News Digest: Proposed FCA changes to offset SC's forest order

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, March 31, 2023
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Proposed FCA changes to offset SC's forest order The amendments proposed in the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, will negate the impact of a landmark Supreme Court order of 1996 - known as the Godavarman judgment - that has since been the touchstone of forest conservation in the country. New survey, same story: TOI tops trust rankings in India BJP, Congress face of f as Germany 'takes note' of Rahul verdict A comment by the German foreign ministry in Berlin that it expected "standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles" would apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi following his disqualification from Lok Sabha set off a fresh slugfest between BJP and Congress on Thursday. More India News»

		Science
		Environmental exposure significant risk factor for occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in adults in India: Study Nasa scientists find massive hole on Sun, 20 times larger than Earth Nasa scientists have spotted a massive black region on the Sun, which is 20 times larger than Earth. The appearance of the “coronal hole” has prompted US federal agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to sound out an alert for geomagnetic storms as the gaping hole is unleashing 1.8 million mile-per-hour solar winds towards Earth, which will impact the planet on Friday. Molecule neutralising SARS-CoV-2 virus found, could reduce infection duration upon exposure More Science News»

		Technology
		How to block SBI debit card using Net Banking and SMS SBI allows account owners to block their stolen or lost ATM cards via SMS or Net Banking. Redmi Note 12 vs Redmi Note 11: Here is how the two Redmi smartphones compare Redmi Note 12 is official. Xiaomi has expanded its Redmi Note 12 series of smartphones in India with the launch of Redmi Note 12. This is the fourth smartphone of the series as the company already offers the Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro+. The Redmi Note 12 sports an FHD+ display and is powered by a Qualcomm processor. The smartphone runs Android 13 and is backed by a 5000mAh battery. The price of Redmi Note 12 starts at Rs 14,999 which makes it slightly expensive when compared to its predecessor Redmi Note 11. For those wondering if they should go for the new Redmi Note 12 or save Rs 500 by buying Redmi Note 11 here’s a specs comparison to help decide where to put their money. The comparison also may help the existing Redmi Note 11 users decide if they should upgrade or not. Redmi 12C vs Poco C55: How Redmi's most-affordable smartphone compares to Poco's budget smartphone Redmi 12C is here. Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi has expanded its entry-level smartphone range with the launch of Redmi 12C in India. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek’s mid-range chipset and sports a 50MP main camera. The price of Redmi 12C starts at Rs 8,999, at this price point the smartphone will face competition from the recently launched Poco C55. Here’s the complete comparison of the two affordable smartphones. More Technology News»

		Business
		Elon Musk overtakes Barack Obama as most followed Twitter account Elon Musk has surpassed former US president Barack Obama as the most followed account on Twitter, five months after he bought the platform in a tumultuous takeover. The founder of Tesla and SpaceX on Thursday had 133,084,560 Twitter followers, a nose ahead of Obama, who had 133,041,813. The feat comes as the role of Twitter as a key platform for the exchange of news, ideas and PR messaging seems increasingly troubled. Twitter's revenue drops amid advertisers' concerns over Elon Musk Advertisers continue to be wary of Twitter's changes under the ownership of Elon Musk. Major brands including Amazon, Coca-Cola, Hilton Worldwide, and Merck have yet to resume ad spending on the platform. Between September and October 2021, the top 10 advertisers on Twitter spent $71m on ads, but in the past two months, this figure has dropped to just $7.6m, a decline of 89%. Adani group officials met Pimco, BlackRock for private bond placement Adani Group executives spoke with US investors, including representatives from BlackRock, Blackstone, and Pacific Investment Management Company, as part of the conglomerate's plan to market privately placed bonds for some of its companies. The company is looking to raise up to $1 billion in two tranches this year through this route. More Business News»

		Sports
		Champions Gujarat face heavyweights Chennai in IPL opener Title holders Gujarat Titans will be eager to begin the new season from where they finished off the last one as they take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League opener in Ahmedabad on Friday. After a gap of four years, the cricketing extravaganza returns to the radiational home-and-away format and 12 cities will be hosting a total of 70 league phase matches. 'For me, it's always about the team': Rahane on his role in CSK set-up Chennai Super Kings' new recruit and veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday said that he is ready to play in any position for the four-time champions in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. IPL 2023: 'Unwell' Rohit Sharma misses captains' meet India and Mumbai Indians' captain Rohit Sharma was forced to miss the pre-IPL captains' meeting and photoshoot on Thursday as he was "unwell," TOI has learnt. More Sports News»

		Education
		TimesPro collaborates with IFAN, Jobizo to upskill nurses and provide jobs at NHS Hospitals in UK Rajasthan SET Answer Key 2023 released on ggtu.ac.in, download link here The Rajasthan State Eligibility Test (SET) Exam 2023 provisional answer key has been released by the Govind Guru Tribal University, Banswara. The answer key is available for Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Rajasthani language, and other subjects. Candidates can download the answer key from the official website at ggtu.ac.in. UP Police Constable Result 2023 declared on uppbpb.gov.in, check result for Sports Quota The Uttar Pradesh Recruitment and Promotion Board has released the UP Police Constable Result 2023 for Sports Quota. Both male and female candidates are shortlisted under 10 different sports, including athletics, badminton, cross-country, archery, judo, boxing, table tennis, weightlifting, and Wushu. Candidates can download the PDF of the result from the official portal at uppbpb.gov.in. More Education News»

		Environment
		Eco-friendly goods defy downward trade trend: United Nations Environmentally friendly products like electric cars and wind turbines have bucked the current downward trend in overall global trade, continuing to show strong growth, the United Nations said Thursday. Storm-weary California lashed with 12th 'atmospheric river' cloudbursts The newest onslaught, arriving early on the second official day of spring, was concentrated mostly in Southern California, the state's central coast and its agricultural heartland, still sodden from a relentless string of storms that began in late December. UN warns of permanent 1.5°C warming in 20 years The pace and scale of what has been done so far, as well as the current pledges of emission cuts by nations, are insufficient to tackle climate change and the world may well breach the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise (from the 1850-1900 level) by 2030, warns UN climate panel IPCC in its latest report. More Environment News»

		World
		Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges even as he makes another run for the White House. Turkey's parliament ratifies Finland's membership in NATO Alarmed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago, Finland and Sweden abandoned their decades-long policy of nonalignment and applied to join the alliance. Vatican rejects doctrine used to justify colonial abuse The Vatican has formally annulled edicts from the 15th century that enabled Europeans to colonise non-Christian territories. Campaigners called for the so-called Doctrine of Discovery to be rescinded as it justified abuses against Indigenous peoples viewed as inferior in the Americas. More World News»

		Environment
		Eco-friendly goods defy downward trade trend: United Nations Environmentally friendly products like electric cars and wind turbines have bucked the current downward trend in overall global trade, continuing to show strong growth, the United Nations said Thursday. Storm-weary California lashed with 12th 'atmospheric river' cloudbursts The newest onslaught, arriving early on the second official day of spring, was concentrated mostly in Southern California, the state's central coast and its agricultural heartland, still sodden from a relentless string of storms that began in late December. UN warns of permanent 1.5°C warming in 20 years The pace and scale of what has been done so far, as well as the current pledges of emission cuts by nations, are insufficient to tackle climate change and the world may well breach the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise (from the 1850-1900 level) by 2030, warns UN climate panel IPCC in its latest report. More Environment News»

		Hyderabad
		Centre fleecing poor to benefit few corporates: Telangana minister KT Rama Rao Criticizing the Centre for skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices, municipal minister KT Rama Rao has demanded that the BJP government tender an apology to the nation. BJP set to launch its OBC outreach plan from April 6 As part of its plan to reach out to one crore OBC households across the country from April 6 to April 14, the BJP will launch the programme in Telangana with the slogan 'Palle Palleku OBC, Intiintiki BJP' (OBC (leaders) to every village, BJP at every doorstep). SEC puts onus of 6,000 vacant posts in civic bodies on Telangana govt The State Election Commission and BRS government have come under the scanner of Telangana high court for not holding by-elections to fill over 6,000 vacancies in rural and urban local bodies in the state. More Hyderabad News»

		Chandigarh
		Budding artists honoured for their talent in city An art foundation honoured 12 budding artists from various fields of art, including the sculpture artist who carved Sidhu Mooswala's statue in his hometown in Mansa SHO arrested for raping woman in Haryana's Nuh Police on Thursday arrested the station house officer (SHO) of City police station in Haryana’s Nuh for allegedly raping a 45-year-old woman several times over the last one month. 18 injured as utility vehicle collides with tree in Haryana's Yamunanagar Chhachhrauli police station house officer (SHO) Bhupinder Singh said as many as 26 persons including 13 children, all residents of Ghadhauli Colony, Yamunanagar, were returning from a religious place in Saharanpur district in a utility vehicle when their utility vehicle collided with a tree near Bhilpura village at about 11.30 am. More Chandigarh News»

		Ahmedabad
		Fueled by superstitions, relatives make 13-year-old girl put her feet in yagna fire in Gujarat's Junagadh A 13 year-old-girl was made to put her legs in a shallow pit in which sacrificial fire was burning for a religious ritual 'Navchandi Yagna' in a village of Keshod taluka in Junagadh district. Mangroves destroyed by illegal salt pans in Kutch The CAG report said approximately 220 hectares of salt pan units had violated CRZ notifications and continued illegal operation.​ Green school contracts given to inexperienced agencies The CAG pointed out massive irregularities in the awarding of contracts for equipment meant for Green Schools in the state. The contractors selected for supply were in fact engaged in landscaping and construction activities. More Ahmedabad News»

		Chennai
		Civic body plans to convert all Chennai parks into sponges Apart from spending thousands of crores to build drains to take rainwater into the sea, Chennai's civic body now plans to make all the city's parks 'sponge' parks. Earlier, it had planned to convert just 57 of the 738 parks at a cost 7 crore; now all will be. The parks will have small artificial ponds, channels for water to flow from and to drains, a green area to help absorb rainwater, more rainwater harvesting structures, recharge pits, and some furniture for beautification. Korukkupet, OMR to get piped water supply in Chennai Areas yet to be covered with drinking water supply like Korrukupet in north Chennai and those surrounding OMR will soon get fresh water supply. Mom-son duo held for killing woman in Chennai Three days after a woman was believed to have died by suicide, police found that her husband and mother-in law had strangled her to death in Tambaram demanding dowry. More Chennai News»

		Bangalore
		Lost in translation: Why sarkar is taking away Sarkars' lands The land holdings of some 727 Bengali Hindu refugees in three rehab camps in Raichur district, Karnataka, in 1971 — carrying thesurname ‘Sarkar’ — have been marked government or ‘sarkari’ land, in a bungle over the surname. UVCE students from Bengaluru fear fee hike, protest govt's financial apathy Students of University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), which has been upgraded to a non-affiliating university and is to be developed as an institution of eminence, on Thursday staged a protest against what they called the state government's financial apathy towards their institution. Further, they demanded that a fee hike, which they fear is in the offing, be held back. Panel submits report on OBCs, govt yet to finalise quota in BBMP The government is yet to finalise other backward classes (OBC) reservation lists for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) wards. This despite the report on which it is to be based has been submitted by Justice Bhaktavatsala commission to the urban development department. More Bangalore News»

		Bangalore
		Lost in translation: Why sarkar is taking away Sarkars' lands The land holdings of some 727 Bengali Hindu refugees in three rehab camps in Raichur district, Karnataka, in 1971 — carrying thesurname ‘Sarkar’ — have been marked government or ‘sarkari’ land, in a bungle over the surname. UVCE students from Bengaluru fear fee hike, protest govt's financial apathy Students of University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), which has been upgraded to a non-affiliating university and is to be developed as an institution of eminence, on Thursday staged a protest against what they called the state government's financial apathy towards their institution. Further, they demanded that a fee hike, which they fear is in the offing, be held back. Panel submits report on OBCs, govt yet to finalise quota in BBMP The government is yet to finalise other backward classes (OBC) reservation lists for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) wards. This despite the report on which it is to be based has been submitted by Justice Bhaktavatsala commission to the urban development department. More Bangalore News»

		Mumbai
		Chosen builder to finish redevelopment, not Mhada, petitioners tell Bombay HC Residents of a Girgaum building where redevelopment halted a decade ago told the Bombay high court on Thursday that they have decided to appoint a new developer and not the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) to complete the project. Allocation of balance slum funds stayed The Bombay high court on Thursday stayed allocation of balance amount of the Maharashtra Local Development Funds (MLDF) for providing basic amenities in slums across Mumbai. Justices Girish Kulkarni and R N Laddha passed the interim direction till April 5, the next date of hearing. The judges also asked the state to provide details of funds allocated last year to MLAs from all parties so they can examine the allocation made. Woman officer gets 4 years' rigorous imprisonment for Rs 75,000 bribe to reduce tax Observing that the dishonest intention and abuse of official position to grab money as gratification is alarming, a special CBI court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced 53-year-old woman income tax officer to four years rigorous imprisonment caught red handed accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000 from a Malad businessman for reducing tax liability of his manufacturing firm in 2015 More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Delhi: Safdarjung doctor held in 'cash-for-treatment' scam The CBI has busted an alleged "cash-for-treatment" racket operating at Safdarjung Hospital and arrested a senior neurosurgeon, besides a south Delhi businessman and three middlemen, for malpractices and corruption, reports Rajshekhar Jha. The accused doctor, Manish Rawat, is posted as an associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the hospital and is a resident of Lodhi Colony. Main accused was at centre of hit-&-run row in Ghaziabad that killed 4 people 6 years ago Dr Manish Rawat, who was arrested by CBI on corruption charges, is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run case in Ghaziabad in 2017 that had caused the death of four people, according to sources in the investigating agency. Rawat worked at Safdarjung Hospital at the time and had been absent from work for 3-4 days after the crash. G20: Delhi plans facelift for monumental welcome Keeping the upcoming G20 Summit and related events taking place in the capital in mind and expecting a large number of tourists from the member countries apart from the delegates, Delhi government has decided to give a facelift to 20 smaller monuments that are maintained by its archaeological department. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Delhi: Safdarjung doctor held in 'cash-for-treatment' scam The CBI has busted an alleged "cash-for-treatment" racket operating at Safdarjung Hospital and arrested a senior neurosurgeon, besides a south Delhi businessman and three middlemen, for malpractices and corruption, reports Rajshekhar Jha. The accused doctor, Manish Rawat, is posted as an associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the hospital and is a resident of Lodhi Colony. Main accused was at centre of hit-&-run row in Ghaziabad that killed 4 people 6 years ago Dr Manish Rawat, who was arrested by CBI on corruption charges, is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run case in Ghaziabad in 2017 that had caused the death of four people, according to sources in the investigating agency. Rawat worked at Safdarjung Hospital at the time and had been absent from work for 3-4 days after the crash. G20: Delhi plans facelift for monumental welcome Keeping the upcoming G20 Summit and related events taking place in the capital in mind and expecting a large number of tourists from the member countries apart from the delegates, Delhi government has decided to give a facelift to 20 smaller monuments that are maintained by its archaeological department. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Delhi: Safdarjung doctor held in 'cash-for-treatment' scam The CBI has busted an alleged "cash-for-treatment" racket operating at Safdarjung Hospital and arrested a senior neurosurgeon, besides a south Delhi businessman and three middlemen, for malpractices and corruption, reports Rajshekhar Jha. The accused doctor, Manish Rawat, is posted as an associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the hospital and is a resident of Lodhi Colony. Main accused was at centre of hit-&-run row in Ghaziabad that killed 4 people 6 years ago Dr Manish Rawat, who was arrested by CBI on corruption charges, is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run case in Ghaziabad in 2017 that had caused the death of four people, according to sources in the investigating agency. Rawat worked at Safdarjung Hospital at the time and had been absent from work for 3-4 days after the crash. G20: Delhi plans facelift for monumental welcome Keeping the upcoming G20 Summit and related events taking place in the capital in mind and expecting a large number of tourists from the member countries apart from the delegates, Delhi government has decided to give a facelift to 20 smaller monuments that are maintained by its archaeological department. More Delhi News»

		Allahabad
		'Judges have to play proactive role in uprooting injustice' Additional district judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla, who awarded life sentence to gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahamed and two others in Umesh Pal kidnapping case, is known for his tryst with tough cases. However, no other case has put the spotlight on him as much as his Tuesday judgment. After all, it was the first conviction of Atiq, a former MP and MLA, despite facing 101 criminal cases. Number of PG seats at MLNMC may be increased Locals feasting while fasting this Navratri in Sangam City Even as lakhs of devotees of the Sangam City would be ending their fast of Navratri on Thursday, the nine days of fasting also marked a variety of dishes prepared by local restaurants for those who were keeping fast. More Allahabad News»

		Bhopal
		Cheetah cubs born at Kuno: How conservationists keep 24x7 vigil Four baby cheetahs are mewing and waddling about in the heart of India - for the first time in over 70 years. They are the first cheetah cubs to be born in the wild in the country since cheetahs went extinct, and mark a big step in the mission to revive its population in Indian jungles. 8-yr-old electrocuted Minors forced to commit thefts under influence of drugs Habibganj police registered a case against four accused under JJ Act for allegedly luring minors to commit theft by making them addicted to substance abuse. Three of the four accused have been arrested. More Bhopal News»

		Bhubaneswar
		450km rail line in Odisha completed in 2022-23 fiscal: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said the Indian Railways has completed construction of 450km rail line in Odisha during the financial year 2022-23, which is a record since Independence. Two Odisha's Boudh forest staff injured in firing Two forest personnel sustained severe bullet injuries after unidentified miscreants opened fire on a patrolling vehicle near Khaliapali chowk under Baghiapali forest section in Boudh district on Wednesday. Sambalpur Municipal Corporation generates revenue from waste The recyclable waste generated from households during door-to-door garbage collection has emerged as a source of revenue for Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC). More Bhubaneswar News»

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