News Digest: Missing stars back in limelight to add freshness to television ads

Missing stars back in limelight to add freshness to television ads
To those who have relished watching Amol Palekar in movies like "Golmaal" back in the 1970s, it is like taking a trip down memory lane.

8 try suicide over 'national animal' tag for cow, 1 dies
A member of little-known Gau Raksha Ekta Samiti (GRES) died on Thursday after eight members of the outfit consumed some pesticide outside Rajkot collector's office demanding that cow be declared the country's national animal.

'I feel like the character in The Reluctant fundamentalist': Umar Khalid
The question haunting both Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya is, “What if [they] were practicing Muslims, bearded, madrassa-educated, and from Azamgarh?” What if, they ask, they actually fit the profiles created of them, especially for Umar because, Anirban’s “betrayal” – Umar's joke – was always a mystery.

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MFs to disclose agent fees to investors
Come October, mutual fund (MF) investors will be able to see how much their MF agents have been earning for their services relating to the investments.

Govt asks PSU banks to step up recoveries
The move is seen as a way to dispel the notion that banks and the government are soft towards the promoters, many of whom enjoy lavish lifestyle despite their companies not repaying loans.

Alibaba eyes offline play to expand India biz
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba plans a "direct entry" into the Indian market this year as the company looks at both online and offline play to increase its presence in one of the world's largest retail markets.

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Ocean acidification observed in Arabian Sea, say Indian scientists
The Arabian Sea, cradling a diversity of marine habitats including coral reefs, is witnessing acidification of its surface waters, a consequence of excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, say Indian scientists.

New golden frog species found in Andes forest
Researchers have discovered a new species of pale-gold coloured frog in the cloud forests of the high Andes in Colombia. The new species was found calling from bushes along a roadside at about 8,700 feet elevation near Chingaza National Park.

Plant 10 times the number of trees you cut: NGT to firms
The National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed three private firms, which have illegally chopped off 45 trees in a forest area in Faridabad, to plant ten times the number of trees cut by them.

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Ban off, Musharraf heads to Dubai for treatment
Pakistan's ex-President Pervez Musharraf left for Dubai on Friday morning for medical treatment, two days after the country's top court lifted a ban on his travel abroad.

EU, Turkey negotiating breakthrough deal on migrant crisis
With more than 1 million migrants having arrived in Europe in a year, EU leaders are desperate to clinch a deal with Turkey and heal deep rifts within the 28-member bloc while relieving the pressure on Greece, which has borne the brunt of arrivals.​

ISIS claims 5 Russian troops killed near Syria's Palmyra
The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed the killing of five Russian troops in fighting near the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. ISIS seized Palmyra, a Unesco World Heritage Site in eastern Syria known as the "Pearl of the Desert", in May 2015, sending shock waves across the world.

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TOIFA 2016 - Complete winners List
Here's the complete list of winners of the prestigious TOIFA 2016 held at the Dubai Sports Complex, Dubai.

TOIFA 2016: As it happened

Kangana's lawyer replies to Hrithik's statement
The Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut legal tangle took a new turn after the actress’ lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee issued a statement in response to the superstar’s press statement.

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New implantable capsule to help fight Alzheimer's
Scientists have developed a tiny implantable capsule that can turn patient's immune system against Alzheimer's disease by delivering a steady and safe flow of antibodies to the brain.

'We are making science' says man as his doctor reveals plans for head transplant
The man who is preparing to have the world’s first head transplant has claimed the prospect does not worry him, and that “we are making science.”

This is the best time to brush your teeth
The standard advice from dentists has long been to brush our teeth twice a day, regularly floss and use mouthwash.

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World T20: Root gem seals 230-chase for England
Chasing 230, England produced a chase for the ages with Roe Joot's 44-ball 83 making all the difference.

India more dangerous now than before, says Ashwin
Addressing a packed media contingent, Ashwin wasn't worried about all the permutations and combinations. He rather believes the New Zealand defeat has made India the side to look out for.

WT20: New Zealand script dramatic win over Australia
New Zealand produced yet another sublime bowling performance to pull off a second successive giant-slaying act, beating ODI world champions Australia by 8 runs in a dramatic ICC World Twenty20 clash.

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10 awesome hidden features in your Android smartphone
Take a look at these 10 tips and tricks that will make you see your phone in a different light.

WhatsApp for Android gets 2 new features
WhatsApp has released two new features for Android users of its new 2.12.535 update, which was released earlier this month.

Google is selling its robotics company: Bloomberg
Alphabet Inc has put Boston Dynamics, part of its robotics division, up for sale for lack of revenue potential, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the plans.

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UGC calls for students' sensitization about yoga benefits
University Grants Commission (UGC) has gone all out reiterating varsities to ensure students’ engagement in International Day of Yoga celebrations on June 21 and varsities have been asked to organise 2-3 days Yoga fests in April/May months to sensitize about Yoga benefits and to make it more appealing to youth.

CBSE to use hand-held metal detectors during entrance tests
JNVST etc.Last year, the AIPMT, was cancelled and re-conducted on.

Tough class 12 Maths exam: Kerala HC seeks CBSE's views on re-examination, lenient evaluation
The Kerala High Court on Friday sought the views of CBSE on a petition seeking an order to re-conduct the Mathematics board examination for Class 12 that was ‘extremely tough’.

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Gangster kin wanted 75 lakh for helping trader get pending dues
Gangster Chhota Shakeel’s businesswoman cousin Tabassum Shaikh, who is wanted for threatening a trader from Sion, had allegedly demanded Rs 75 lakh for helping the trader procure Rs 1.75 crore from a businessman who owed him the money. This is what the police have learnt while interrogating the gangster’s brother-in-law Arife Aboobakar alias Bhaijaan. Bhaijaan had allegedly threatened the trader after Shaikh asked him to.

Gym instructor arrested for molesting girl
A 28-year-old gym instructor has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old schoolgirl at his house at Andheri (west) on `Tuesday. A case has been registered at Amboli police station.

25-yr-old held for rape of 54-yr-old maid
A 25-year-old man working with a call centre was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a 54-year-old woman who worked as his maid, on Wednesday.

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PM should focus on governance, says Kejriwal
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took on PM Narendra Modi and CBI on Friday in a series of tweets.

SYL canal: Kejriwal waters down rhetoric
A day after Haryana threatened to disrupt water supply to the national capital following Arvind Kejriwal's support to Punjab over the Sutlej-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal, the Delhi CM attempted damage control by saying that it was not right to do politics over water. "Residents of Haryana and Punjab are all our people. Everyone should get water," he said on Friday.

BJP lambasts CM, says comments irresponsible
BJP on Friday lost no opportunity to attack Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over his flip-flops on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) project.

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Rs.6,044 crore allotted for Bengaluru infrastructure development
Bengaluru, March 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday allocated Rs.6,044 crore for Bengaluru infrastructure development in the budget for 2016-17.

Karnataka to abolish agricultural income tax on plantation crops
Bengaluru, March 18 (IANS) Responding to a long-standing demand of growers of coffee, tea, rubber and spices, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday proposed to abolish agricultural income tax on commodity plantations from April 1.

Blackout in Karnataka assembly disrupts budget speech
Bengaluru, March 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday faced embarrassing moments in the state legislative assembly when a sudden power cut disrupted his budget presentation for 2016-17.

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Airbus to open training centre in Delhi
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Friday announced it will be making a 'strategic investment' in establishing a pilot and maintenance training centre in Delhi NCR at an investment of $40 million in the first phase, which will be spread over four to five years.

Rohith memorial leaves Hyderabad varsity students divided
Two months after Rohith Vemula's death, his memorial has left the student community at University of Hyderabad (UoH) deeply divided, with fault lines appearing prominently on social media platforms.

Despite govt rhetoric, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh stalls fail to impress
Ever since the India Aviation 2016 kicked off on March 16, Union civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju has been repeatedly underscoring the important partnership it forged with seven Indian states this year.

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Millennium-old 'sunken town' found off Tamil Nadu
When the shoreline receded during the 2004 tsunami, tourists in Mamallapuram swore they saw a long row of granite boulders emerge from the sea, before it was swallowed again as the water hurtled forward.

Serene patch, on a canal bank in Chennai
When the 1962 war with China took Dr Job away from his family, Sheila and her two siblings would huddle around the radio to listen to the developments on the battlefront.

Brokerage firm Zerodha launches trading platform in Tamil

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Security upped for Dakor festivity

Gujarat supplied power to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
2531.79 million units to six states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh.

771 cases of illegal minings in Ahmedabad and Gandinagar
The mines and mineral department in various raids on lease contractors has caught theft in 771 cases in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

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Man sets wife and kids ablaze
A 25-year-old housewife and her three minor daughters were burnt alive allegedly by her husband at their house in Bihika Puramufti village of Kaushambi district during the early hours of Friday.

HC junks plea against PSC chief appointment
The Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Anirudh Singh Yadav as the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC).

Kaushambi gang busted, five held
Kaushambi police claimed to have arrested four robbers on Friday.

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Odisha budget focuses on irrigation, agri, rural dev & energy
Bhubaneswar, Mar 18 () Creating adequate fiscal space for borrowing, the Odisha government today presented a Rs 94,052.65-crore budget for 2016-17 with emphasis on irrigation, agriculture, rural development and energy. There has been an increase by about 11.

Odisha presents Rs 94,052.65 crore budget for 2016-17
Bhubaneswar, March 18 (IANS) Odisha Finance Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat on Friday presented a Rs.94,052.65 crore budget for 2016-17 with focus on agriculture and social sectors.

Odisha projects fiscal deficit of 3.79% in 2016-17

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Now mining mafia targets forest dept staff in Shivpuri, 8 booked

Budget session of MP Assembly to resume after Holi festival

CBI to meet Kerala football players for clues on Namrata Damor murder mystery

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Rahul stops over at Beas Dera in Asr
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who was in Amritsar on Friday to attend a function, made a surprise night stay at the headquarters of Radha Soami Satsang Beas in the district.

Day after SC order, Badal moves anti-SYL resolution
Less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court ordered status quo on Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal moved yet another resolution on not allowing its construction.

5.43L treated for substance abuse in 3 yrs: Jyani
Amid the row over number of drug addicts in Punjab that began with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statement in 2012 that 70% of the state's youth were addicted, Punjab government, on Friday, told the Assembly that nearly 5.43 lakh people with substance abuse disorder were treated in OPDs across the state in the past three years.

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