News Digest: Hizb invites Pandits home, announces 'Sikh brigade'

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, October 20, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Hizb invites Pandits home, announces 'Sikh brigade' Over-the-counter drugs have stymied TB fight: Study Over-the-counter sale of medicines is a key reason behind India's tuberculosis menace and it has affected the government's programme to control the disease, a recent study in the international medical journal Lancet shows. Can't sack pilot for adultery, IAF told More India News»

		Business
		Salman dropped as brand ambassador for Thums Up Beverages major Coca Cola India has dropped Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as brand ambassador for its soft drink 'Thums Up' after four years of association and the company is in talks with young star Ranveer Singh to replace him. Rupee firms up against soft dollar, up 5 paise The rupee on Wednesday extended its gains for the second session by adding 5 paise to close at 66.68 against the US dollar on sustained selling of the American currency by banks and exporters. Sensex comes off high, on backfoot after profit-booking After its biggest single-day gain in nearly five months in the previous session, market today caved in meekly as the Sensex closed the day lower after investors booked profit and global conditions stayed mixed. More Business News»

		Environment
		September 2016 hottest on record: NASA Last month was the warmest September in 136 years of record-keeping, meaning 11 of the past 12 consecutive months dating back to October last year have set new monthly high-temperature records, NASA said. World's oldest giant panda dies at 38 The world's oldest giant panda in captivity, Jia Jia, has died at a Hong Kong theme park at the age of 38, the equivalent of 114 human years. The female panda was euthanised on Sunday night, following rapid deterioration in her health over the past two weeks, said authorities of Ocean Park, the Hong Kong theme park that was home to Jia Jia, in a statement. Submit list of hospitals & waste generated: NGT to Delhi govt Asking medical bodies to ensure proper collection, segregation and disposal of bio-medical waste in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to submit the quantum of waste generated by city hospitals, nursing homes and labs. More Environment News»

		World
		Pause in Aleppo bombing holds into second day A pause in Russian and Syrian strikes on Aleppo was holding for a second day Wednesday, ahead of a brief unilateral ceasefire aimed at allowing civilians and rebels to quit the devastated city. An estimated 250,000 people living in Aleppo have been under near-continuous government siege since July. Obama unsure of why he got Nobel Peace Prize US President Barack Obama, who was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, has said he is still not sure why the prestigious prize was bestowed on him. More children dying from conflict in Afghan: UN report The UN mission in Afghanistan says the number of children killed or wounded in the country's conflict has increased in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period last year. UNAMA says it is deeply concerned over the continuing increase in child casualties. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Sayyeshaa wants to work with Ranbir Kapoor The actress would love to work opposite Ranbir Kapoor in the remake of her grandmother Saira Banu's iconic film 'Purab Aur Pashchim' Judi Dench's royal gesture for Ali Fazal Judi Dench made Ali Fazal’s recent birthday a truly memorable experience with a special gesture. Tusshar Kapoor is a hands-on dad Tusshar Kapoor is a hands-on daddy to Lakkshya. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		NASA probe spots possible clouds on Pluto NASA's New Horizons space probe has spotted possible clouds hovering over Pluto, indicating that the weather on the icy dwarf planet is more complex than thought. Scientists already knew that Pluto's icy surface below that atmosphere varied widely in brightness. Two Russians, one American crew blast off for International Space Station NASA's Shane Kimbrough and Andrei Borisenko and Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos blasted off at 08:05 GMT from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan after their launch had been delayed by nearly one month because of technical issues. Now, a tattoo to detect alcohol level in real time Scientists have developed a wearable skin tattoo that detects alcohol levels in sweat and transmits the information to a smartphone. The device could help reduce unsafe drinking that can lead to vehicle crashes, violence and the degeneration of the health of heavy drinkers. More Science News»

		Sports
		Bengaluru FC first Indian club to reach AFC Cup final Bengaluru FC created history by becoming the first Indian club to enter the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup final with a 4-2 aggregate win over Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in the semi-final on Wednesday. Dhoni doesn't need time to settle down, says Kumble There has been constant debate on whether Dhoni should bat up the order with questions being raised about his ability as a finisher but Kumble made it clear that the skipper has "enough experience" and "does not need time to settle down". For me, loyalty is the most important thing: Virat Kohli "In relationships, I always look at loyalty. From 1998, I had only one coach (Rajkumar Sharma) and that's never going to change. I have played for one franchise in the IPL (RCB) and that's also never going to change," Kohli said. 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
		IIT Guwahati invites students to participate in 'Ishan Vikas' scheme IIT directors oppose non-resident students Arun Jaitley launches SRCC's financial literacy cell 'Vittshala' More Education News»

		Mumbai
		16 years on, docs to pay mom Rs 17.5 lakh for not detecting fetal anomaly MNS men held for protesting against 'Ae Dil Hain Mushkil' at Mumbai theatre Police finally cracked down on the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Wednesday as the party attempted to scale up protests against Karan Johar film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which has Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo. Ex-corporator's son admits to shooting Vakola RTI activist Former corporator Razzak Khan’s son Amjad has admitted to pulling the trigger on RTI activist Bhupendra Vira, 61, who was shot dead at his residence in Vakola on Saturday, police said. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		JNU students 'confine' top brass for over 15 hours as MSc student Najeeb Ahmed remains untraced Delhi lawyer's unaccounted Rs 125 crore income stuns taxmen A lawyer practising in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court has sent ripples through the capital’s legal circles by declaring unaccounted income of over Rs 125 crore. The lawyer made the stunning declaration as sleuths of the income tax department searched his south Delhi residence. Schools think green, start drive to say no to crackers More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		IAF junks state government claim, denies land transfer meets The Indian Air Force on Wednesday blasted a huge hole in the Karnataka government's claim that it had held two meetings with its officials on transfer of land near Mehkri Circle to build the controversial steel flyover. Crop insurance to be compulsory on farm loans As the state bears the pain of a second consecutive drought year, crop insurance is again in sharp focus. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana won't get Karnataka's share The tribunal ruled that the water will be reallocated between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since the dispute is confined to only these states. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Speed up Yadadri development: CM Once the redevelopment of Yadadri is complete, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple should be in a position to handle one lakh pilgrims every day, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday. Krishna tribunal judgement 'disappointing': T advisor In 2010, the tribunal had allotted 666 TMC to Maharashtra and 911 TMC water to Karnataka. Brain dead man gifts life to 3 Heart, liver, heart valves donated; 'green channel' created for transport More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		'Disability can't be sole criterion for Army pension' HC raps officials for not disposing of pleas on time Murder of auto driver: Four more arrested Police arrested four more suspects in the murder of an autorickshaw driver at Adambakkam on Tuesday.They were identified as Nagoor Meeran of Adambakkam, Tempo Manikandan, Kutty and Prasanna Kumar. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Gujarat to launch 'Seva Setu' & 'Pragati Setu' to resolve issues on the spot Lord Bhikhu Parekh to be the chief guest in Nirma University convocation :Lord Bhikhu Parekh, the political theorist and labour member of the House of Lords which is the second chamber of UK parliament, will attend the 22nd convocation of Ahmedabad-based Nirma University which is scheduled on October 21. Joy of Giving observed by students of Vishwakarma Government Engineering College In order to inculcate the feeling of helping others, students of various colleges of Gujarat Technological University collected collect unused or old clothes, toys, books among others and gave them to the children and people who needed them. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Parliamentary standing committee on commerce to meet at Lucknow In an important meeting, members of the department related parliamentary standing committee on commerce would be interacting with representatives of various forums, including senior officials of the North Central Railway (NCR), at Lucknow on October 20. No girls' school can run without a loo: HC The Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the basic education director to consult the state government and produce a proposal regarding toilets in all schools, particularly those of girls, in the state. Students relive college days at alumni meet More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Despite fire, patient flow to hospital continues The smell of smoke still hung heavy in the air and the charred remains of equipment and other objects in the ICU and the dialysis unit of the SUM Hospital were grim reminders of Monday night's fire that took 21 lives. State to crack down on fire safety violators Alarmed by the SUM hospital tragedy, the Odisha Fire Service on Wednesday said it plans to lodge FIRs against those clinical establishments that do not meet its safety guidelines. Odisha government appoints Sunil Mishra as CIC More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Metro won't be ready even in 10 years : Babulal Gaur BJP veteran and former CM Babulal Gaur on Wednesday said that with the current pace and “lackadaisical attitude of officials”, it’s unlikely the Metro can come up in Bhopal and Indore in 10 years.“The Centre had offered help Another X file: Spooked tenant cries attack from 'evil spirit' in Madhya Pradesh 'Blood brother' of Vidisha creates donor directory of 85k people Class nine dropout and once an owner of a paan shop, Vikas Pachori (43) has knit together 85,000 people in Vidisha district by one thread - blood. He has single-handedly created a donor directory that covers the district, and it is proving to be a life-saver. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Diwali delight for PU staff :Centre To Release DA Arrears It will be a double celebration for teaching and non-teaching staff of Panjab University this Diwali as arrears of dearness allowance (DA), pending since January 2016, will be released before October 30. Diwali delight for PU staff :Centre To Release DA Arrears It will be a double celebration for teaching and non-teaching staff of Panjab University this Diwali as arrears of dearness allowance (DA), pending since January 2016, will be released before October 30. Panjab University discusses support of university based incubators for student startups President and CEO, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) USA Fred H Walti II interacted with the scientists/ faculty members and students from the Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) institutions at Panjab University (PU) here on Wednesday. More Chandigarh News»

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