Photostream: News Digest: At its source, Ganga runs an obstacle course

Sunday, October 01, 2017

Today's Headlines

At its source, Ganga runs an obstacle course

Piyush Goyal defends bullet train, says technology is safe

Piyush Goyal makes FOBs a matter of 'safety', not just 'amenity'
Faced with a huge public outcry after the stampede on Elphinstone Road-Parel station foot over-bridge (FOB) in which the toll rose to 23 on Saturday, railway minister Piyush Goyal said FOBs, earlier considered only a “passenger amenity ,“ would now be “mandatory“ as passenger safety items at all railway stations across the country.

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Business

Uber's Kalanick names 2 new directors to company board
Former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and former Merrill Lynch and CIT Group CEO John Thain were named as directors in a Friday statement attributed to Kalanick, rather than Uber Technologies. Kalanick said the board needs a full complement of directors to consider major potential changes to the board as well as voting rights within Uber.

Market suffer second straight weekly loss, plunge 638 points
The benchmark Sensex witnessed sharp losses for the second consecutive week, falling 638.72 points to end at 31,283.72, while the broader Nifty slid below the key 9,800-level at 9,788.60 on heavy FPI sell-off along with volatile rupee.

China factory activity rises to 5-year high
The official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released on Saturday rose to 52.4 in September, from 51.7 in August. It marked the 14th straight month of expansion for China's massive manufacturing industry and the highest reading since April 2012, when it was 53.3.

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Environment

Fear of volcanic eruption on Bali forces 135,000 to flee
Nearly 135,000 people on the Indonesian island of Bali have left their homes and taken shelter in makeshift evacuation centres after warnings the Mount Agung volcano could erupt at any time, officials said late on Thursday.

Why you shouldn't plan a Europe trip in summer
“We found clear evidence of human influence on this summer's record warmth, both in the overall summer temperatures and in the heatwave dubbed `Lucifer',“ said study co-author Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, a senior researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.

Now, states can identify and manage their own wetlands
Seeking to protect over 2 lakh wetlands across the country, Centre has come out with rules to identify and manage these ecologically fragile areas which play an important role in flood control, groundwater recharge, preserving plant varieties, supporting migratory birds and protecting coastlines.

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World

Nawaz Sharif may regain PML-N's leadership next week
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif is set to regain the leadership of his ruling PML-N party on October 3 under a proposed new law that will allow a disqualified legislator to head a political party.

Iraq cuts Kurdistan air links with outside world
The Iraqi government cut autonomous Kurdistan's direct air links with the outside world indefinitely on Friday, partially isolating the northern region after it voted a massive "yes" in an independence referendum.

Tillerson in China to discuss N Korea, Trump visit
Tillerson told top Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi that Trump and Xi had developed a "very regular and close working relationship." His visit, Tillerson said, also provided an opportunity to assess progress made between the sides since Xi and Trump met in April at the US president's estate in Florida.

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Entertainment

Shahid Kapoor is ready to support if wife Mira wishes to act
Gone are the days when Mira Rajput was recognised as Shahid Kapoor’s wife. The star wife is no less than a celebrity herself now. Shahid is also equally supportive of his darling wife.

Pic: Rani Mukerji celebrates Durga Pooja
In the ongoing celebration of Dussehra, the fans of Rani got to see a glimpse of her when one of her besties posted a picture with the actress on Instagram.

Pic: Ranbir enjoys his downtime with Gauri Khan
The actor decided to spend the festive season of Durga Pooja in Mumbai by first visiting his good friend Ayan Mukerji and then dropping by at Gauri Khan’s store for some shopping.

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Science

Chinese 'repair' genetic defect causing thalassemia
In a big breakthrough, Chinese researchers claim to have successfully repaired genetic defect that causes beta thalassemia, a blood disorder, in human embryos. The result has been published in the journal Protein and Cell’s September issue.

NASA delays launch of James Webb Space Telescope to 2019

Lockheed Martin unveils reusable water-powered Mars lander
Lockheed Martin has been working on its "Mars Base Camp", a science laboratory that will orbit the planet, with the crewed lander set to descend to the surface on repeated missions. "It looks a bit like Jules Verne, but it's actually more like an aircraft that we've flown in the past," Lockheed Martin's human spaceflight strategy chief Rob Chambers said.

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Sports

Shami & I must take more responsibility: Yadav
India speedster Umesh Yadav on Saturday admitted that being a senior bowler he needs to perform better in the death overs if he has to consistently feature in the playing XI in the limited overs cricket.

Fellaini strikes twice as United crush Palace 4-0
Manchester United provisionally went top of the Premier League after Marouane Fellaini scored two goals either side of Juan Mata's opener and Romelu Lukaku's record-equalling strike in a 4-0 rout of Crystal Palace on Saturday.

PCB to demand $70 million from BCCI as compensation
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants its Indian counterpart (BCCI) to pay approximately $70 million as compensation for not playing two "home" bilateral series.

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Technology

8 useless apps you can have fun with

Only a third of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus sold on Day 1 of launch
Long queues usually seen outside Apple exclusive stores & large retail chains were missing on Friday.

Reliance's buyback option on latest iPhones may boost Apple's India presence
The offer, which comes during the Indian festive season when discretionary spending typically rises, assures customers buying iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X models through Jio that they will get back 70% of the cost after a year of use.

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Education

IIT Ropar Professor Bags NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award 2017

CAT 2017 registrations close at 2.31 lakh, 1,000 short of last year
Registrations for the Common Admission Test (CAT), to make it to Indian Institutes of Management and other leading B-schools, closed at 2.31 lakh. Last year, CAT recorded 2.32 lakh applications, which were highest since 2010. CAT 2017 is being conducted by IIM, Lucknow after a gap of seven years.

UP govt mulls changes to primary school syllabus
A decision was taken to strengthen "School Chalo Abhiyaan" and the government also came up with the "Khoob Padho, Aage Badho" campaign to ensure that every child goes to school. The basic education minister said there was a proposal to develop schools on the public-private partnership model.

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Mumbai

Mumbai's Elphinstone bridge widening didn't need any clearance
There was no reason why a small project costing just about Rs 12 crore sanctioned in the 2016-17 budget could not be implemented in 18 months, that too when Suresh Prabhu as railway minister had delegated the powers to general managers to take up such projects.

CAG indicted railways for delays in 53 key city projects

Man crushed under stampede lives to narrate the horror
Piyush has little recollection of how he landed in KEM Hospital. “I remember people falling over me. I possibly survived because I could still breathe air as my face was near the open railings,’’ he said. Piyush has undergone a series of tests and seems fine, doctors said.

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Delhi

Delhi's air turning foul again after respite since January
After three months of respite, Delhi has started registering 'poor' air days again. According to Central Pollution Control Board's daily air pollution index, air quality began degrading from the `moderate' range from September 27.

PM breaks convention, but takes a bow

Delhi's past preserved, byte by byte
With German tech and outsourced staff, Delhi Archives is digitising and microfilming 4 crore records at a cost of 25.4 crore. But experts warn it’s not a one-stop solution to extend archival life

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Bangalore

War, love & escape

Yesvantpur-Visakhapatnam weekly tatkal special express service to continue till November 26

Here are our Bengaluru winners of Times Su-Doku Championship
Bengaluru’s puzzle junkies throng the annual Sudoku competition

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Hyderabad

Singareni funds diverted: Congress

KCR holds out poll amnesty for Singareni impersonators

Telecom giant to pay compensation

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Chennai

A fit case for elaborate exploration

Long weekend ups visitors to Vandalur zoo

Remembering Annie Besant who 'woke India from deep sleep'

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Ahmedabad

Cow selfies milk it door to door

Festive swirl ends with fun and worship

Kindness runs in their blood

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Allahabad

90% of muslims are in favour of temple: Siddharth Nath Singh

Allahabad girl hopes to get PETA's cutest vegetarian next door title

Ramleela with special effects get a thumbs-up from Allahabadis
The city is dotted with beautifully decorated Durga Puja pandals while at other places, people are being entertained by Ramleela performances.

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Bhubaneswar

Odisha government's 'Abadan' for senior citizens

Odisha: BJD, BJP war of words over NAC councilors' murder

BJP will win Bijepur byelection: Dharmendra Pradhan

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Bhopal

Tiger cub killed by leopard in Bandhavgarh

Betul tribals perform aarti of Ravana in protest

MP's wait for permanent guv continues

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Chandigarh