News Digest: Only Chennai, Mumbai have system for biomedical waste management, finds study

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, January 19, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Only Chennai, Mumbai have system for biomedical waste management, finds study Chennai and Mumbai are the only big Indian cities with an effective system to manage biomedical waste, whereas Delhi and other north Indian state capitals have a poor record, a study has found. List of trains, flights delayed due to fog Fog and cold wave conditions continued to prevail in most parts of north and east India on Monday. No terror during Obama India trip, US warns Pak Ahead of President Barack Obama’s India visit, the US has asked Pakistan to ensure that there is no cross-border terror incident during the trip and subtly warned of “consequences” if any such attack is traced back to the country. More India News»

		Business
		Branded bhels, sattu get more shelf space Even as consumers today are heavily influenced by modern sensibilities, the market for products rooted in tradition continues to grow strong. Premji invests in Amagi Media Labs Media technology company Amagi Media Labs has raised $15 million from Premji Invest, the family investment office of Wipro's chairman Azim Premji, and existing investor Mayfield, sources close to the development told TOI. How the rate cut affects you RBI surprised the street by cutting the repo rate from 8% to 7.75%. Though small, this ‘between-the-meetings-cut’ has given the signal that the RBI is confident of achieving its inflation targets and the focus is shifting towards growth. More Business News»

		Environment
		Zebras black stripes help them stay cool Researchers have long struggled to explain the purpose of the zebra's unique black-and-white coat. Winged visitors throng Bhitarkanika national park of Odisha With 66 per cent rise in the number of winter migratory birds, Bhitarkanika national park has re-established its status as one of the prominent avian habitats in Odisha. UP plans 4th tiger reserve, may get big cats from Panna Uttar Pradesh may soon get its fourth tiger reserve, thanks to big cats strolling into the state from Madhya Pradesh's Panna reserve. More Environment News»

		World
		North Korea gulag survivor says parts of his story untrue A North Korean gulag survivor whose torture and daring escape was detailed in a best-selling book admitted he lied about details in his story, and said today he may end his campaign against human rights abuses. Boko Haram kidnaps 60 in deadly Cameroon attack Boko Haram fighters kidnapped at least 60 people in a deadly attack in northern Cameroon on Sunday, police said, in the latest cross-border raid by the Nigeria-based Islamist group. Islamic State group releases 200 captive Yazidis in Iraq The Islamic State group released at least 200 Yazidis after five months of captivity in Iraq, Kurdish military officials said Sunday, mostly elderly, infirmed prisoners who likely slowed the extremists down. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ajay Devgn is SAARC's Goodwill envoy Ajay Devgn has been appointed as the SAARC HIV/AIDS Campaign Goodwill Ambassador. Sushant has been training for four months to play Dhoni Sushant Singh Rajput will be seen essaying the role of one of India’s favourite captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in MS Dhoni – The Untold Story. The official biopic is directed by Neeraj Pandey. Ajay Devgn has asked Abhishek to wait for 6 months? Ajay Devgn was meant to do a cameo in Fitoor. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Why do zebras have stripes? To keep them cool Zebras' thick, black stripes may have evolved to help them stay cool in the midday African heat, a new study has found. US okays world's 1st device to fight obesity A first-of-its-kind implant to treat obesity that curbs appetite by electrically stimulating stomach ne8rves has been approved in the US. Poor sleep may lead to alcohol, drug abuse in teens, study finds Researchers have found that sleep difficulties and hours of sleep can predict a number of specific problems, including binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behaviour. More Science News»

		Sports
		EPL: Cazorla stars as Arsenal stun Man City 2-0 Santi Cazorla scored one goal and made another as Arsenal damaged Man City's EPL title challenge with a brilliant 2-0 victory at a chilly Etihad Stadium. AB de Villiers smashes fastest ODI hundred in 31 balls South African AB de Villiers smashed the fastest ever one-day century in 31 balls against the West Indies at Wanderers on Sunday. Ronaldo double takes Real Madrid four points clear World player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double as Real Madrid opened up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 win away to Getafe. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Sacked TCS techies plan to move court Experienced software engineers sacked via the "involuntary attrition" route are finding themselves in a logjam. Infosys to beat industry growth rate in 18-30 months: Sikka Infosys's market performance has been improving with every quarter and its latest quarterly results are reflective of that, says its CEO Vishal Sikka. 6 likely features of the next-generation iPhone It has not been very long since Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have been out. More Technology News»

		Education
		Subject wise - window to the world An IT degree can open career avenues across the globe. Education consultant Karan Gupta highlights the courses you can pursue abroad and the opportunities they offer. Stem India plans Rs 3,000 crore on 100 schools Academy of Stem India today said it will open 100 schools over the next 10 years across the country that would attract an investment of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore. IIT-Gn to host Japanese students Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) is set to host nearly a dozen Japanese students from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Firm told to pay for providing untested LPG cylinders Here is a case of a public sector firm that failed to follow the rule that mandates testing of gas cylinders, supplied an old cylinder which burst and did not help a customer get compensation for the loss though the risk was covered under an insurance policy. Post-26/11, intel has improved, not coastal security The December 31 operation by the Coast Guard, near Porbandar in Gujarat, on the suspicion that a Pakistan boat was moving towards India, is an indication that intelligence gathering has improved after 26/11. 'I'm a powerful CM, my decisions not taken in Dilli': Devendra Fadnavis Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' statement that he considered himself a "powerful" CM has set the alarm bells ringing in the BJP as well as in the Shiv Sena, a source said on Sunday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Metro darshan An art series, Life in a Metro, captures the quirks of the Delhi commuter. Cop tries to kill self, critical A 26-year-old Delhi Police constable tried to shoot himself with his service pistol on Sunday near the Minto Road police picket. Reading of Tamil writer's banned book held at JNU Students, academics and authors tried to resuscitate free expression and the penmanship of Perumal Murugan who announced his death as a writer early last week. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Online process for RTE falters on Day 1 Suresh Kumar of west Bengaluru, who drives an autorickshaw for hours everyday to provide good education for his son, sat glued to a computer at an internet café on Sunday. More college girls prefer entrepreneurship to jobs The entrepreneurship cell at RV College of Engineering here, built with central aid of Rs 25 lakh, is abuzz with activity. Of the 40 students involved in various ventures, three are girls. It's thanksgiving day in Mandur The village of Mandur near Hoskote, east of Bengaluru, which fought against truckloads of garbage being dumped in their midst till late last year, wore a festive look on Sunday. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		5.46 lakh Hyderabad children administered polio vaccine The district medical officers along with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation administered the oral vaccine to as many as 5.46 lakh children under the age of five in the city on Sunday. Retired engineer's murder sparks tension in Old City Police stepped up vigil in Chaderghat and surrounding areas following the murder of a 64-year-old retired aeronautical engineer by his neighbour, belonging to another community, at Azampura on Sunday night. GHMC polls to be held in June? With scores of former councillors from the Congress and TDP reportedly insisting on the holding of the civic body election as a pre-condition for them joining the pink party, the TRS government is mulling holding the GHMC elections as early as June this year. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		`Burn the book if you want to, but don't burn its author' With censorship, moral policing and attacks on freedom of expression hitting the headlines, publisher Kannan Sundaram talks to Debayan Tewari on legal harassment of writers and the methods of dissent. Schools set unofficial cut-off mark for admission to Class 11 There is no postponing a career decision for Class 10 students, and planning for the future has to start three years before they enter college because of the limit on the number of seats in Class 11. Integrated coaching classes provide edge The practice of joining coaching classes for the national competitive entrance tests for admission to leading higher educational institutions has grown so much that it is now a factor in the Class 11 school admissions. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Rs 36L spirited away from dead man's account Neha Junja, 31 - a resident of Bodakdev - has lodged a complaint with the cyber cell of the crime branch stating that Rs 36 lakh has been transferred to other bank accounts from the account of her late husband, Rahul Junja, since 2012. Riverfront ready for realtors After failing to make it by Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) will finally be ready for real estate development by next week. 'Small measures can check road accidents' The state on an average reports a road crash every 15 minutes and a death every hour, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures for 2013. Ahmedabad alone reported more than 200 fatal accidents last year. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		'Lets ride on IITians' skills to Smart Allahabad' First director of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) and renowned environmentalist IC Agarwal on Saturday stressed on preparing an action plan for transforming Allahabad into a Smart City equipped with modern facilities. Cold wave prevails, no change in next 24 hours in Allahabad, says met Intense and harsh cold wave conditions continued to engulf the city even on Saturday. Lal Kataar, teer-kaman symbols of safety for rural pilgrims in Allahabad When Jhabua started from Dhamtari in Chhattigarh for Magh Mela, leading a team of 18 people, his paramount thought centred around searching a man holding a flag with elephant as a symbol. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhubaneswar school runs under tree Students of government-run primary school at Daleisahi village in Jajpur district are attending classes under the shade of a tree for the past four years ever since the school was set up. Jaundice: Pre-poll FIRs against government Politics over the outbreak of jaundice has gained momentum in Sambalpur ahead of the first civic body elections after the town got l corporation status last year. The election dates are yet to be notified. Light vehicles to take visitors atop Dhauli in Bhubaneswar Tourists, visiting the famous peace pagoda at Dhauli Hills on the outskirts of the city, would soon have a pleasant time as the state government has decided to introduce light vehicles to carry them from foothills to hilltop. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Physics & biotech depts to get extra grant Impressed by good infrastructure and placement from physics and biotechnology departments of Barkatullah University, higher education department made the two as centre of excellence. Woman murder: In-law killed her in a fit of rage A month after dismembered body of a woman was recovered from bushes near boundary wall of Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex near Goregaon on city outskirts on December 21, cops on Sunday claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of murdered woman’s son-in-law. Intense cold wave sweeps state, further drop likely Many parts across the state reeled under intense cold with night temperature dropping by many notches on Saturday. In hilly areas, Pachmarhi was coldest with night temperature registering freezing zero. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Punjab gangster held for shooting at cop Notorious gangster Kulbir Singh Naruana was nabbed on Sunday along with two associates here for allegedly firing at a cop on January 10. SGPC sacks Nandgarh as Takht Damdama chief The controversy arising out of diametrically opposite stands of SGPC and Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh on the Nanakshahi calendar came to a head on Saturday, with the SGPC executive committee sacking the jathedar. Intel blocks passport of Ambedkar's follower The intelligence wing of Punjab police has blocked the clearance for renewal of passport to 85-year-old writer and journalist Lahori Ram Balley even as he had four passports in the past 47 years and visited foreign countries several times. More Chandigarh News»

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