News Digest: Now, Centre to rank 73 agricultural universities

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, May 15, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Now, Centre to rank 73 agricultural universities Taking cue from the HRD ministry's recent move of issuing rankings of Indian universities and the country's engineering, management and pharmaceutical institutes, the agriculture ministry has decided to exclusively rank 73 agricultural universities. Government seeks report as call to ban 'Shaktimans' grows Amid demands to ban police horses following Shaktiman's death, the Centre has sought a report on their condition from central paramilitary forces and Delhi Police. Shaktiman, deployed by the Uttarakhand Police to control crowds during a BJP rally, died last month due to injuries caused a BJP MLA hit him. Animal cruelty cases down by 64% in 8 states In eight states that provided data to the environment ministry, cases dropped from over 14,000 in 2013-14 to less than 5,000 in 2014-15. But according to animal welfare experts, cases under the law mostly deal with transportation of animals. More India News»

		Business
		Pfizer says it's blocking use of drugs for lethal injections Pharmaceutical company Pfizer said on Friday that it was blocking use of its drugs in lethal injections, which means all federally approved drugmakers whose medications could be used for executions have now put them off limits. Prabhu promises new measures to revamp "ailing" Railways 4-month window to declare black money opens on June 1 The four-month window for declaring domestic blackmoney will open on June 1 and those opting to come clean by paying 45 per cent tax and penalty will not be subject to scrutiny and enquiry by the tax department. More Business News»

		Environment
		Wildlife board's Ken-Betwa riders don't impress experts The Ken-Betwa river-linking project, which promises to resolve Bundelkhand's water crisis, will not only submerge a considerable area inside Panna Tiger Reserve, but also submerge a part of vulture habitat and make it nearly impossible for the critically endangered gharials to make a comeback in Ken. Rare birth of Sumantran rhino brings a ray of hope The rare birth of a Sumatran rhino in Indonesia has been hailed a victory for the critically endangered species, which has been almost wiped out in the wild by poaching and habitat destruction. The female calf born in a breeding facility is the fifth of it's kind. World's smallest porpoise near extinction in Mexico Environmentalists have warned that Mexico's vaquita marina, the world's smallest porpoise, is close to extinction as the government reported that only 60 were found late last year. The population has dropped dramatically despite a ban on fishing gillnets blamed for the vaquita's death. More Environment News»

		World
		Protests loom as Venezuela enters state of emergency Venezuela braced for protests Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro declared a state of emergency to combat the "foreign aggression" he blamed for an economic crisis that has pushed the country to the brink of collapse. 8 dead, about 40 hurt in South Texas bus crash A charter bus headed to a casino crashed in far South Texas on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring about 40 in a one-vehicle rollover, officials said. Greece will return to bond markets next year: PM Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Saturday that Greece will return to the bond markets in 2017, seven years after losing access to the markets due to its debt crisis. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Arjun Kapoor: I think being single is a crime He’s unconventionally good looking. Tucked behind his machismo and the shadow of his stubble is a cute boyishness that makes him truly attractive Pic: Iulia Vantur flaunts six-pack abs It seems like his rumoured to-be wife is taking his fitness tips way too seriously. One look at the picture above and a million men would go weak in their knees. Iulia is seen showing off her enviable body and six-pack abs which are giving us serious fitness goals. 'I don't think a film on Sachin will excite me' Tom Alter isn't too keen to watch the upcoming biopic of Sachin Tendulkar More Entertainment News»

		Science
		NASA measures seasonal patterns in Mars atmosphere In its second martian year, NASA's Mars mission, curiosity has clocked the season cycle of the red planet. The local atmosphere in Mars is clear in winter, dustier in spring and summer, and windy in autumn, NASA scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found. Humans could have shaped the genetic history of camels: study Scientists have linked the evolution of single-humped camels to their use by humans, as transportation in deserts. Long-distance, back-forth movements on caravan routes have shaped a camel's genetic diversity. With climate change and desertification, new interest is developing in its reproduction. Scientists identify protein to treat miscarriages The pioneering study shows that a protein called Syncytin-1, which was the result of a viral infection of our primate ancestors 25 million years ago, is first secreted on the surface of a developing embryo even before it implants in the womb. More Science News»

		Sports
		IPL 2016: KKR beat Pune Supergiants by eight wickets (D/L) Yusuf Pathan made short work of the modest 66-run target in nine overs, after the Duckworth–Lewis method was applied due to rain, as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rising Pune Supergiants by eight wickets at Eden Gardens. IPL 9: Three-ton Virat Kohli breaks Indian run-record for a season Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli surpassed Kolkata Knight Riders' Robin Uthappa's tally of 660 runs set in the 2014 edition and also became the first batsman to hit three centuries in one season. Hat-trick hero Suarez leads Barcelona to title glory Luis Suarez converted Jordi Alba's low pass in the 22nd minute to give Luis Enrique's side the lead. He then headed in Dani Alves' cross in the 38th before tapping Neymar's pass into an empty net in the 86th. More Sports News»

		Technology
		8 big announcements Google may make next week Google is all set to host its annual developers conference -- Google I/O 2016 -- next week. Moto G4 press images leak ahead of launch The image shows the same design as seen for Moto G4 Plus smartphone, but without a square fingerprint sensor below the display. Samsung working on smartwatch with projector: Report The smartwatch is not just designed to throw close-range projection, but will also project full-size desktop window on walls. More Technology News»

		Education
		Students welcome UGC bid to include third gender in college schemes The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities and colleges across the country to include transgender as third gender in their scheme of "gender champions". Now, Centre to rank 73 agricultural universities Taking cue from the HRD ministry's recent move of issuing rankings of Indian universities and the country's engineering, management and pharmaceutical institutes, the agriculture ministry has decided to exclusively rank 73 agricultural universities. 'Introduce NEET in engg courses, but keep students in mind' The National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) has been made mandatory for entrance to medical colleges. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Good news: Mumbai's child sex ratio of 933 at all-time high The city's child sex ratio reached an all time high in 2015, with 933 girls born per 1,000 boys, significantly ahead of the national average of 918. But several wards of the city bucked the progressive trend to register a worrying gap. Rs 4,100 crore Maharashtra crop loss claims tip of iceberg? Insurance claims made by Maharashtra's farmers against crop losses due to drought in 2015-16 have touched Rs 4,100 crore, the highest since 1999. The sheer enormity of the claims indicates the distress faced by the agriculture sector in the state. Actor Ranbir Kapoor buys Mumbai flat for Rs 35 crore In another big-ticket deal involving a Bollywood personality, actor Ranbir Kapoor last month purchased a sprawling apartment in Pali Hill for Rs 35 crore. The transaction works out to be an eye-popping Rs 1.42 lakh per square feet, the biggest recorded transaction in the suburbs based on rate per sq ft. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Doctor shot dead at Palam clinic A 61-year-old doctor was shot dead at his clinic in south-west Delhi's Palam area by an unidentified assailant, police said on Saturday. Delhi cop helps boy find his way home Had it not been for an alert cop, this three-year-old child from Kalkaji would have landed in the wrong hands. Monster used tricks and threats to rape children Victims of the alleged child rapist, Johnny Ghosh, revealed shocking details about his crimes. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Satisfied with my govt's performance, says CM Lauding his government's performance over the past three years, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the ruling party has been free of scams and corruption. Siddaramaiah defends son About the controversy related to his son Yathindra, the CM said it was he who advised his son to withdraw from Matrix Imaging Solutions, the diagnostic laboratory set up in a government hospital premises. 3 police teams on the trail of woman rowdy Three special teams have been formed to nab the woman rowdy-sheeter who gave police the slip on Thursday.Yashaswini Mahesh was booked for attacking a debtor and charging exorbitant interest. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Money from lottery funded OGH's first kidney transplant Forget camping, now you can go `glamping'! Need home? Install app More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		To curb bribing of voters, EC defers election in Aravakurichi In an unprecedented crackdown on bribing of voters in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India has deferred the poll in Aravakurichi assembly constituency in Karur district to May 23, a week after the scheduled polling date. Overdose undercurrents Memories go modern More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Ahmedabad: BSF arrests Pakistan national Border Security Force (BSF) search party on Friday afternoon nabbed a Pakistani national named Rahimn Lakha Khan, 40, hailing from Pabuhar province of Tharpakar district of Pakistan from Biar bet area of Khavda. According to BSF officials, Khan had stranded into India to find his missing elder brother. Patidar protesters take off shirts before Gujarat CM arrival in Junagadh A group of protestors demanding reservation for Patidars or Patel community took off their shirts at a public function organized as ‘Krishi Mahotsav’ at the Junagadh Agriculture university in Junagadh town. Gujarat govt brings out circular for voluntary donation of private land in tribal areas With Gujarat government bringing out circulars for voluntary donation of land for public services in tribal areas, tribals can now donate land and so can general citizens. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HC seeks information on IPL matches in Kanpur Hearing a PIL that challenged holding of IPL matches at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on May 19 and 21, the Allahabad high court on Friday directed the state counsel to provide information in this connection. 'Overworked' teachers refuse to serve mid-day meal The Uttar Pradesh mid-day meal authority's plan to serve food to schoolchildren of 55 drought-hit districts in summer vacation is being opposed by the ones supposed to serve them: their teachers. Justice Shukla appointed acting CJ A senior judge of the Allahabad high court, Justice Vimlesh Kumar Shukla, was on Friday appointed as its acting Chief Justice after Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud's elevation to the Supreme Court. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Girls outshine boys in BU Plus III exam Like previous years, the girls outshone the boys by grabbing first positions in most of the subjects in the Berhampur University (BU) Plus III final year examinations, the results of which were published on Saturday. Balangir boy tops in Plus II science Lucky Behera of Newton College in Sambalpur with 93.33% has topped the Plus II science examination, the results of which were declared on Friday.He shares the top spot with Pushpanjali Sahu of Barbil. 41 new roads under PMGSYin rebel hub Rayagada soon The Rayagada district administration has decided to construct 41 new roads measuring about 299 kilometres under the Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the current financial year to improve connectivity to Maoist-hit Chandrapur block. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		'Shivraj's initiative to make toilets mandatory for contestants will bolster Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan' Madhya Pradesh BJP President Nandkumar Singh Chauhan has said that the state has added a new qualification to the eligibility criteria for aspirants willing to contest local body elections that they must have a toilet at home, so as to make public representatives responsible for Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan. Wall of a dilapidated house collapses, killing 2 in Rewa district Two people were killed and two others sustained severe injuries while a wall caved in during demolition of an old house in Rewa district on Saturday afternoon. 5 of a family murdered in Bhind Five persons of the same family were murdered in Bhind. All the five bodies were recovered from a small house of a widow on Saturday morning. They include four children. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		IMA state wing bats for NEET The Punjab chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has termed the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) as a bold step that can end admission racket in medical colleges across India. Debt-ridden farmer ends life in Bathinda A farmer reeling under debt ended his life by consuming poison in Bathinda district. Robbers run over ASI Robbers ran over and killed a policeman who tried to stop them after they snatched Rs 15,000 from two women and tried to escape in a car at Begowal village of Kapurthala on Saturday. More Chandigarh News»

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