News Digest: For Ganga, inspiration flows from Rhine, once among dirtiest rivers

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Friday, August 21, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		For Ganga, inspiration flows from Rhine, once among dirtiest rivers As India stares at the mammoth task of cleaning the Ganga and looks for inspiration outside the country, it is the Rhine river of western Europe which has caught the attention of policy-makers here, due its record of rejuvenation despite once being one of the most polluted river systems of the world. Rajasthan's move to draft pvt players in basic healthcare risky for patients: Experts Regulation of the medical industry feeble, they say. Chhattisgarh and Bihar aborted similar moves. Crime moves out of Gujarat cities Cities in Gujarat managed to keep violent crimes in check but the state as a whole reported a slight rise in such crimes in 2014. More India News»

		Business
		Sebi bars 59 cos from market over illegal trades Market regulator Sebi on Thursday banned 59 entities, including some high net worth individuals (HNIs) and RiddiSiddhi Bullions, one of the largest bullion trading companies, from the stock market for using the equity derivatives contracts on the exchanges for illegal trades to avoid taxes worth crores and also convert black money into white. Renault-Nissan lays off 800 temps at Chennai plant Renault-Nissan Automotive India has laid off around 700-800 temporary employees at its Oragadam plant near Chennai following a decline in sales. Railway man Ashwani Lohani to be Air India CMD A railway engineer credited with restoring the world’s oldest working steam locomotive for running the Fairy Queen between Delhi and Alwar now has the unenviable task of reviving Air India. More Business News»

		Environment
		Exotic turtle found in Kolkata's Rajarhat waterbody A turtle that inspired the famous Ninja cartoon and is smuggled as pet all over the world, was found near a waterbody in Rajarhat on Wednesday. Greenpeace demands Swiss shut world's oldest N-plant Greenpeace said on Thursday it had launched legal action to demand that Switzerland shut down Beznau, the world's oldest commercial nuclear plant, for security reasons. Deforestation serious threat to bats in India With increasing human population and rise in agricultural land use in India's Western Ghats, a number of bat species are findings it difficult to adjust with the changed landscape brought about by deforestation, says a new study. More Environment News»

		World
		ISIS destroys Syrian monastery, moves Christian captives Islamic State militants have demolished a monastery in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitor said on Thursday. N Korea seeks UN meeting on US-S Korea military exercises Pyongyang has asked the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to discuss joint US-South Korean military exercises Cyanide in Tianjin waters 277 times over the limit Chinese authorities warned that cyanide levels in the waters around the Tianjin Port explosion site had risen to as much as 277 times acceptable levels although they declared the city’s potable water was safe. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Ranbir-Deepika's Tamasha: The making All Is Well: Things to look forward to All Is Well is all set to hit the screens this August. Check out as to why is the film worth a watch... Celebs talk about their canine friends Varun Dhawan seems to have got a new dog, or is having a gala time with a friend's pet. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		No asteroid threat to Earth, says Nasa Nasa has rubbished claims that a devastating asteroid will hit Earth sometime between September 15 and 28, saying there is not one shred of evidence on it till now. Early-stage breast condition may not require cancer cure As many as 60,000 American women each year are told they have a very early stage of breast cancer. Indian medicine, at 1/100th cost, saves Aussie's life Less than four months ago, Greg Jeffery was on the verge of getting liver cirrhosis. More Science News»

		Sports
		Talking points: Rahul makes most of dropped chance TOI Sports looks back at some key moments from day one of the Colombo Test between Sri Lanka and India. 2nd Test: KL Rahul ton highlights India on even day KL Rahul's 108 formed the backbone of India's 319, but a late strike from Sri Lanka has put the match in balance CSK moves HC to quash Lodha Committee decision CSK has knocked at the doors of Madras high court to stay and quash the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha Committee’s order. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Android 6.0 Marshmallow: 10 new features After months of waiting, Google has finally announced that the next version of its mobile OS Android will be called Marshmallow. Is Google lobbying against net neutrality in India? It’s worth pointing out that so far, Google has chosen to remain silent on the matter of net neutrality in India. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ first impressions Along with its flagship Note device, Samsung also launched Galaxy S6 edge+. We spent some time with the phone and here’s a look at its strengths and weaknesses… More Technology News»

		Education
		Amid staff crunch & fund cuts, new tweaks hobble higher education India's gigantic higher education set-up -712 universities, 37,204 colleges, 30 million students, 1.3 million teachers -is in the grip of a simmering crisis as the hunger for better education grows. 5 thousand students in Ahmedabad apply for re-evaluation About 5,000 students of semester II of class XI have applied in Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) for re-evaluation process which will be carried out for five days beginning from August 31. Calcutta University lens on PG courses in colleges  Sugato Marjit, the new vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, intends to monitor the quality of post-graduation teaching offered by colleges affiliated to the university.  More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Maharashtra aims to do away with 'no-fail' policy for schools The state government has strongly pushed its stand to conduct exams and pass students of classes I to VIII only on merit, in line with the Centre’s plan to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act and revoke the ‘no-detention’ policy. Bandra locals to use roses & poses to get their way Bandra East residents, faced with everyday problems of unruly autos driving dangerously and parking haphazardly outside the station, have decided to give Gandhigiri a try for their right of way. Social worker assaulted A social worker was attacked when he tried to stop a tempo allegedly carrying Rs 8.57 lakh worth of perfumed tobacco near Dahisar Check Naka on Wednesday. Tobacco is banned in the state. The Dahisar police have arrested one person for assault and seized the goods More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		I am Dawood Ibrahim, says St Stephen's College principal Valson Thampu “I am Dawood Ibrahim that is why I am being hounded” St Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu said on Thursday. Here's proof of Delhi's monumental loss Japanese team retraces steps of archaeological experts who visited Delhi in 1960 and finds many of the monuments they saw missing Disabled duo in Delhi dismissed from school over age Two physically challenged students were allegedly dismissed from a Delhi government school on age grounds More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Mobile platform to give hourly poll updates This time, the State Election Commis sion will get hour ly updates on poll progress in each of the 6,759 booths set up for Saturday's BBMP election, thanks to a new mobile platform launched by the civic body . The buck stops with Siddaramaiah and Ashoka The Congress and BJP are both eyeing the magic figure of 99 in Saturday's BBMP poll. Any party bagging this many wards gets to form the BBMP council with a simple majority . In the fray, milk vendor to MBA grad He is wheelchair bound. But this 46-year-old has been on the move all through his campaign for the BBMP poll. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Old City youth gung-ho about joining police force More than 3,300 youth have applied to join the constable training organised by the South Zone police Man held for murdering minor girl South Zone police have taken Dastagir, accused of murdering a minor girl from Talab Katta, into custody. SIT gets custody of HuJI activist, five others The XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Thursday granted the custody of Pakistan national and HuJI activist Mohammed Nasir and five others to Special Investigation Team (SIT) for five days. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Wider idea lands in claim fix A land claim dispute has queered the project to convert East Coast Road into a four-lane highway , with several prop erty owners who face the prospect of losing their land taking on Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation. Consumers prefer paper over internet to give up LPG subsidy Of the two million-odd consumers who have given up LPG subsidy in the country, nearly 90% have given their consent in writing rather than using internet or mobile phone options. Elangovan comment on Jaya brings BJP, AIADMK closer TNCC chief E V K S Elangovan’s distasteful remarks about the Modi-Jayalalithaa meeting at a protest fast appear to have brought old allies, BJP and AIADMK, together. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		'Anti-Modi' Hardik backed AAP in 2014 Hardik Patel, convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) who has emerged as the face of the Patels' demand for OBC status, has always claimed that he is not linked to any political party. Ahmedabad Police barricade entry to riverfront Heavy police presence and barricades greeted people who tried to go to Sabarmati Riverfront on Thursday. Showdown countdown - 3 lakh Patidars: Epic quota quorum On Tuesday next week, the city will witness a gathering of people unprecedented in recent times. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		World War I weapons on display in centenary year in Allahabad To mark the centenary year of the World War I, the Allahabad Museum will set up a gallery displaying arms and armours, including light machine guns and pistols, used in both world wars by August end. Co-op scam: HC declines stay on arrest of 4 officers in Allahabad The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday declined to stay the arrest of all four officers allegedly involved in multi-crore co-operative scam of co-operative department of the state. Blood samples of Balkhariya's kin collected for DNA tests A joint team of police, health department and administration on Wednesday collected the blood samples of slain bandit Sudesh Patel alias Balkhar alias Balkhariya’s father Ram Ratan and brother Hemraj Patel at joint district hospital in Chitrakoot for DNA testing. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha government targets to set up 122 new cold storages The state government is planning to set up 122 new cold storages in next three years (by 2017-18) to enhance the storage capacity of potato. RTO to begin online payments from Sept 1 From September 1, people need not carry cash to regional transport offices to pay fees or taxes for different services. NCRB: Rapes continue unabated in state Crime against women, particularly rape, continues unabated in Odisha, according to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released on Wednesday. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Delay in Madhya Pradesh cabinet expansion due to internal tiff With cabinet expansion fever gripping the ruling party, leaders staking claim for the ministerial berths have decided to camp in Bhopal instead of campaigning in Bihar for the ensuing assembly elections. Madhya Pradesh to honour OBC personalities for social work Aiming at other backward class (OBC) in an attempt to wipe out opposition parties from the caste equation, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced to felicitate personalities of OBCs for their contribution to the society. DIC manager found murdered in Bhopal Manager of district industries centre, Raisen, Ram Dayal Bele was found murdered with multiple stab injuries near JK Road in Bhopal on Wednesday night. His mobile phone was missing. Police found mercury and a liquor bottle from the spot. The nature of stab injuries suggested more than one accused. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Post nominations, final alliances emerge With poll math and departmental presence coming into play, Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections narrowed down to a three-way battle on Thursday. Major setback to NSUI: Nain won't contest The organization that had stormed into the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) polls for the past two years and pulled away key leaders from the university's old parties, like Students' Organization of Panjab University (SOPU) and Panjab University Students' Union (PUSU), has suffered a major setback this year. Sec-7 residents raise civic issues with Huda officials Residents of Sector 7 sought solutions to the civic problems they have been facing, in a one-hour interaction with the district administration officials on Thursday. More Chandigarh News»

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