News Digest: SC concerned over lack of infrastructure in consumer forums

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Wednesday, September 09, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		SC concerned over lack of infrastructure in consumer forums Expressing concern over consumer courts not being provided sufficient staff and infrastructure to deal with increasing number of cases, the Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Centre on steps taken to remove the deficiencies. Gujarat cooks up Quran quote to urge respect for cows When billboards in Ahmedabad recently carried a verse in Arabic, purportedly from the Quran, asking the faithful to respect the cow, there was a commotion in the Muslim ranks. 20% of world's under-5 deaths occur in India One in every 21 children being born in India are dying before reaching their fifth birthday as the country recorded the highest number of under five deaths in 2015 globally. More India News»

		Business
		HUL to sell Modern bread co to Everstone Consumer products giant Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is selling the heritage bread brand 'Modern' to private equity investor Everstone as part of a strategy to narrow the focus of its business. Ambani, Birla seek protection for textiles India's top industrialists sought protection for the textiles and steel sectors from cheap imports even as they pitched hard for reducing interest rates, saying the current situation offered an opportunity to lower the cost of capital. Calls for aggressive rate cut grow The clamour for deep interest rate cut of 50 basis points is growing among policy makers in the capital with some predicting a setback to growth prospects in the short term if the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) prefers to play "safe" when it reviews monetary policy later this month. More Business News»

		Environment
		World's oldest fossil sea turtle discovered A fossil sea turtle from Colombia that is at least 120 million years old is the world's oldest, scientists have determined. French president warns UN climate talks could fail France's president says that major UN climate talks in Paris could fail to produce a global deal in December, and is urging faster action. Maya activities left lasting impact on environment Maya activity more than 2,000 years ago not only contributed to the decline of their environment but continues to influence today's environmental conditions, researchers have found. More Environment News»

		World
		British Airways plane catches fire in Las Vegas, 2 injured A British Airways jet caught fire on the runway at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, forcing the evacuation of the passengers on board. Clinton says 'sorry' for using private email at state dept US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton apologised for using a private email server in her New York home for her work as secretary of state in an interview on Tuesday. Guatemala ex-president to face trial on fraud charges A Guatemalan judge on Tuesday ordered fallen former President Otto Molina to stand trial over a graft scandal that stoked a political crisis, charging him with criminal association, taking bribes and customs fraud. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Salman Khan: You can be wiped out any time From Kumar Gaurav to Tiger Shroff, this chat with Salman Khan ranged from the current generation of newcomers to the older bunch of stars, as he spoke of what it takes to begin a career in Bollywood today. Focus was more on Hero than Bajrangi: Salman Actor Salman Khan claims that he didn't compromise on the budget for his production "Hero" Anurag won't direct 'Gangs of Wasseypur 3' Moving on after the debacle of Bombay Velvet, Anurag Kashyap is all set for Gangs of Wasseypur 3 (GOW), which will be directed by none other than the actor Zeishan Quadri. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Now, a car powered by whisky residue Scientists in Scotland have become the first in the world to produce biofuel capable of powering cars from residues of the whisky industry. 3 earn prestigious awards for studies of cancer, DNA damage Three researchers won prestigious medical awards Tuesday for a new approach to treating cancer and insights into how creatures deal with DNA damage. Humanoid robot to teach astronauts onboard ISS French researchers have developed "an autobiographical memory" for a robot, the only permanent member onboard the International Space Station (ISS), which will help it pass on key information to astronauts who change every six months. More Science News»

		Sports
		Pakistan will survive without playing India: Shahryar Khan The PCB and BCCI signed a MoU to play six series between 2015 and 2023. However PCB is yet to get the Indian board's response on its letter last week, asking them to honour the 'binding agreement'. India suffer 0-3 thrashing vs Iran in FIFA WC qualifiers India slumped to their third successive loss in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers as they suffered a 0-3 thrashing at the hands of Iran in a group match. Ishant's aggression has hurt India's cause, says Manjrekar Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised pacer Ishant Sharma for his overt display of aggression during India's recent tour of Sri Lanka. More Sports News»

		Technology
		8 things successful tech executives do before breakfast Getting the right start to your day is extremely important. Apple the biggest obstacle to better iPhones: Experts Apple has ramped up its hiring of artificial intelligence experts, recruiting from PhD programmes and greatly increasing the size of its AI staff in a bid to improve Siri, but the company's data protection efforts may be its undoing. Samsung Galaxy Note5 first impressions Samsung Galaxy Note5 looks like a bigger version of the Galaxy S6 complete with a metal frame and glass panels at the front and back. We spent some time with the Note5 at the launch event and here’s a brief look at the phone… More Technology News»

		Education
		IIT study on merging arts, heritage with science In a bid to merge science with heritage, IIT Kharagpur has started a new project in which various themes of fine arts, meditation and social work had been merged with science to find out that the analytical mind and intuitive mind are complimentary to each other. SC asks NAAC to grade deemed universities The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to issue grade certificates to 41 deemed universities which have come under its scrutiny for allegedly failing to fulfill various criteria required for getting recognition. Odisha to formulate own education policy The Naveen Patnaik-led BDJ government in the state is going all out to be one step ahead of the NDA government at the Centre by working on formulating its own education policy even as consultations are on in Delhi for a new policy at the national level. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Cops on terror watch, no drones this Ganpati The city police, for two months, have banned the use of drones, paragliders and aerial devices in the city. My transfer could be a political move, I'm thinking of resigning: Rakesh Maria Rakesh Maria did not react publicly to his abrupt transfer on Tuesday but his face spoke volumes about his emotions. He is reportedly of the view that his shunting is a political move and could be a fallout of the Sheena Bora murder case. In hurried move, CM upgraded CP post to DG rank to fit Javed A senior bureaucrat told TOI that the decision to appoint Javed was hurriedly taken. Earlier, it had been proposed that a final call on a major reshuffle in the IPS ranks-in view of the retirement of DGP Sanjeev Dayal and Police Housing Corporation managing director Arup Patnaik-would be taken after the CM returned from his Japan tour. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Man dies in police van, kin turn violent A 34-year-old man died in mysterious circumstances in a police emergency response vehicle (ERV) on Monday in northeast Delhi’s Nand Nagri. The man, a listed bad character in outer district, was out on parole. A judicial inquest proceeding has been initiated, but no FIR has been lodged. Increase buses to reduce cars on road Delhi has over 82 lakh registered motor vehicles. Of them, only 40,947 are buses. The skew probably explains the city’s gridlocked mess, for traffic experts say that the only solution to road congestion in the capital lies in using the humble bus judiciously. Missing GPS means no planning What Delhi needs is a modern transport system that integrates bus services with the Delhi Metro. But this requires the overhaul of an archaic operation and the injection of technology. However, the experiments of the past few years show no enthusiasm on the part of the government in achieving this. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Divorce is still not an option A couple of months ago, a woman who murdered her techie husband with the connivance of her parents and lover, made headlines in the city . This week, citybased techie Gokul Macheri's elaborate plotting to get back together with his old flame is in the news. Why would they choose the complicated option of killing, rather than the prolonged but less gruesome divorce? Mobile store staff identify Gokul A few employees of the mobile shop in HSR Layout Sector 6 were back at work on Tuesday, after a day of police drilling.It was from this mobile store, Venkateshwara Enterprises, that Gokul had purchased the sim card and brand new mobile phone used to send messages to KIA, investigation into which opened up a Pandora's Box. No autopsy report yet in Anuradha case Three days after Gokul Macheri, accused of making hoax bomb threats to the airport and holing up three flights, is said to have confessed to killing his wife Anuradha on July 28, investigation into the murder has made no progress.Neither the Central Crime Branch (CCB), investigating the hoax call case, nor the jurisdictional Madiwala police have taken up the case. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Elijah Wood plays in Hyderabad Elijah Wood plays in Hyderabad Hyderabad without helmets attracts HC wrath The Hyderabad high court on Monday gave 15 days to the transport authorities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to give a report on the concrete steps taken to ensure that every two-wheeler rider has a helmet on their head. Fire safety: 325 cases, but only 8 penalties! That several buildings in the city lack even the most basic fire safety norms is a known fact. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Rationalist icons - No Kalburgis in TN yet, but too many sacred cows There is a popular saying, “Netrik kannai thirappinum kutram kutrame“, supposedly uttered by Nakkeeran, a humble poet of yore, whom Lord Shiva sought to intimidate with his flaming third eye during a debate. The sentence means, “You are wrong even if you scorch me with your third eye.“ Free legal aid denied to juveniles in trouble The right to free legal aid is a fundamental right under Article 39A of our Constitution. Volunteers' artwork bedecks city If delegates coming to the city for the Global Investors Meet go back impressed by the artwork covering many walls, several volunteers who helped in the clean-up need to be thanked.Over the past few months, members of such groups as Paint Box, Serene Chennai, Team Aram and Chennai Rising have painstakingly beautified walls in Kotturpuram, Besant Nagar and Choolaimedu, inside the Harrington Road Subway , and at the Semmozhi Poonga and QuaidE-Millath College on Anna Salai. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Over 5,000 plaints against Gujarat banks in 2014-15: RBI Banks of Gujarat came under heavy fire during 2014-15. Customers from across Gujarat filed 5,019 complaints with the Office of Banking Ombudsman which ranged from unfair practices connected to ATM, debit and credit card transactions and levying of charges without prior intimation. Girl elopes with fiance's father, dumps child at orphanage to avoid social ostracism Surekha Chaudhary, 24, surprised everybody when she revealed before Gujarat high court last week that she and her middle-aged husband had abandoned their newborn son at an orphanage 14 months ago in Palanpur in order to avoid embarrassment and social ostracism. Mumbai man held with Rs 42 lakh gold at airport Customs department officials arrested a Mumbai-based man for smuggling 1.584 kg gold worth Rs 42.13 lakh at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport late on Monday night. Saud Mehmood Shaikh was held with gold concealed in wheels and handle of his trolley bag and also in adapter of electronic toys. This is the third incident of smuggling reported this month. Last month, three incidents of smuggling were reported at airport. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Underground power cables in Bahraich soon Power cables in Bahraich would be laid underground. The state government has granted Rs 100 crores for the project. Railways invites ideas on cleanliness In a fillip to 'Swachh Bharat', Indian Railways has sought suggestions from passengers on upgradation of cleaning system to give a cleaner look to trains and stations. Allahabad High Court quashes appointment of 3 HESC members The Allahabad High Court on Monday quashed the appointment of three members of Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Service Commission while declaring it as illegal. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha government to introduce master course in Urdu language in three varsities Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday approved a proposal of the higher education department to introduce master course in Urdu language in three state-run universities. Odisha: 151 infants die in Kendrapara hospitals in 4 months As many as 151 infants died in different hospitals here between April and July, reflecting a grim infant and child health care situation in Odisha which recently reported an alarming rate of deaths of newborns in Cuttack and Kandhamal. Odisha Govt admits administrative lapses at Sishu Bhavan Admitting administrative "shortcomings" at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP) in Cuttack after a series of infant deaths, the Odisha government today transfered its superintendent and two other senior doctors. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Agriculture cabinet meeting held In view of deficient rainfall, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed officers to draw out an emergency plan to deal with the challenging situation. Addressing a meeting of agriculture cabinet at Mantralaya here on Tuesday, he asked the authorities to immediately launch an action plan for saving the crops from drought and diseases. Govt transfers state quota medical scam probe to CBI Madhya Pradesh government transferred probe into alleged 'sale' of 721 state quota medical seats to undeserving students by private medical colleges in the state from special task force (STF) to CBI. Youth jumps into river to save friend, drowns A youth, who went on picnic to Bhojpur temple along with his friends, drowned in Betwa river on Monday. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Advocate General engages 183 law officers without any selection procedure, Haryana tells SC petitioner has argued.The petitioner also submitted that the state. PU, Australian varsity enter student exchange agreement Panjab University (PU) and University of Western Sydney (UWS), Australia, have agreed to enter into a formal and detailed student exchange agreement for regular exchange programmes wherein selected students would study for one semester at each other's university. Resolution on OROP passed amid walkout Amid walkout by Congress legislators, Haryana assembly on Monday passed a vote of thanks to express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme. More Chandigarh News»

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