News Digest: 60 Dalit students from Bihar threaten suicide

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, February 02, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		60 Dalit students from Bihar threaten suicide Sixty dalit students from Bihar studying at Rajdhani Engineering College (REC), Bhubaneswar, were forced to leave the college and their respective hostels on January 8 after the Bihar government allegedly failed to pay their stipend despite repeated requests by the college administration. Highway project heads asked to upload progress details on portal for fund release The road transport ministry on Monday made it mandatory for heads of all highway projects to upload work details and progress on a central portal named ePACE. The ministry will not release any payment from April, if details are not fed into the site. NDA govt takes etail route to push LED drive You can now snap one up at Rs 99 with a few clicks of the mouse, with the government joining the etail bandwagon to take its Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) to people’s doorstep. More India News»

		Business
		Airlines to offer discount schemes as fuel cost dips 12% Thanks to prices of crude oil coming down, the term fuel surcharge (FS) — a separate charge Indian carriers started levying about seven years back when oil prices began shooting up amid a slowing global economy — is all set to be junked from your air tickets. Netflix is for premium customers in India, says company If you own the latest iPhone, travel overseas frequently and flaunt multiple credit cards, it’s likely that you will subscribe to Netflix. Govt panel for 100 amendments to Companies Act A government-appointed panel on Monday suggested nearly 100 amendments to the new Companies Act to make it easier to do business in India, including for simpler laws for incorporating a company and for raising funds, as also for insider trading and dealings with top executives. More Business News»

		Environment
		Researchers confirm lions in remote Ethiopian park Conservationists say they have confirmed the existence of lions in a remote national park in Ethiopia, a rare piece of good news for a threatened species whose numbers have plunged in many parts of Africa. Born Free, a charity based in Britain, said the discovery was made in Alatash National Park. NGT direction to UP govt on Ganga pollution issue The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and its state pollution control board to apprise the public about pending proceedings as it may order shifting of polluting industrial units located on the banks of Ganga. Drying of animal hides on Ganga banks banned In a bid to save the river Ganga from increasing pollution, the district administration has banned drying of animal hides and production of organic fertilizers on its banks More Environment News»

		World
		Malala's school among 8 get terror threats Eight schools across the UK today received bomb attack threats, including one attended by Pakistani teenage activist and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, prompting authorities to launch a probe. Zika sparks abortion debate in S America The Zika virus has rekindled the debate on abortion and family planning laws in conservative South American nations, due to its link to brain damage in newborn babies. Thousands of women have caught the mosquitoborne virus across South America since late 2015, with the latest figures showing that 2,116 expectant mothers have been infected in Columbia alone. Al-Qaida seizes southern Yemeni town of Azzan Al-Qaida's Yemeni branch seized another town on Monday, setting up checkpoints at its entrances and besieging government buildings before dawn after days of fighting with southern separatists, officials said. The capture of Azzan marks the latest advance for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Farhan-Adhuna to avoid an ugly divorce battle Watch: Ranveer, Girish's epic Dubsmash The actors came together to Dubsmash on a peppy number from Girish's upcoming film, 'Loveshhuda.' Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma to part ways? Looks like the season of break-ups is not going to be ending anytime soon. With reports of several B-Town couple heading for splitsville, 2016 can safely be termed as the year of heart-breaks. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Lab-grown corals help restore critically endangered reefs Scientists have for the first time successfully raised laboratory-bred colonies of a critically endangered Caribbean coral species to their reproductive age, a step towards sustainable restoration of degraded reefs. New powerful, non-addictive painkiller developed Scientists have developed a new peptide-based powerful painkiller that is as strong as morphine but has fewer side effects and is not addictive. This software helps find illicit N-weapon tests Scientists have developed a computer software that can help detect illicit nuclear weapon tests undertaken by terrorist organisations or other non-state actors across the globe. More Science News»

		Sports
		Virat Kohli rested, Pawan Negi in for India-Sri Lanka T20Is The BCCI selection committee have rested Virat Kohli for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 international series with Sri Lanka. Guardiola to succeed Pellegrini at Manchester City Pep Guardiola will take over as coach of Manchester City on a three-year deal, the English club said on Monday after announcing the departure of incumbent Manuel Pellegrini at season's end. HIL: UP Wizards beat Delhi Waveriders in a thriller Uttar Pradesh Wizards registered a convincing 6-4 victory over home team Delhi Waveriders to record their second victory in the league stage of the HIL. More Sports News»

		Technology
		How Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella did what Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates couldn't On Thursday, February 4th, Satya Nadella will celebrate his second anniversary as the CEO of Microsoft. Motorola launches Moto X Force with 'Shatterproof' display at Rs 49,999 The Motorola Moto X Force features a 5.4-inch qHD display with 1440x2560 pixels resolution powered by Moto ShatterShield technology. The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system upgradable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Battle of smartwatches: Apple Watch vs Moto 360 (2) and others Second-generation smartwatches are already here, and while you might have resisted the lure of such technology so far, you might find yourself asking yourself every now and then, "Is it time for one?" Here we tell you about four new smartwatches available here. So go and take your pick ... More Technology News»

		Education
		UGC to launch national student-engagement campaign Seeking to create cleaner campuses across the country, higher education regulator UGC has asked colleges and universities to set up cleanliness panels as it works to launch a national student-engagement campaign for the purpose. Punjab to open three more schools for meritorious students this year To take forward agenda of imparting free and quality education to the poor but meritorious students, the Punjab government is all set to start academics in three new residential schools for meritorious students at Sangrur, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur. Score over 100% for top grade in new DU system Students would have to score more than 100% marks to get the top ‘O’ grade (‘outstanding’) in some subjects under the “relative grading” system introduced in Delhi University’s undergraduate courses as part of the choice-based credit system (CBCS). More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Mumbai's air quality worse than Delhi's Pollution levels in Mumbai fell on Monday but the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was still in the 'very poor' category and, worse than that of Delhi. Sena supports district collector Ashwini Joshi The Shiv Sena has supported the work done by district Collector Dr Ashwini Joshi especially after a section of senior BJP leaders from the region are reportedly upset over her recent action taken on mining and godowns in neighbouring towns. Open space row: BMC notices to 24 organizations In the second phase of taking back open spaces, the BMC will send notices to 24 organizations and trusts across the city asking them to hand over plots given to them on adoption basis. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Govt sore as Delhi again misses heritage bus Last June, the Centre halted Delhi’s bid for a world heritage city tag just days before the Unesco world heritage meeting. This year, the Centre has endorsed Ahmedabad for this prestigious tag, once again bypassing Delhi. 2nd arrest in gang war at Najafgarh Poor visibility delays 87 flights at IGI With a drastic plunge in the visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport, 87 flights were delayed on Monday morning. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bus passengers in Bengaluru forced to change buses, take cabs home Utter chaos prevailed after Bengaluru city police prevented about 2,200 private buses from entering the Central Business District (CBD) areas on Monday. To change portrayal, women need to step out and write films: Suhasini She is writing Queen in Tamil and Telugu; film to be directed by Revathi. Bengaluru mall faces power cut threat after fire breaks out in eatery The fire and emergency services department has decided to ask Bescom to disconnect power supply to a west Bengaluru mall where a fire broke out on Monday morning. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Two commissions that did nothing Two statutory Backward Castes commissions that held sway over the affairs of BCs in AP and Telangana areas for over two decades did nothing for the status of Kapus in the state during their tenure. One suicide, Kapu stir on the boil he agitation by Kapus seeking BC status in Andhra Pradesh threatened to spin out of control with a 50-year-old man committing suicide for the cause in Kakinada on Monday. Mudragada sets Feb 5 deadline to resolve Kapu quota issue It was the Kapu Garjana that he had convened in Tuni that unleashed violence on Sunday with a mob torching several police vehicles, a police station and bogies of the intercity Ratnachal Express. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Iran urged to release TN fishermen CHENNAI: Forty-nine fishermen from Kanyakumari, Tu ticorin and Gujarat are stranded in Iran without fo od and shelter. The Iran coast guard detained them in No vember when they strayed into the territorial waters of the country , sister Josephine Valarmathi, state coordina tor of Migrant Forum and National Domestic Workers Movement, has said. They were employed by their spon sors in Dubai, Ajman, and Sharjah. The families had appealed to the Centre to di rect the Indian Embassy in Iran to seek their release, she said.Ramesh, one of the fis hermen, told TOI over telep hone from Iran that they we re onboard a fishing vessel and had exhausted their food supplies. “We had not ente red the Iran waters intentio nally . We drifted due to heavy wind. We appeal to the Cent re to please help us return ho me as we are detained here and we are the sole breadwin ners for our families,“ he sa id. The vessel is guarded by the coast guard, sister Valarmathi said.“We met minister of state for shipping Pon Radhak rishnan and sought his help to get the men repatriated Their families are worried,“ she said. Nat'l marine fisheries census begins The national marine fisheries census started on Monday, with the Madras Research Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) flagging off the survey in the state at the Kasimedu fishing harbour. Art show in city park to be first outside a gallery Nageswara Rao park in Mylapore will host what is probably Chennai's first one-day art fair in a public space. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Girl ends life inside hostel room in Surat A 20-year-old bachelor of pharmacy (BPharm) student ended life at her hostel room in Uka Tarsadiya Pharmacy College near Bardoli, Surat on Monday . The deceased blamed stress in a suicide note left behind. Forester shoots self to death A forester posted at Jasadhar forest range in Dhari division in Amreli shot himself to death with his official gun allegedly to prove his `innocence'. Scientist, JNU prof in race for MSU chief's post A reputed professor of international law, a renowned Bangalore-based biotechnologist and MS University's current pro vice-chancellor (VC) are the three shortlisted for the post of VC of MSU. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Bajrang Dal for legislation to construct Ram Temple Bajrang Dal has demanded framing of laws for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.The temple issue was raised during a two-day conference being held at Vishwa Hindu Parishad camp in Magh Mela area on Sunday. Two killed, 2 hurt in wall collapse in Kaushambi district Two minors were killed and two others sustained serious injuries when they were trapped under the debris of a collapsed muddy wall at Kakarhai village under Saray Akil police station of Kaushambi district on Sunday afternoon. IED found in Mahanagri Exp, tragedy averted A major tragedy was averted when a bomb defusing squad (BDS) from Allahabad defused an improvised explosive device (IED) near Manikpur Railway Station in Chitrakoot district during the wee hours of Friday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Ravenshaw harassment case: complainants demand crime branch probe The three women faculty members of Ravenshaw University, who had levelled harassment charges against their colleagues, have raised question over the credibility of fact finding committee formed by varsity authorities to probe into the incident. Operation to nab gangster duo began in July 2015: Police Under fire for allegedly ignoring gangster siblings, Sushant Dhal Samant and Sushil Dhal Samant, the commissionerate of police on Sunday said the operation to nab them began in July 2015. Operation to nab gangster duo began in July 2015: Police Under fire for allegedly ignoring gangster siblings, Sushant Dhal Samant and Sushil Dhal Samant, the commissionerate of police on Sunday said the operation to nab them began in July 2015. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Cop dies as police vehicle fell down from Chambal bridge in Morena Police said that senior sub inspector Ashok Verma died in the incident. He was posted in Banmore police station in Morena. 86 camels seized from Bustard sanctuary in Gwalior As many as 86 camels found grazing inside Son Chirraiya sanctuary, home to great Indian bustard, were seized on Sunday. Farmer guns down leopard in Shivpuri dist, arrested A farmer was arrested in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh after he allegedly shot dead a leopard cub on Sunday evening. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Vrinda Utsav engages orphans in Chandigarh It was a special day for the children from various orphanages of the tricity. An initiative by the Vrinda Foundation for the orphans, Vrinda Utsav proved to be very successful and engaging for the children. More than 140 kids participated in this event by NGO Vrinda. Shiv Raman Gaur, IAS (Retd.) was the chief guest. Citco launches new menu at Cloud 9 Chandigarh Industrial Tourism and Development Corporation (CITCO), a unit of Chandigarh administration and a brand name in the hospitality industry, launched a fresh and rejuvenated menu to the food connoisseurs of the tricity. Panel formed to highlight problems faced by unaided colleges To highlight the issues and problems being faced by unaided colleges, a new association of unaided colleges, Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) has been formed on Sunday. More Chandigarh News»

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