News Digest: Sustainable energy gets MoU push

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, January 10, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Sustainable energy gets MoU push Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), an initiative of the United Nations, will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government on January 12 at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Ban Ki-moon to inaugurate canal-top solar power plant The city will host United Nations (UN) secretary general Ban Ki-moon on Sunday . Ban will visit the city to inaugurate the 10 megawatt ca nal top solar power plant of Vadodara branch of Narmada canal. VVIP travellers to keep Ahmedabad airport bustling today With only one day left for Vibrant Gujarat Global Inves tors' Summit several VVIPs, dignitaries and foreign delegates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be arriving at city airport on Saturday. More India News»

		Business
		Car sales growth stuck in slow lane Weighed down by crippling economic slowdown and high interest rates, car sales in 2014 fell below the numbers sold even in the year 2010, highlighting the depression in the Indian car market, once seen as the brightest spot in the global automotive space. Infosys's profit rise pushes share price up by 5% Vishal Sikka’s honeymoon with the markets continue. His second outing to announce Infosys’s results, on Friday, sent the share price soaring by 5%. His first, in October, had pushed the share price up by 6.5%. SC asks Sahara to seek Fema approval from RBI The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Sahara group to take Fema approval from Reserve Bank of India for its deal with Mirach Capital Group to raise over $1 billion by mortgaging its three hotels in London and New York. More Business News»

		Environment
		Karnataka sets up panel to declare eco-zones near national parks The cabinet set up a committee to identify and declare by January 31 eco-sensitive zones around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. After 21 years of SC monitoring, Yamuna still stinks like a sewer Central Pollution Control Board on Thursday told the Supreme Court why the Yamuna in its 22-km course through Delhi mostly stinks like a sewer drain – as against the norm of 5,000 MPN coliform per 100 ml of water, Yamuna water in Delhi had between 4 lakh to 16 crore coliform per 100 ml. 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". More Environment News»

		World
		F.B.I and Justice dept said to seek charges for Petraeus The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against retired Gen David H Petraeus for providing classified information to his former mistress while he was director of the C.I.A., officials said, leaving Attorney General Eric H Holder Jr to decide whether to seek an indictment that could send the pre-eminent military officer of his generation to prison. Jihadists offended Muslims more than cartoons: Hezbollah The chief of the powerful Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah said today that Sunni jihadists have caused more offence to Muslims than any book, cartoon or film. British preacher Abu Hamza jailed for life in US A US judge sentenced British hate preacher Abu Hamza on Friday to life behind bars for 11 terrorism and kidnapping convictions, calling his crimes that spanned the globe "evil" and "barbaric." More World News»

		Entertainment
		Shah Rukh Khan: The badshah of generosity Though he doesn't like to personally put light on his bigheartedness, we reveal some of his acts of kindness and generosity where he hasn't thought twice before shelling out money. PK may even break into the Rs 600 crore mark PK has become the highest worldwide grosser of Bollywood with a collection of Rs 575 crore. The Aamir Khan starrer has beaten the record of his own film Dhoom 3 which had earned a total of Rs 540 crore on the domestic box office. Farah's 50th bash: Ranveer woos Deepika More Entertainment News»

		Science
		You can't beat this computer at poker Scientists have developed an "essentially unbeatable" computer algorithm that can play a virtually perfect game of poker - including bluffing.The poker programme is "incapable of losing against any opponent in a fair game," according to its creator, computer scientist Michael Bowling, and his colleagues at the University of Alberta who worked with Finnish software developer Oskari Tammelin. Separation from mobile causes anxiety Separation from the cellphone can have serious psychological and physiological effects on iPhone users, including poor performance in cognitive tests, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Missouri suggest that iPhone users should avoid parting with their phones during situations that require focused attention, such as taking tests, attending conferences or meetings, or completing important work assignments, as it could result in poorer cognitive performance in those tasks. 'Hacking possible without internet' Hackers may be able to sneak into your laptop or smartphone just by analysing the low-power electronic signals your device emits even when it is not connected to the internet, researchers say. More Science News»

		Sports
		Messi deal impossible under Financial Fair Play: Chelsea Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland on Friday distanced the Premier League giants from a move for Barcelona's Argentina star Lionel Messi. Leander Paes on course for seventh Chennai Open title Leander Paes and Raven Klaasen eased into the final with a clinical win over Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at the Chennai Open. Stanislas Wawrinka wallops into Chennai Open semis Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka survived some anxious moments against Gilles Muller before proceeding into the semifinals at the Chennai Open. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Vishal Sikka gifts iPhone 6s to 3,000 top performers Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka played Santa Claus to top performers in the company during the holiday season. 2G spectrum case: Relief to Sunil Mittal, Ravi Ruia The Supreme Court has set aside the lower court order summoning as accused Bharti Airtel CMD Sunil Bharti Mittal and Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia. 10 Microsoft Office features you probably didn't know Office 365 is a little unusual in that it is cloud software and you install it on your PC, to give you the best of all worlds. As you keep you paying for it, Microsoft automatically adds cool new features.Here are some cool features of Office 365 that you may not know about. More Technology News»

		Education
		Announcement of IIM at Gaya ends uncertainty State education minister Brishen Patel’s announcement on Wednesday that an IIM will come up in Gaya has ended the seven-month-long uncertainty and brought cheers to Gayaites. UGC choice-based system of subjects comes with riders The choice-based credit system (CBCS) proposed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) at the all-states meeting this week will not be completely flexible as of now. Indore HC stays admissions to private pre-schools under RTE Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Thursday stayed admissions to pre-schools under Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 and state government circular in this regard. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Centre's farm aid on hold as state 'delays' drought report The state government’s failure to submit a comprehensive report on the drought situation has delayed financial aid from the Centre. A high-level central committee is likely to meet in a fortnight to decide the drought-aid proposal, said state officials. Women's education can solve social problems: Minister Women’s education can be the only solution for the social problems faced by the country, Union minister for railways, Suresh Prabhu, said on Friday. Lalbaug clash: Cops out to get source of rumour texts Five days after a clash broke out between two groups at Lalbaug last Sunday, the police have sought a probe to track down the origin of rumours that followed. Police commissioner Rakesh Maria has formed a special team to conduct a probe. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		List of trains cancelled, delayed due to fog Unlike the last few days, it wasn't a very foggy morning for most parts of the country on Saturday with 38 partially cancelled trains. Fun and feasts to mark Bihu celebrations Bhogali Bihu, the harvest festival of Assam, will be celebrated in a much bigger way this year in the city. Dense fog to last till Saturday Delhi experienced another cold and foggy day with the maximum temperature recorded at 16.3 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Cox Town neighbours still in a daze The TV crews have left and everything appears normal and calm at Bimyadi apartments on Heerachand Road, Cox Town on Friday. Suspects in police custody until January 21 The three suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives arrest-ed with a cache of explosives and communication devices were on Friday remanded in police custody by a special court till January 21. Housing minister MH Ambareesh gives meet a miss Housing minister MH Ambareesh, who had reportedly walked out from an earlier cabinet meeting after chief minister Siddaramaiah turned down his persistent appeal for an extension to BTC, was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting on Friday, sources said. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Paddy burning: 1 held Police on Friday arrested an auto driver in connection with the burning of paddy at an agricultural field in Kaza village of Mangalagiri mandal. Farmers oppose Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme Farmers from across Andhra Pradesh on Friday demanded that the state government withdraw the move to construct Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme to divert water from Godavari to Krishna. 'BJP membership drive won't affect TDP' BJP president Amit Shah on Friday clarified that his party’s expansion drive in AP should not be construed as an attempt to weaken political ally, Telugu Desam Party. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Andhra man who wowed Tamil Nadu Born in Chamallapudi village near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, volleyball caught Rao's attention relatively late, at college.“While studying at Hindu College in Guntur, I used to play both basketball and volleyball regularly since both courts were side-by-side,“ recalls Rao. More Tamil Nadu doctors botch up, but few in net It is a scene increasingly being played out in hospitals, police stations and courts in Tamil Nadu: Patients accusing doctors of various `offences' and the latter screaming out their innocence. BJP more cunning than AIADMK, says Karunanidhi DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Friday said people of Tamil Nadu should be watchful against BJP strengthening its base in the state as it was more cunning than AIADMK. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Kite fest in Ahmedabad's vibrant skies The city skyline will on Saturday come alive with thousands of vibrant kites trying to outmanoeuvre each other. Ahmedabad teacher accused of molestation surrenders A music teacher at a school in Satellite was arrested by police on Thursday after he surrendered. Security at Ahmedabad railway stations beefed up Security in the city and at its railway stations was heightened on Friday, a day after Bangalore police nabbed three Indian Mujahideen (IM) suspects with explosives, from Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC lawyers to boycott work till rejection of ex- law minister's letter The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) on Thursday resolved to continue its boycott of work till the letter, sent by the then Union Law Minister is rejected by the Chief Justice. Return of cold wave leads to rush in hospitals Return of the cold wave has been marked by a rise in number of patients turning up in government hospitals. Doctors said that fall in temperature has led to a spurt in number of patients suffering from pneumonia, bronchitis and heart diseases. 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. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Opposition rejects all-party panel The opposition BJP and Congress on Friday rejected an all-party committee formed by the state government to suggest steps for setting up a legislative council in Odisha. ED attaches BIT financed by tainted Seashore Group The enforcement directorate (ED) on Friday attached Bhubaneswar Institute of Technology (BIT), a private engineering college on the outskirts of the city, and the 20-acre plot on which it stands. Rs 10cr fraud: Firm chief held The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch on Friday arrested director of a company on charges of operating a money circulation business under the garb of a real estate firm. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Eco, psychology profs guide for edu subject Trust Barkatullah University for indulging in logic-defying, against-rule actions.Two professors, one of economics and another of psychology are teaching and awarding PhD to students of continuing education for years. 5 Campionites in state skating team Five students from Campion School, Bhopal, have been selected for Madhya Pradesh skating team that will participate in the 60th National roller skating competition to be held in Pune from January 10 to 13. Centre of excellence-hydro machinery opens at BHEL BHEL chairman and managing director B Prasada Rao, on Friday, inaugurated centre of excellence-hydro machinery on premises of Hydro Laboratory. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		'Crorepati' murrah bulls fetch attention Two murrah breed buffalo bulls from Haryana and Punjab — which are set to compete against each other on January 11 — stole the limelight on Friday in the ongoing National Livestock Championship at Muktsar. Ban on entry: Khalsa's wife, son blame state govt In an emotional outburst Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa’s wife Jasvir Kaur and son Jujhar Singh squarely blamed Punjab government and the Akal Takht Jathedar for preventing Khalsa from entering Punjab and paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. Students forced to paint barbed fence in cold Two students of a government primary school in Dhani Jeeta Singh under Balluana assembly constituency on Thursday were forced to paint school’s barbed fence in biting cold. They were also made to sweep classrooms and clean toilets on the orders of school principal Rakesh Narang. More Chandigarh News»

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