News Digest: From missiles to drones, DRDO projects keep missing deadlines

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, August 08, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		From missiles to drones, DRDO projects keep missing deadlines What should we do, apart from voting, to make govts accountable? Protecting strategic interests focus of foreign policy: PM 'India First' is the focus of the government's foreign policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. More India News»

		Business
		Rate cut is unlikely in Rajan's swan song South Africa's Naspers set to buy Citrus Pay for $180m Govt may cut gas price for producers by 20% in Oct Price of natural gas produced from existing fields of ONGC and RIL is likely to fall to $2.45 per million British thermal unit with effect from October 1 as opposed to $3.06 currently. On NCV basis, the new gas price is likely to be $2.7 from October 1. More Business News»

		Environment
		25 blackbucks 'poisoned' in Telangana Thought the exact cause of death is yet unknown, the authorities, worried that more blackbucks may get drawn to the maize crop and accidentally consume the pesticide pellets, have decided to destroy the crop. For now, the stomach content retrieved from the carcasses has been sent for analysis. Mumbai beach cleanup can set an example: Lewis Pugh Delhi zoo bats for animal diplomacy More Environment News»

		World
		Turkey's Erdogan stages mass rally in show of strength The "Democracy and Martyrs' Rally" at the Yenikapi parade ground, built into the sea on the southern edge of Istanbul's historic peninsula, caps three weeks of nightly demonstrations by Erdogan's supporters, many wrapped in the red Turkish flag, in squares around the country. Rebels 'break siege' in Syria's Aleppo Syrian regime forces were on the defensive around Aleppo on Sunday after a rebel alliance said it inflicted a major setback by breaking a three-week government siege and establishing contact with rebel forces in another part of the city. Thai voters overwhelmingly approve junta-backed constitution Thai voters on Sunday overwhelmingly approved a new junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed, rather than elected, officials. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Know all about Tiger Shroff's 'Munna Michael' Tiger Shroff’s euphoria is taking over Bollywood, one movie at a time. Akshay Kumar's leading ladies bowled over One of the nicest things about Bollywood’s khiladi Akshay Kumar is that he doesn’t try too hard to charm any of his heroines. Watch: Kriti Sanon trains hard for 'Raabta' It’s not just Sushant Singh Rajput who has sweated hard to flaunt six pack abs in ‘Raabta’. His co-star from the film, Kriti Sanon too is no far behind and has worked equally hard for the film. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		China to set up newborns, embryos genome databases A genome project for newborn babies was launched in China on Sunday to aid the early identification and treatment of hereditary diseases. The project will carry out genetic testing on 100,000 newborns over the coming five years. 'New tattoo-like skin device to monitor your health' Indians prone to cancer due to obesity, alcohol intake: Experts More Science News»

		Sports
		Rio 2016 live: Gymnast Dipa qualifies for vault finals After enduring a largely disappointing opening day at Rio Olympics, Indian athletes would look to come up with inspiring performances on the second day of the mega event. Rio Olympics: India continues to disappoint on day two The news from Rio de Janeiro was not encouraging from an Indian perspective, as for the second day running India’s contingent struggled to produce dominant performances at the Olympics. Indian women team played attractive hockey: Coach Happy with the come-from-behind draw against Japan in the Olympic opener, the Indian women's hockey team coach Neil Hawgood said his side produced its most attractive performance in a "long, long time" despite the nerves. More Sports News»

		Technology
		How Indian railways is using Facebook, Twitter After receiving 1,000 tweets and 200 complaints, IR has been contemplating new features to allow passengers to connect with senior rail management. 9 best waterproof-smartphones available in India Who says smartphones need to kept away from water? Friendship Day: Try these apps to make new friends This Friendship Day try these 3 apps to make new friends. More Technology News»

		Education
		IITs to keep eye on hiring by startups, focus on PSU jobs After a few start-ups revoked job offers and some deferred their joining dates, IITs are making minor changes in their placement policies to ensure students don't face a similar situation this year. Current Affairs Paper I played spoilsport for civil services aspirants The civil services (preliminary) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was held on Sunday with thousands of civil aspirants in Doon attempting the test on the day in the morning and the afternoon sessions. BITS Pilani can collaborate with DRDO, says Parrikar Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said the Defence Research and Development Organisation was ready to collaborate with the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani for research. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Oh fish! Shravan eats into penguins' diet at zoo It’s not just Mumbaikars who are missing out on variety in their seafood platter on account of the ongoing month of Shravan. Even the zoo’s newest entrants, the eight Humboldt penguins, are similarly palate-challenged. 3 minors among 8 dead in yet another Bhiwandi bldg crash Tragedy revisited the uncontrolled, unplanned urban sprawl of Bhiwandi near Mumbai on Sunday when eight persons, including three minors, died after a section of their three-storey building crumbled. 600 negligence cases hang fire as medical council & Maha govt spar The tussle between the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and the state government has put the fate of over 600 medical negligence cases in limbo. Some of these cases have been pending for 8 to 10 years More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Cops to track antisocials in garb of gau rakshaks A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at length about anti-social elements donning the role of “gau rakshaks“ during the day and committing crimes at night, Delhi Police on Sunday initiated the process of profiling such vigilantes. JNU withdraws Kanhaiya's private security cover The JNU administration on Thursday withdrew the private security cover provided to students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar. The university sent a notice to Kumar stating that the security will be continued only after dues of Rs 5 lakh are paid. Manage your own baggage at IGI More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		State to control jumbo count with contraceptive vaccine Raging woman attacks elderly man for knocking her down A woman in her 30s, who fell down from her bike near the Parachute Regiment Training Centre,near RT Nagar, flew into a rage and started attacking an elderly man in a car whose vehicle had brushed against her two-wheeler. A case has been registered against the woman for assault and causing damage to the car. Friending the freagle: How a few people are adopting traumatized lab beagles More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		We don't need aid, just your love for state: KCR to PM Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao sought PM Narendra Modi's “love and blessings“. “We are not demanding Rs 50,000 crore or Rs 1 lakh crore because we know governments have their own limitations. We demand your love for this state and your blessings for every initiative by this youngest state,“ Rao told Modi. Shoot me if you want, not my Dalit brothers: Modi Hyderabad, Aug 7 () In an impassioned outreach to Dalits against the backdrop of the Una flogging incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today decried the attempts to politicise the issue and said he is ready to get "shot and attacked" in place of his Dalit "brothers". 'Shoot me', but stop attacking dalits: PM Hyderabad, Aug 7 () "If you want to shoot, shoot me," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, as he called for stopping the attacks on Dalits and the politics over it. Making an emotional appeal, he asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected by the society. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Friending the freagle: How a few people are adopting traumatized lab beagles Corpn plans to segregate meat waste for stench-free city The Greater Chennai Corporation is up for an ambitious project of making Chennai free of its distinct stench. Student drowns in sea off Marina Beach A Class 12 student drowned in the sea off Marina Beach on Saturday.The victim's body is yet to be traced. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		ViRu-Nitin duo to douse dalit, Patel fire? Horticulture officer held for graft A team of state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a horticulture officer and a middleman for accepting Rs 20,000 bribe to release government grant. 5 held for Rs 3 lakh robbery A team of Gandhinagar range's RR cell arrested five of six accused in connection with the robbery of Rs 3 lakh cash and two mobile phones that took place on July 29. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Alarm bells ring as Ganga, Yamuna continue to swell Following flooding of rivers in Madhya Pradesh, the level of Yamuna and Ganga is rising at ana larming rate in the city. Three held in bid to extort Rs 30L from doctor Three youth, including a student leader, were arrested on Sunday on charges of making an attempt to extort Rs 30 lakh from a doctor in trans-Ganga. 46% of total candidates write UPSC prelims At least 46% of the total number of 39,556 candidates appeared in the civil services (preliminary) exams-2016 conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the twin districts of Allahabad and Kaushambi on Sunday. The exam was conducted smoothly in all the 83 centres. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		National Handlooms Day: Odisha govt launches scheme for weavers After union handloom minister Smriti Irani launched #Iwearhandloom campaign, Odisha government on Sunday doled out a new scheme for elderly weavers to mark the National Handlooms Day. Odisha govt moves to step up iron ore, chrome output Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 () As part of its efforts to raise raw material output in the state, the Odisha government has set a target of 8.64 mt of iron ore and chrome in 2016-17. State to withdraw ration card cases The state government on Saturday announced to withdraw all criminal cases against ineligible beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Youth arrested for looting Shivpuri man Jehangirabad police nabbed a 19-year-old youth on the charge of his involvement in looting Rs 1200 cash from a Shivpuri resident by injuring him near a Jain temple. Two of the accused involved in the robbery and attack are absconding. Plea at NGT: Environment minister yet to come clear on deforestation charge Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave, who is the brain behind recentky passed Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016, is yet to come clean on charges of promoting deforestation, a petition regarding which is being heard at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), central bench, Bhopal. Bookshop owner held for 'objectionable content' sale A local bookshop owner, Shahid Khan, was arrested for selling an Urdu newspaper in the state capital after a right-wing activist lodged a police complaint, alleging the weekly published objectionable content. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Don't polarize people, it won't help Punjab: Amarinder to Badal Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday warned chief minister Parkash Singh Badal against "attempts at polarizing people along the religious lines ahead of elections in the state". Sampla distributes posts, BJP leaders upset Several of the recent appointments of chairmen of the 14 improvement trusts in Punjab have left the senior party leaders, including sitting MLAs miffed. State issues advisory on horse disease More Chandigarh News»

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