News Digest: Government's blackout of two TV news channels dangerous for democracy

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, November 07, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Government's blackout of two TV news channels dangerous for democracy Across the board, journalists and editors have opposed the one-day ban on NDTV India and News Time Assam, declaring it authoritarian overreach by the government. This is the first time a news channel has been barred for reasons of national security. Time to take Delhi fight past NCR, says CPCB ex-chief Shashi Shekhar Emergency measures announced by the Delhi government will help if strictly enforced, but not serve the ultimate purpose of making the National Capital Region (NCR) liveable unless the Centre and Delhi’s neighbouring states take coordinated short-, medium-and long-term actions to control pollution. Concerned over impact of bad air: US embassy With air quality in Delhi hitting an all-time low, the US embassy has said it is “very concerned” about the impact of the pollution on Americans living here and the public at large. More India News»

		Business
		Patanjali Ayurved to invest Rs 1,300 crore in Assam Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by Yoga guru Ramdev, will hire around 5,000 people at its upcoming Rs 1,300-crore facility in Assam by the end of this fiscal year. GST Compensation Bill to be taken up in winter session The GST Compensation Bill will provide a legal backing to the Centre's promise to compensate the states if their revenue growth rate falls below 14 per cent in the first five years of the GST roll out. The base year for calculating the revenue of a state has been decided as 2015-16. Engage in global digital policy debates: Prasad Secretary Aruna Sundarajan added, "We embraced the mobile revolution as consumers, but we missed the bus as people who defined standards and developed the technologies. We are at a historic transition point ...". More Business News»

		Environment
		Prize Murrah bull to be star attraction at global agri show The celebrity Murrah bull, Yuvraj, will be a major attraction at the upcoming global Agritech Meet 2016, Gram, in Jaipur. Murrah is a world famous high-yielding breed said to have its origins in Haryana’s Rohtak and Jind districts. The breed is also found in western UP. Need stringent moves for pollution control: CSE Climate meet: India to push for sustainable lifestyle At the Marrakech Climate Change Conference scheduled to be held from November 7 to 18, nations will continue their work on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, with the central focus placed on enhancing ambition, promoting implementation and providing support. More Environment News»

		World
		Tanks of Iraq's 9th division rumble into Mosul Guard killed in Bangladesh airport stabbing spree Smog blankets China: 9 killed, 43 injured At least nine people were killed and 43 others injured on Sunday in multiple pile-up accidents along an expressway in Shanghai as heavy smog engulfed several cities in China. Several road accidents were reported along the S32 expressway in Pudong New Area due to foggy weather. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Will Salman Khan-Govinda return for the 'Partner' sequel? We all loved the crazy twosome, Salman Khan and Govinda in the comic caper ‘Partner’ and fans would surely love to see them reunite on the screen. Akshay Kumar shares a selfie from the 'Toilet' Akshay Kumar is back from Cape Town where he celebrated Diwali with his family. Pics: Shweta Bachchan walks the ramp Amitabh Bachchan takes immense pride in his fine acting capabilities, we all know that. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		New safer gene therapy may reduce cancer risk: Study Researchers at Washington State University in the US identified a way to reduce the development of cancer cells that are an infrequent but dangerous byproduct of gene therapy. They altered the way a virus carries a beneficial gene to its target cell. Heart attack or Heartburn: How you can find out With heart diseases being one of the major causes of death in India, it is perhaps not surprising that most people presume any pain in the chest area to be an attack. As a result, in a large number of cases a patient is rushed to the hospital, only to find that it is a mere heartburn. New virtual reality system lets you 'feel' rain Disney Research has developed a 360-degree virtual reality application using a unique chair to provide full body sensations that enables users to add customisable "feel effects" such as falling rain or a beating heart. Users can select from a library of feel effects which is also assembled by Disney More Science News»

		Sports
		Kumble backs both Pandya and Nair ahead of first Test Anil Kumble is facing a selection conundrum as he needs to choose either "fifth bowler" Hardik Pandya or "sixth batsman" Karun Nair for the series-opener against England but India's chief coach did not reveal much on his preference, praising talent of both the players. Delhi smog: Two Ranji matches cancelled due to air pollution The severity of air pollution and dense smog cover in the capital led to the cancellation of the two Ranji Trophy encounters --- Bengal and Gujarat at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium and Hyderabad vs Tripura at the Karnail Singh Stadium on Sunday. BCCI said that both matches will be rescheduled. Domestic match must for comeback post injury: Kumble Coach Anil Kumble has laid down a "protocol" that a player recuperating from injury needs to play "domestic cricket" in order to be considered for a comeback in the national team. In the past, there have been instances of player breakdown in their bid to make a quick comeback post serious injuries. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus price details revealed, goes up to Rs 92,000 The iPhone 7 Plus 32GB, 128GB and 256GB will cost Rs 72,000, Rs 82,000 and Rs 92,000 respectively Apple slashes prices of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus by up to Rs 22,000 Apple has announced biggest-ever price drop for its smartphones in India. Under the new pricing, iPhone 6S (128GB), carying an MRP of Rs 82,000, will now be available at an MRP of Rs 60,000. iPhone 6s Plus (128GB) will now be available at an MRP of Rs 70,000, the smartphone too has received a price cut of Rs 22,000. Apple's 4-inch smartphone iPhone SE, too has got a price cut. The 64GB version of iPhone SE will now be available at Rs 44,000. WhatsApp privacy policy challenged in Delhi High Court: 5 things to know A public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court (HC) challenges the change in WhatsApp's privacy policy. More Technology News»

		Education
		I do not think government can run good institutions: CNR Rao Govt to tweak RTE to define learning outcomes, says HRD minister Prakash Javadekar RTE's no-detain policy till Class VIII has diluted the quality of education, some experts have said. Also, following NGO Pratham's report last year, which said many Class 5 students in rural India couldn’t read, the proposed move may allow schools to ascertain learning skills and take steps. Major startups not recruiting at IITs this year The All IIT Placement Committee, which decided to blacklist these companies, estimated that around 135 students from across IITs were affected by these companies’ actions. However, overall it’s a happy placement season for IITs with pre-placement offers up by 25-30% compared to last year. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Insurance firm indicted for not honouring claim settlement Anupam Kher enthrals kids with insightful anecdotes French embassy showers praise on police chief More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Rs 1,000 not enough to survive, court raises maintenance Air pollution: Govt woke up late to crisis, says BJP Schools shut, construction work stopped in smoke house Delhi More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Expats root for Hillary, wait with bated breath for results The invisible Dr Watsons of police force: The writers at the station Theresa May's visit may bolster Brand Bengaluru More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		'Girls' mother had affairs with many men' Prior to shifting to their current residence at Laxmiguda Colony of Mylardevpally, the twins' family used to stay at Katedan and Budvel. Youths in KCR's village yet to get benefits of government job schemes A couple of months ago, the villagers met Chandrasekhar Rao and requested him to make Chintamadaka a mandal headquarter. Distraught beggar pushes cart with wife's body for 60 km Unable to hire any means of transport to transfer his wife's body to his native in Medak district, a middle-aged beggar carried her corpse on a cart for over 60 km.He, however, lost his way and reached Vikarabad instead. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Shortage of chief engineers may hit PWD's monsoon plan Rain washes down pollutants, keeps air in Chennai clean A class no student will want to miss More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		India-UK advanced training to be held Student finds 2 new spider species in state Disabled children are dropping out of school More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		This Magh Mela , beverages in earthen cups only This Magh Mela, beverages like tea, coffee, soup etc would only be allowed to be served in 'kulhars' (earthen cups) only. Congress poster warns Modi not to stop a Gandhi, else be ready to face music General secretary of city Congress Committee, Irshad Ulla has created controversy by displaying a poster at the heart of the city – Subhash Chauraha. The poster claims that those who had ever tried to target or are targeting Gandhi family, have either vanished or would be vanished. School manager beaten, kidnapped A school manager was abducted on Saturday evening near Bela crossing under Karchana police station.of three to four unidentified SUV borne armed miscreants. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Firebrand Congress leader Lulu dies Man with kin's help carries wife's body on funeral bier for 5 km Senior Congress leader Lulu Mohapatra critical Former MLA and senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra (Lulu) is critical following prolonged illness, family sources said. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Arif Aqueel pitches in for minority face as leader of oppositio After the death of Satyadev Katare, leader of opposition in Madhya Pradesh assembly and senior Congress MLA, race for the post of opposition leader has intensified and senior leaders have begun lobbying with party high command. On the other hand Congress MLA from Bhopal North Arif Aqueel has pitched in the minority card. Congress chief whip wants winter session to be extended to 15 days Congress chief whip in Madhya Pradesh assembly Ramniwas Rawat has urged the governor Omprakash Kohli to extend the winter session from five days to 15. Slain guard's daughter refuses offer of jail job The daughter of the constable Ramashankar Yadav, who was killed by the SIMI operatives during the Diwali night jailbreak, has turned down the government's offer of a jail guard's job. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Elective subject for NSS studies at PU Panjab University (PU) is all set to introduce an elective subject for the National Service Scheme (NSS) from the next academic session. Parents may not have to pay annual admission charges If all goes as per the plan of the UT education department, parents will not have to pay annual admission charges (or readmission charges) from the next academic session. City railway station will have Wi-Fi before New Year More Chandigarh News»

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