News Digest: Close shave for Kuwaiti prince off Kochi coast

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, October 15, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Close shave for Kuwaiti prince off Kochi coast A prominent member of the Kuwaiti royal family had a narrow escape when his speed boat capsized off Munambam near Kochi. India, Canada clinch nuclear deal in record time Canada and India are negotiating commercial contracts for supply of uranium for Indian nuclear reactors. Vatican flashes happy signal for gays Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists have welcomed the preliminary position paper drawn by 200 bishops at the Vatican synod but also feel that it won't make a huge difference to the community. More India News»

		Business
		Investors lose Rs 7,300 crore as DLF stock nosedives 29% The share price of DLF, the Delhi-based real estate major, crashed about 28.5% to Rs 105 on Tuesday on BSE, its all-time low level, after market regulator Sebi banned the firm and some of its promoters from the market for three years. SBI links free ATM usage to balance, branch visits The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has reviewed its ATM usage charges, allowing more free transactions to those who avoid visiting its branches, and unlimited transactions for those with large balances. Kumar Birla to bid for units offloaded by Lafarge, Holcim The Aditya Birla Group is eyeing cement assets being put on the block by European giants Holcim and Lafarge as they merge. The move signals the return of India’s top conglomerates to bulge-bracket global buyouts amid positive business sentiments after a change of government at the Centre in May this year. More Business News»

		Environment
		Reduced Okhla eco-zone plan put up for comments The environment ministry on Tuesday invited comments to a draft notification that proposes a reduced the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS) — 100 metres from the eastern, western and southern boundary and an area of 1.27km from the northern boundary. Certain areas around Okhla Sanctuary proposed to be declared eco-sensitive Certain areas around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary on the Delhi-Noida border are proposed to be demarcated as eco-sensitive zone, prohibiting any construction activity except for the domestic needs of bona fide local residents. Why Himalayan glaciers are expanding instead of shrinking Scientists' observations in the Karakoram region have revealed that the glaciers there were stable, and snowfall is increasing instead of decreasing. More Environment News»

		World
		US 'deeply concerned' about Kobane: Obama President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the plight of the Syrian town of Kobane under attack by Islamic State jihadists, and said a US-led coalition would keep up bombing raids there and in western Iraq. Hong Kong police clear protesters out of tunnel Hundreds of Hong Kong police officers moved in early Wednesday to clear pro-democracy protesters out of a tunnel outside the city government headquarters in the latest escalation of tensions in a weekslong political crisis. US, Russia to step up intel sharing on IS militants US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have agreed to step up intelligence sharing over the Islamic State (IS) group. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar shoot in Delhi We spotted Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar shooting in Hauz Khas on Monday for their upcoming film Do 'I will go to any lengths to protect my family' Sridevi is 'deeply disturbed' over Ram Gopal Varma using her name to 'promote sleaze', but chooses to remain quiet Bigg Boss 8: Karishma Tanna uses tears as her weapon! As per the new task for the week, Superheroes vs. Super Villains, the leader of the Superheroes – Karishma, has the task to convert as many Super Villains into good guys. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Embryonic stem cells clear key hurdle in eye trial Embryonic stem cells transplanted into 18 patients with deteriorating eyesight restored some vision in more than half the volunteers, the longest study into the fledgling technology reported on Tuesday. Now, you can run and charge your phone In the future, running out of battery on your smartphone might be solved by simply going for a run — thanks to a new pocket-sized gadget that converts physical movement into electricity. Mangalyaan sends picture of Mars' moon Phobos Almost 20 days after it successfully entered the orbit of the Red Planet, Isro's Mars Orbiter sent pictures of Phobos - the largest of the two natural satellites that orbit around Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. More Science News»

		Sports
		ISL: Profligate Dynamos share honours with FC Pune City Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet failed to create magic as third match of ISL between Delhi Dynamos and Pune City ended in a goalless draw. Messi brace as Argentina put seven past Hong Kong Argentina strolled to a 7-0 friendly win over Hong Kong on Tuesday, with superstar Lionel Messi and Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain both netting a brace. My 'Clasico' comeback is fate, says Barcelona's Luis Suarez "You know, I'm the kind of person who believes that things happen for a reason," Luis Suarez said in an interview published on Barca's website on Tuesday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Google chairman Eric Schmidt calls Amazon biggest search rival Google boss Eric Schmidt has said that his company's biggest competition as a search engine came from e-commerce giant Amazon. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launched in India at Rs 58,300 Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has hit the market just ahead of Diwali and will face fierce competition from Apple's first-ever phablet, iPhone 6 Plus. 10 hottest smartphones to buy this Diwali If you are looking to buy a smartphone, then there is no better time than now, as several top smartphone makers have released new products to lure buyers. Here's a look at the 10 hottest smartphones you can buy this Diwali... More Technology News»

		Education
		Ignou in talks with Prasar Bharati after Gyanvani stopped Ignou on Tuesday said it is in talks with Prasar Bharati to resolve its stand-off with All India Radio which has taken all 37 Gyanvani educational FM radio stations off the air, depriving many students of getting access to informal education. UPSC declares civil services prelims results The results of the civil services preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission were declared today. CBSE plans to raise ratio of girls in engineering The CBSE has launched Udaan, a project to mentor 1,000 girl students to compete for admission at premier engineering colleges. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		PE biggies vie for $400m CMS buyout Three bulge-bracket global investors — Temasek Holding, Carlyle Group and Baring Private Equity Asia — have been shortlisted for a potential buyout of India’s largest cash management services company, CMS Info Systems, valued at about $400 million, two people directly familiar with the matter said. EC seeks details of organizers, funding of Modi's Madison Square Garden event The Election Commission, which is examining a Congress complaint against reruns of PM Narendra Modi's Madison Square Garden speech being used for the BJP's campaign in Maharashtra, has sought details from the ministry of external affairs regarding the organizers and funding behind the September 28 gala show. EVMs with embossed Braille script in Thane All the new EVMs in Thane will this time have information embossed on them in Braille, making the process easier for the visually impaired voters. Activists have welcomed the move but asked for audio assistance as well. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		E-waste dismantlers flout pollution, safety norms Tonnes of electronic waste being dismantled in Seelampur on a daily basis not only pollute the environment but also create a serious health risk for workers and other people in the vicinity, say green activists. Thousands of homeless die but no lesson learnt As many as 18,769 people figure on the official record of “unidentified dead bodies” in Delhi from January 2009 till date. HC no to construction at Karbala The Delhi high court on Tuesday refused to allow repair or construction activity at Karbala area in Jor Bagh. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		This app helps budding poets publish works "Kavithe Yaaru Kolthare Swamy (Who will buy poetry, sir)?" -Most budding poets face this question when they approach publishers. But this response will no longer dishearten many of today's writers as social media has opened up new publishing avenues for them.  Cottonian lives his Cambridge dream Isaac Newton once studied here, and now it's city boy Vikramaditya Giri's turn to enter the hallowed portals of Trinity College, Cambridge University. Honorary Consuls from city's elite It's an elite clique: Their swanky cars bear black number plates encrypted with white letters, sport flags of a foreign country, they are guests at all the governor's events, and have special entry to the seat of power - Vidhana Soudha and Vikas Sou dha. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Cyclone Hudhud: PM in Vizag announces Rs 1000 crore interim aid Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took an aerial survey of cyclone battered Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, announced Rs 1,000 crore for immediate relief even as the death toll mounted to 25. Hudhud crashes Vizag's nascent IT dreams Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s dreams of replicating his Hyderabad IT success story in the Port City seem to have come crashing down, at least for the time being. Passport mela to be held in AP & T on Oct 18 Passport officials will conduct melas and camps at passport seva kendras (PSKs) across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on October 18. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Accident victim's mom traced; child in care home A day after three people were fatally run over by a drunk driver on the Velachery-Taramani Road in the wee hours of Monday, police have traced the mother of Arumugham, who was killed along with his wife Aishwarya. Liquor shops to blame for accidents: PMK A day after three pavement dwellers, including a pregnant woman, were fatally run over by a car driven by a drunk driver in Velachery, PMK chief S Ramadoss on Tuesday blamed the state government for the increasing number of such accidents as it has not taken any steps to close down liquor shops . 8 years on, woman injured in LPG blast wins Rs 55,000 : Eight years after she was injured in an LPG cylinder blast, a woman has won a compensation of 55,000. Upholding the order of the Chennai (South) district forum, the state consumer disputes redressal commission rapped the LPG cylinder supplier, distributor and an insurance company for deficiency in services and slapped the fine. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		BJP wins 34 of 46 seats in local body polls After losing three assembly constituencies in the last by-elections to Congress, chief minister Anandiben Patel and her party has reason to cheer as the BJP has won 34 seats out 46 in the local bodies by-elections. NID, AMC sign MoU to set up India's first design museum The city’s heritage, Sanskar Kendra, will soon also house a national design museum of international standards. The National Institute of Design (NID) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have signed an MoU to set up the museum in the Sanskar Kendra premises. Celebrating 'green'horns The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) on Tuesday felicitated 15 schools, 11 teachers and 16 students at the national level with Paryavaran Mitra 2013 awards at a ceremony held on the campus. Ashok Khosla, director of Infoterra at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was the chief guest. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Sports blueprint: AU trips on UGC deadline The Allahabad University authorities have failed to meet the October 10 deadline by which they had to submit a blueprint for revamp of sporting infrastructure to the University Grants Commission (UGC). As a result, sporting activities continue to be neglected on the campus. HC adjourns hearing in writ on PCS exam The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday adjourned till October 16 the hearing of a writ petition challenging the result of preliminary examination of PCS (2014), which was conducted by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Hudhud side affect: 15% of paddy crop damaged The disturbances caused by Cyclone Hudhud have damaged over 15% of paddy crop in Allahabad region. On Tuesday again, the region was lashed by wind blowing at the speed of 20 to 25 kilometres per hour, while the total rainfall stood at 114.3 mm. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Triple murder at doctor's house in Bhubaneswar An unidentified man on Tuesday allegedly hacked three persons to death, including a doctor, at Khandagiri Vihar. Rush to send names to Mars onboard Orion Many youngsters from the city have already registered their names in the 'send your name to Mars' initiative started by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). Relief to top cop in graft case Hearing Mishra's plea seeking quashing of the case, Justice S C Parija issued notices to state government and vigilance wing and directed them to submit documents related to the case by October 29. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Madhya Pradesh HC slams government over delay in notification of Ratapani as tiger reserve Madhya Pradesh high court on Tuesday show caused state government for an undue delay in notifying Ratapani area as a tiger reserve despite receiving an "in-principle approval" from the Centre in 2008. Madhya Pradesh high court slams government over delay in notification of Ratapani as tiger reserve Madhya Pradesh high court on Tuesday show caused state government for an undue delay in notifying Ratapani area as a tiger reserve despite recieving an "in-principle approval" from the Centre in 2008. Railway brass under CBI lens for nod to rejected sleepers Thousands of sleepers - manufactured by M/s Orissa Concrete & Allied Industries Limited (OCAIL) Chhattisgarh - have already found way under railway tracks across the country, sources said. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		HC intervenes to end ban on dalit entry in Bilaspur temple Social persecution of dalits has kept the administration and judiciary on its toes in Himachal Pradesh. Stung HP plans dedicated lab to test drugs produced in state With drugs manufactured in Himachal Pradesh frequently failing the tests in other states, making consumers concerned about the quality of drugs produced in the state, the state drugs control authority has decided to keep companies frequent failing the tests under scanner, so as to ensure a sense of confidence among consumers. 1 killed, 2 injured in brick chimney collapse A brick chimney came crashing down in Dehra subdivision on Tuesday, killing a labourer working at the site.Two others were injured in the accident at Sunehat area of Dehra in Kangra district. More Chandigarh News»

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