News Digest: Army commander: Ops took time as saving lives was important

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, February 21, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Army commander: Ops took time as saving lives was important The chief of Army's Western Command, Lt Gen K J Singh, on Saturday said counter-terrorist operations during the attack at Pathankot air force station on January 2 took a bit more time as they had to ensure the safety of families living inside the airbase. 'We should celebrate nationalism but guard against its misuse' Historian Mridula Mukherjee is one of the speakers in the university’s ongoing open-air lecture series on nationalism. The retired JNU professor who coauthored India’s Struggle For Independence tells Avijit Ghosh why these lectures are important. Hang Rahul's head on JNU gate: BJP man Bajwa stood by his remarks and said that he won’t retract it. Declaring himself as a “dedicated worker” of the BJP and a responsible citizen, he added, “Those who support traitors or are themselves so, we will not hesitate in killing such people. More India News»

		Business
		Nepal seeks more power transmission lines from India Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli sought the development of more power transmission lines from India as he and PM Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line following delegation-level talks between the two countries. Parliamentary proceedings to guide rupee's movement Parliamentary proceedings, coupled with announcements on the upcoming union budget and global cues, are expected to guide the Indian rupee's trajectory during the coming week, experts said on Saturday. Jat quota stir hits work at Maruti plants in Haryana Owing to the agitation over reservation in Rohtak and other areas, supplies of certain components to Maruti plants haves been disrupted. As a consequence, the company has temporarily suspended manufacture of cars at its facilities in Manesar and Gurgaon, starting Saturday second half. More Business News»

		Environment
		Peacock off proposed vermin list in Goa BJP, which is the ruling party in Goa, said peacock has been removed from the proposed list of vermins while a decision on including Indian Bison is still under consideration. A recent report mentioned that peacock and Indian Bison were among animals proposed to be listed as vermins, making them easier to cull. Pangolins face extinction in India, wildlife body warns On the eve of World Pangolin Day, a wildlife body on Friday highlighted the extreme impact caused by poaching and illegal trade of the species and stressed the need for coordinated action to save the pangolins from extinction. TRAFFIC India said the survival of the species in India is in question. Green building to grow by 20% in India by 2018: Report Green building industry will grow by 20% in India in the next three years, mainly on account of environmental regulation and rising demand, a report said. New high-rise residential, communities and mixed-use development are expected to be the top three sectors for green building growth in India, it added. More Environment News»

		World
		Trump takes S Carolina, Clinton wins in Nevada Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump grabbed a big win in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, while Democrat Hillary Clinton breathed life into her sluggish campaign with a victory over Bernie Sanders in Nevada. US air strike on Libya kills two abducted Serbians A US air strike in Libya believed to have killed an Islamic State group operative behind the mass murder of tourists on a Tunisian beach also killed two kidnapped Serbian embassy employees, Belgrade said Saturday. Fiji cleans up after 'strongest ever' cyclone Fiji began a massive clean-up on Sunday after the most powerful cyclone in its history battered the Pacific island nation, leaving a trail of destruction. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Rishi Kapoor: Ranbir should settle down now Be it the roles he plays in his movies, voicing his opinion on social media or his hedonistic lifestyle, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor takes no prisoners. Deepika: I've not been in a live-in relationship Actor Deepika Padukone says she will never be in a situation where she has to fight for her man. Ever again. Jat protests: Randeep Hooda reacts More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Power suits work, shows study A recent study found that using brand-name gear can provide a noticeable placebo effect that could boost performance. A record number of people want to get off the planet NASA has received a record 18,300 resumes from people keen on becoming astronauts. Period pain like a heart attack According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, period pain affects the lives of around one in five women. More Science News»

		Sports
		After long jump gold, triple jump silver for Mayookha India's Mayookha Johny on Saturday won her second medal -- a silver in women's triple jump -- to add to her gold in long jump on the second day of Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. Hope an Indian can break McCullum's world record: Raina "I am very happy for McCullum but I hope that somebody from India can do it. I am happy that we have McCullum in Gujarat Lions team," Suresh Raina said. Suarez, Neymar open up nine-point Barcelona lead Barcelona moved nine points clear at the top of La Liga thanks to first-half goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar despite an unconvincing display in a 2-1 win at Las Palmas on Saturday. More Sports News»

		Technology
		7 spy gadgets that will blow your mind There are plenty of spy gadgets out there. Some of them seen in the movies picked up from real life events. Here is our list of 7 quirky spy gadgets. Pricey smartphones: Has Apple toppled Samsung in India? Apple has trailed Samsung in the category for three quarters but record sales in the last quarter appear to have tipped the balance for the Tim Cook-led company. Counterpoint Research said Apple gained a 55% volume share of the segment compared with Samsung’s 35%. Warning bells? 25 lakh bookings, but cellphones yet to be made 'Ringing Bells, the company behind the Rs 251 smartphone that has generated disbelief and suspicion in equal measure, claimed on Friday he had reached his target of 25 lakh bookings. He also said he would disclose his business plan in a couple of days. More Technology News»

		Education
		Maharashtra varsities lag behind in research, says scientist Central universities are favoured over state varsities and this has led to quality of knowledge and research going down at the latter, said noted scientist GD Yadav on Saturday as he called for doing away with traditional style of classroom teaching. UGC tells universities to celebrate Matribhasha Diwas on March 3 In a letter written to vice-chancellors, University Grants Commission has said that since February 21, which is celebrated as the Mother Languages Day falls on a Sunday, it has been decided to celebrate 'Matribhasha Diwas' on March 3. Homi Bhabha National Institute gets HRD ministry's nod to start its off-campus centre The HRD ministry has given approval to Mumbai-based Homi Bhabha National Institute to start an off-campus centre at Bhubaneswar in the name of National Institute of Science Education and Research. The ministry said it has issued a notification in this regard on the advice of the UGC. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Experts ask for uniform pre-school curriculum Disparity in the quality of early childhood care and education is growing in India, feel experts. They have called for government action to bring in uniformity and certification in the sector. 40L drug seizure at courier office Customs officials on Friday arrested the manager of a courier firm for seeking to send a consignment containing 4.07 kg of a banned drug, amphetamine, worth more than Rs 40 lakh. Edward Rodrigues, the manager, was produced in court on Saturday and remanded in jail custody. 4 racecourse trainers receive 'threat' letters Four leading horse trainers at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse have received threat letters purportedly sent by “All India Lashkar Thoiba Liberation Federation”, an unknown outfit, on Thursday. The Tardeo police has been briefed of the development. No FIR has been registered yet. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Lawyer in court fight held, gets bail Six days after terror was first unleashed by a section of lawyers on unsuspecting JNU students and teachers and journalists at the Patiala House Courts, Delhi Police -under fire for its seeming reluctance to take any action -made its first arrest. Jat quota stir: Water supply cut, Delhi may go dry today The capital is staring at an unprecedented water crisis after 70% of its supply was hit when Jat protesters forcibly shut down the Munak canal in Haryana and its Delhi sub-branch on Saturday morning. R K Pachauri's Rs 4 lakh-bond forfeited for overstay A trial court has forfeited the security bond of Teri’s executive vice chairman R K Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment charges by two former woman colleagues, saying Pachauri has “deliberately” violated travel conditions imposed on him by overstaying abroad. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Three additional courts to try corruption cases in Bengaluru Urban, state tells HC The state government has informed the Karnataka high court that a notification has been issued on February 10,2016 designating/notifying three more courts in Bengaluru to try the cases arising out of Prevention of Corruption act, 1988 or Lokayukta cases. 16-year-old sent to remand home on rape charges A 16-year-old Class X student has been handed over to remand home for allegedly raping his six year old cousin in South East part of Bengaluru. Acting on the complaint filed by victim's parents, Parappana Agrahara police detained the accused from his house on Saturday and handed him over to officials from remand home. Bangalore School of Music partners with NGO to present soiree Bangalore School of Music is all set for Serendipity, a music concert that would bring to Bangalore Marialena Fernandes, world-renowned pianist and professor at Vienna Controversy. She would be performing along with ThreeX, trio musicians and entertainers. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Former CBI top honcho's son booked for defrauding banks Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials have booked a case against K Srinivas Kalyan Rao, son of former top honcho of CBI for defrauding a consortium of banks, including the Central Bank of India, to the tune of Rs 304 crore. AP woos mid-level firms to boost IT growth Andhra Pradesh is looking at Non Resident Indians (NRI) from the region to boost the information technology sector's growth in the state. Medaram Jatara concludes Asia's biggest tribal fair, Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara, concluded on Saturday with lakhs of devotees bidding farewell to the tribal goddesses at Medaram village in Warangal district. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Tamil Nadu OKs 50% reservation for women in local bodies Focusing on women empowerment on the eve of assembly election, the Tamil Nadu assembly on Saturday passed two bills that guarantee 50% reservation for women in all local bodies in the state. Jayalalithaa sacks minister after 'personal' pictures circulated on Whatsapp A day after his ‘personal’ pictures went viral, chief minister J Jayalalithaa dropped Milk and Dairy development minister B V Ramana from the cabinet. Zoology department celebrates 75th year by adopting peacock at Vandalur zoo When a department in a college completes 75 years what will the staff and the faculty members do to celebrate the occasion? Organize a seminar, invite their university vice-chancellor or honor the alumni. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Mukhya Mantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojna has given benefits to 91 students every day In just 110 days of the launch of Mukhya Mantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojna for higher studies, the state government has given the benefits to 10,000 students. The state, on an average, has given benefits to nearly 91 students every day. In 14 years, sexual offences against women in Gujarat rose by 82% In a state considered safe for women, an RTI query has revealed that sexual offences against women had risen sharply (by 82%) in the past 14 years. President-elect of BJP's state unit says 2017 assembly polls a test for him “The post of state BJP president is a test for me and the paper is the Assembly election of 2017,” said Vijay Rupani, the newly elected president of state BJP, while talking to TOI over phone. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Rahul Gandhi speaking Hafiz Saeed's language: Giriraj Singh Minister of state in ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, Giriraj Singh has termed the language, being spoken by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, on the issue of JNU, synchronizing with that spoken by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed. Vizianagram Hall tiles to be replicated The restoration of the historical Vizianagram Hall and its magnificent dome at Allahabad University's science faculty has entered the crucial phase of tile-selection for the dome. UP Board: Glitch prevents upload of attendance data More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Centre blames Odisha for not spending funds Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s farmer’s rally at Bargarh on Sunday, the Centre accused the state government of not being able to spend crores of funds provided under different schemes on Saturday. Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said this after reviewing various schemes here. Bhubaneswar hottest town in India with 40.9 degree Celsius Bhubaneswar on Saturday recorded 40.9 degree Celsius temperature, highest in the last 53 years in the month of February. Naveen launches housing schemes to woo construction workers Continuing the freebies, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched another populist scheme—Nirmal Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana-- to avail houses for registered construction workers of rural areas in the state. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		JNU row : MP Cong to observe `freedom from Sanghvad' on Feb 22 The BJP and Congress in Madhya Pradesh have cross swords over JNU campus row with Congress announcing to observe `freedom from RSS ideology’ (sanghvad se mukti) on February 22, a day after against BJP’s `condemnation day’(dhikkar divas).  Katni to have India's longest railway bridge Katni in Madhya Pradesh will have India's longest railway bridge of 14 kms length on the up line, almost three and half times longer than the present longest railway bridge -- Vembanad rail bridge in Kerala that connects Edappally and Vallarpadam in Kochi and is 4.62 km long. MP BJP "Dhikkar Diwas" to condemn JNU anti-national activities  MP BJP on Saturday called several press conferences across the state to publicise the party’s “Dhikkar Diwas (Condemnation day)” to be observed on Sunday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Get decisions on Kali Bein implemented, Seechewal tells Badal Punjab-based environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal on Saturday submitted a written representation to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, informing him that the state government was yet to implement decisions on the historic Kali Being rivulet which were taken during a meeting at the CM's house nearly one and a half months ago. Memorial immortalizes peasant leader in Moga A memorial was unveiled on Saturday at Takhtupura village in Moga in the memory of peasant leader Sadhu Singh Takhtupra on his sixth death anniversary. Sufi singer Hans joins Cong Sufi singer and 2009 Akali Dal Lok Sabha candidate Hans Raj Hans joined the Congress party on Saturday. More Chandigarh News»

		Unsubscribe | To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here	Other Newsletters from TOI : Breaking News | Top Headlines | Tech | Entertainment | Movie Reviews | Life & Style