News Digest: Army needs 4 lakh balaclavas, 2 lakh boots

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, January 08, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Army needs 4 lakh balaclavas, 2 lakh boots Air Marshal PP Reddy, chief of Integrated Defence Staff, on Monday said India needs to be prepared for war on both fronts, China and Pakistan. But how equipped are our soldiers in high-altitude regions? Reciting Kabir, Satyarthi dedicates his Nobel medal to nation Child rights crusader Kailash Satyarthi recited a couplet by Kabir, the medieval saint-poet, as he dedicated his Nobel medal to the people of India by presenting it to President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday. Shimla's Nikita is Winter Queen Aiming for Miss India and Miss World titles, Nikita Sharma from Shimla won the Winter Queen-2015 title during the winter carnival being held in Manali. More India News»

		Business
		Iran seeks leeway to spend oil dues Iran has sought more flexibility in using an estimated $6 billion in accumulated oil payments from India to buy “non-sanctioned” items — beyond “humanitarian goods” — from third countries as sliding crude prices begin to pinch. Offline stores offer e-commerce experience How would you like it if you could go to a garment store, stand before a screen there, and see how you would look in one of the dresses displayed on a poster without trying it out? Ford to pilot car-sharing project in Bengaluru Ford will pilot a share-car project in Bengaluru in association with self-drive car rental company Zoomcar. More Business News»

		Environment
		Don't pollute Ganga: PM Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday made a public appeal to not pollute the Ganga river while calling for a "time-bound, swift action and single-minded focus to ensure it is made pollution-free". Gadkari promises digitalized, eco-friendly roadways Union minister for road transport and highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari has promised the digitalization of the roadways and to make it more eco-friendly for the citizens. 'Fears of man-made global warming exaggerated' Two of three scientists at a session on climate change and society at the Indian Science Congress on Tuesday felt fears of man-made global warming were greatly exaggerated. More Environment News»

		World
		Car bomb kills 37 at Yemen police academy A car bomb tore through dozens of Yemenis lined up at a police academy in Sanaa Wednesday, leaving 37 dead in the latest attack to highlight the country's growing instability. Ebola fight has coordination problem, says new UN mission chief he three west African countries worst hit by the Ebola epidemic should be leading the response against the killer virus, the UN's new mission chief on the disease said Wednesday, condemning "a problem of coordination" in the fightback. Voting begins in Sri Lanka's presidential election Sri Lankans began voting Thursday in a tightly fought presidential election, with incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse seeking an unprecedented third term in office. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Baby: Esha Gupta's special song in the film Baby was meant to be a unique film with no songs. However, the makers decided to add a title track that pays an ode to the attitude of its characters. Big B: I am open to working with Rekha At the trailer launch of his much anticipated film ‘Shamitabh’, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan said he will not rule out the possibility of working with the veteran actress Rekha in future films Amitabh Bachchan: No drinking, no smoking Like me, I am sure there are many Indians who wonder what Mr Bachchan must be like inside his own house. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Want to forget a break-up? Think more about it Scientists have found an unexpected way to recover from a break-up: dwelling on it. Smart cycle alerts owner when stolen The world’s first ever bicycle that notifies its owner when it is stolen and also records on a daily basis the speed, route, incline and calories burnt of ev-ery single bike trip has arrived. 'Glowing' breakthrough in cancer fight It’s a breakthrough in cancer care — make cancer cells glow inside the body and hit them hard. Researchers at the Oregon State University have developed a new way to selectively insert compounds into such cells — a system that will help surgeons identify malignant tissues and then, in combination with phototherapy, kill any remaining cancer cells after a tumour is removed. More Science News»

		Sports
		Luis Enrique future hinging on healing Messi rift Senior Barca members met with Messi to discuss his dissatisfaction with coach Enrique, hoping to prevent their bust-up undermining the club's bid for trophies. Novak Djokovic eases into Qatar Open quarterfinals Top seed Novak Djokovic moved his Qatar Open debut into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine on Wednesday. Yuvraj is not someone who will melt like snow: Yograj Yograj Singh said the development has not affected Yuvraj's spirits as he is a tough guy who does not melt like snow and exuded confidence that he will bounce back soon. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Xiaomi may dump its 'online-only' strategy Xiaomi said it could sell more models in Indian stores while pursuing its primarily online-only strategy. HCL rewards top performers with foreign trip, Mercedes HRD experts feel the novelty of being given a luxury car or an all-expenses-paid holiday as a token of appreciation strikes a deeper chord than increased remuneration. 15 top gadgets launched this week CES 2015 is already underway and as always, it's the most exciting platform for new product announcements, innovations and tech startups. Here are some of the most exciting new launches and announments from the world's largest tech show. More Technology News»

		Education
		New IIMs grapple with teething trouble The Indian Institute of Management-Ranchi was established in 2010, along with five other IIMs, raising the hopes of lakhs of students aspiring to study in premier institutions. Four years later the institute functions out of two floors of a building, with no permanent campus. IIM-Bangalore hikes fees by 10% The most-coveted management course in the country just got costlier. IIM-Bangalore has increased the fees for its flagship post-graduate programme (PGP) from Rs 17 lakh to Rs 18.7 lakh. With this, IIM-B will remain the costliest among its premier sister institutions. Decks cleared for IIM in Bodh Gaya: Bihar minister After months of tussle between the Centre and the state government over a suitable site, the stage is set for the setting up of an Indian Institute of Management in Bodh Gaya. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Ex-Wimbledon champion is marathon ambassador With 10 days left for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM), the organizers announced that former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli will be the International Event Ambassador. Over 40,000 are expected to participate in the 12th edition of SCMM to be held on January 18. Coast guard worried about threat posed by trawlers In the wake of the December 31 operation in which a terror boat was intercepted on the outskirts of Porbunder in Gujarat, senior officials of the Indian Coast Guard western region met chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya to discuss issues concerning coastal security. Security up after 'ISIS terror alert' in airport men's toilet Security at the city airport was beefed up on Wednesday, a day after a ‘terror strike’alert was found scribbled on a wall in the men’s toilet at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA). More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		DDA stumbles upon another 1,500 acres it didn't know about Less than two months after an internal survey revealed that the Delhi Development Authority was sitting on undeveloped land roughly the size of Lutyens' Delhi, the authority has discovered more such 'goldmines' in the capital. He is the devil who raped me: Survivor in cab case The cab driver, who allegedly raped a 27-year-old woman executive in December last year, was identified by the woman at Tis Hazari Courts Complex where she had gone to record her statement. Thak-thak gang member arrested A member of the thak-thak gang was arrested from Tolstoy Marg in the Barakhamba area on Wednesday. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Scared kids wailed as mob ran riot in Bengaluru As mob fury took over Hale Guddadahalli, a nightmare reigned in the school at the centre of the unrest, following alleged sexual harassment of a class 2 girl. The school has 900 boys and girls on its rolls, studying in classes 1 to 10. Land activists demand action against D K Shivakumar Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and former land taskforce chief AT Ramaswamy on Wednesday staged a protest at Vidhana Soudha seeking action against energy minister D K Shivakumar in the alleged multi-crore Shanthinagar housing society scam. BMTC slashes fares by token Rs 1 When the long-awaited and much-talked about reduction in bus fares was announced on Wednesday, it came not with a bang, but with a whimper. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		AI Vij-Delhi flight from Jan 15 In a Sankranti gift to the state capital region, Air India will launch a direct flight service between Vijayawada and Delhi on January 15. Three killed as 75-feet chariot collapses Three youths were killed when a chariot that was being decorated with lights caved in at Nuzendla village of Guntur district on Wednesday. No Aadhaar, no benefits: Naidu AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asked district collectors to ensure 100% enrolment of Aadhaar in the state. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		For this 87-year-old, bringing epics to lay readers is a passion It was because of his love for “Silapaddikaram” that this retired professor erected a sculpture of Kannagi (the central character in the epic) near Pammal a year ago. Foresters step up chop down of invasive plant types in TN The forest department has intensified its efforts to eradicate invasive plant species that pose a threat to native varieties and the natural ecosystem of protected areas such as wildlife and bird sanctuaries as well as elephant and tiger reserves. Coal India worker's strike will not affect Tamil Nadu thermal plants, say officials Tamil Nadu will remain unaffected by the indefinite strike called by workers of Coal India as the thermal plants owned by the state had enough coal stocks to generate power. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Marine Task Force deployed along Gujarat coastline The Gujarat police has deployed, for the first time, 170 commandos of the newly-formed Marine Task Force along the 1,600 km coastline of the State. HC judge declines to hear Narayan Sai's bail plea Justice JB Pardiwala of the Gujarat high court on Wednesday recused himself from hearing the bail application of Asaram’s son, Narayan Sai, in connection with a rape case lodged against him in 2013. Former Gujarat University VC Vasani is dead Noted educationist and former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, N V Vasani, passed away on Wednesday. He was 75. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		TGT, revenue inspector exams on same day irks aspirants Aspirants preparing for competitive exams on Wednesday demanded rescheduling of TGT exam date as it was clashing with revenue inspector exam. Thousands of students have applied for both exams scheduled for January 25. They also decided to fax a letter to governor and chief minister it their demands were not met. Now, get your photo on postal stamp The Department of Post is all set to allow people to have their photograph on postage stamp meant for official use. This facility will be available at the upcoming two-day Allahabad Philatelic Exhibition (Allaphilex-2015) starting this Friday. Khadi shop in every village soon: Rai Khadi and Village Industries Board minister Narad Rai on Wednesday said that research was underway on designer Khadi to make it popular among youngsters. Inaugurating board’s exhibition on Magh Mela campus, he announced that a range of economical khadi products would be launched soon to popularize the fabric among masses. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Think I can look beyond the disappointment: Satish Ganesh not worried of missing century after team reaches good position at the end of third day Odisha fall like tenpins Hosts trail Vidarbha by 103 runs as 15 wickets fall on third day BJP replays scams tape, calls for regime change BJP on Tuesday limited its much awaited 'charge-sheet' against the Naveen Patnaik government to the chit fund, land and mining scams while calling for a regime change in the state at the widely publicized 'Mahasangram' rally addressed by party president Amit Shah. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Show cause notice to officer for not attesting marksheets School education minister Paras Jain made a surprise inspection of state open school on Wednesday. In a fit of anger, woman climbs parapet and jumps to death A woman, who fell down from balcony of her flat on fourth floor in Arera Colony on January 5 died in a hospital a day later. Schoolboy chokes to death imitating stunt from cartoon series in Gwalior A 9-year-old boy choked to death apparently trying to imitate a suicide scene shown in a television programme at Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Cross-border buses to terminate at Wagah now The Pakistan government has decided to terminate cross-border buses from India at the Wagah border on its side instead of allowing them to travel to their destinations - Lahore and Nanakana Sahib. Winter chill claims 3 lives in Haryana Two persons were killed and three critically injured in a road accident after a car and tractor-trailer laden with sugarcane collided head-on at Ladwa town of Kurukshetra district on Wednesday. Delhi assembly polls: Haryana BJP men to take charge of 11 segments Haryana BJP has decided to take charge of the 11 assembly constituencies of Delhi for its assembly elections, which are expected to be announced shortly. More Chandigarh News»

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