once a year

56,000 high school teachers in Kerala to get IT training
A total of 56,000 high school teachers in Kerala will soon get specific training in Information Technology as part of the state government's general education rejuvenation mission'.

India's first book village to come up in Maharashtra's Bhilar
Led by State Education minister Vinod Tawde, the project was undertaken by the Marathi Bhasha department wherein 25 artistically decorated locations around the village will turn into reader hot spots with display of books ranging from literature, poetry, religion, biographies to festival specials.

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Maharashtra agency proposed deforestation to expand Patanjali's food park plot
Maharashtra government had alloted 230 acres in Nagpur at 75% discount to Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd in August last year to set up a food park.

Still out in the cold, Khadse says `fed up of dirty politics'
Is controversial BJP leader Eknath Khadse, the CM-in-waiting, quitting the BJP? Khadse was noncommittal, but did observe that he was tired of dirty politics.

BEd entrance registrations bounce back
The number of aspirants registered for BEd CET in the state this year has gone up to 39,000, an increase of almost 65% from last year's 23,838.

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Hitmen gun down 'gangster', friend & PSO in W Delhi
Gang war killings returned to the capital on Sunday night when hitmen on bikes fired 40 rounds with automatic weapons at a marketplace in Miawali Nagar, west Delhi, gunning down an alleged gangster, his friend and a policeman deputed to guard him.

AAP in huddle over reforms talk

Delhi BJP chief's house attacked, two arrested

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3D 'Sholay' tour to skip Gabbar den
When the Karnataka government begins its "virtual 3D" Sholay tour in Ramanagara district, where the iconic 1975 movie was shot, the itinerary will not include the den of its villain Gabbar Singh.

Ola driver 'molests' Bengaluru woman
Police launched a manhunt for a cab driver attached to taxi hailing app Ola for allegedly molesting a professional singer around 2am on Friday. She lodged a complaint with Bommanahalli police on Sunday.

I am trying to prevent a return to resort politics, says Eshwarappa

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Never idle: While in jail, Satyam Babu earned BA degree

Don't burn chilli, send it to KCR & Modi, says Renuka

'Hold judicial inquiry into Khammam chilli incident'

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BBC draws curtains on show that told horrors of Lanka war

Insurance a mirage for poor HIV positives

Immunisation springs back in TN, but scepticism persists

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3 activists feted on Labour Day

HC advises 75-year-old to maintain wife

Gujarat bakes as temperature crosses 40C in 11 towns

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HC deadline looming ahead, Allahabad University hostel wreaks under apathy
With a 90-year-history to boast of, the GN Jha hostel of Allahabad University has nothing much remember it by.

10,000 roadways buses to ply for Ardh Kumbh
Minister of state (Independent charge) for transport and power, Swatantra Dev Singh, on Sunday said Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) would ply 10,000 buses for Ardh Kumbh-2019.

Allahabad HC suspends judge who granted bail to rape accused Gayatri Prajapati
The judge had given the bail order on April 25, which was overturned by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Friday. the high court’s administrative committee also seized his powers after the Chief Justice took a grim view of the bail decision.

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Old Town wows AirAsia crew
Crew members of AirAsia and media personnel from Malaysia took part in the weekly Ekamra Walk on Sunday.The heritage trip through the architectural treasures of Old Town saw 35 participants, including 11 from Air Asia.

Housing scheme for construction workers
The state government will build three rental housing projects for construction labourers.The low-rent accomodation will have a total of 400 beds.

Special screening of Baahubali-2 arranged for Odisha Police personnel
Mystery surrounding Kattappa's motive of killing Baahubali not only stirred the curiosity of common movie buffs. Police personnel in Odisha's Nayagarh district were equally excited to know the reason for which a special screening of Baahubali-2 was arranged exclusively for them on Sunday.

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Self-styled 'VIPs' take to hooters after beacon ban
The great Indian jugaad has found a way to get around the beacon ban — by replacing the VIP light with sirens. And then there some willing to bulldoze the law for might of way on the road.

RERA gets going in Madhya Pradesh, launches its website
Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MP RERA) that came into existence from Monday, formally launched its official website.

Madhya Pradesh polythene ban delayed, now likely after May 8
Ban on polythene bags will be delayed further in Madhya Pradesh as the government was not able to bring an ordinance because of Vidhan Sabha session on May 3.

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As part of probe, Haryana cops strip, harass rape survivor
A 14-year-old rape survivor from Haryana has petitioned the Punjab and Haryana high court, alleging that male police officers in Kaithal sexually harassed her by forcing her to strip as part of investigation.

Now, bar code on property tax receipts
Now, every property tax receipt will have a bar code. The code will not only facilitate the property owners and the municipal corporation in keeping a tab on returns filled, but will also help check duplicity.

Punjab to go hi-tech for checking traffic violations
Even though Punjab’s cities are marked by traffic lawlessness, a challenge for the understaffed police, by next year those violating traffic rules will not have any chance to convince the traffic cop on duty to let them off. This because the traffic police in the state is set to bring all key cities and highways under e-surveillance.

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