News Digest: Why we need a little sunshine?

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, August 31, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Why we need a little sunshine? Happy to staindoors in this torrid heat? Well, here's a good reason to step out: your body needs the daily dose of vitamin D that comes from exposure to the sun. Kyoto will help Modi's Varanasi 'smarten up' Describing Japan as “one of India’s closest and most important partners”, the Prime Minister spoke about his own admiration for the country and his high hopes from the relationship. 8 new trains through Visakhapatnam from September 1 Eight new trains are all set to pass through Visakhapatnam railway station More India News»

		Business
		Too many products can't be kept out of GST: Jaitley The Centre on Saturday asserted that too many products cannot be kept out of the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST) even as states are clamouring for more products including liquor, tobacco and petroleum to be excluded. Rona Fairhead to become next BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead, former boss of the Financial Times Group, will become the new chairman of the BBC Trust, the body which oversees the publicly-funded British broadcaster, the BBC reported on Saturday. Coal block decision to shake investor confidence: Assocham Stating that cancellation of coal blocks will shake investors confidence, industry body Assocham has suggested a two-pronged strategy as a remedial measure on the issue. More Business News»

		Environment
		Elusive marbled cat sighted in Buxa Tiger Reserve The recent sighting of an elusive clouded leopard is not the only good news coming in from Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) at the moment. There’s more in store. Snails help scientists investigate rise, fall of Tibetan Plateau A new research has helped scientists investigate the rise and fall of the Tibetan Plateau by using snail shells. Two-third of Uttar Pradesh districts face drought More than two-third of the districts in Uttar Pradesh are facing an acute drought, officials said on Saturday. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine crisis: EU threatens Russia with more sanctions The decision on new sanctions will depend on the evolution of the situation on the ground. Donald Tusk takes Poland to Europe's top table Donald Tusk, 57, is a history graduate and avid soccer fan who has been prime minister since 2007. UN peacekeepers in Golan Heights safe: Report "Everyone is in a safe position. We left our (old) position but we brought all our arms," said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala. More World News»

		Entertainment
		RGV apologizes for his tweet on Ganesh Chaturthi Siblings Siddhanth and Shraddha Kapoor seek Ganesha's blessings Bollywood celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi Singham Returns collects Rs 136.14 Crores in 15 days More Entertainment News»

		Science
		A robotic arm to help neurology patients? What’s more, robotic devices and other technologies are also being developed which will be used in assisting these patients in re-learning their movement behaviour. Knee defender: Gadget that caused a flight to divert Last week, a United Airlines flight was forced to divert after two passengers got into an argument over the Knee defender, a $22 gadget that stops the person in front of the user from reclining. From Kerala to France: Brainwaves emailed Here's a story that sounds like science fiction but actually happened. A man in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, thought the words `hola' and `ciao' (hello or goodbye in Italian) and another man in Strasbourg, France, received the two greetings in his brain. No hands, no speaking, no typing, no gestures -just mind-tomind communication. More Science News»

		Sports
		Sindhu settles for second bronze in World Championship Sindhu suffered a heartbreak at the World C'ship as she had to settle for a second consecutive bronze medal after succumbing to Carolina in straight games. Stoke City stun Manchester City 1-0 in Premier League Mame Diouf scored a spectacular solo goal to give Stoke City a surprising 1-0 victory over defending champion Manchester City in the Premier League. Qualifier Krunic stuns Wimbledon champ Kvitova Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova became the fifth top 10 seed to exit US Open in first week when she was knocked out by qualifier Aleksandra Krunic. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Oracle loses bid to restore $1.3bn SAP verdict Oracle failed to revive a $1.3 billion verdict in its dispute with SAP as a US court said Oracle must choose to accept a lower amount or face a new trial. Samsung 'shuns' Google, licenses Nokia's Here Maps Nokia has partnered Samsung to provide its maps and location services to Tizen-powered smart devices by the Korean electronics giant. 7 gadgets that are great investments As opposed to the norm, these are halo products that will not get easily obsolete — they will continue to function well (sometimes over several years) though they may be more expensive to purchase initially. More Technology News»

		Education
		Hyderabad sends more students to US than Delhi, Mumbai The report on foreign student population in the US, published by Brookings Institution for the period 2008-2012, offers some remarkable insights on India. All schools will now have a minimum benchmark to meet Schools across country will now be evaluated on the basis of an agreed set of standards. HRD ministry has agreed with a proposal by National University for Educational Planning & Training to launch a nationwide programme of evaluation. Opt out of MBBS, face Rs 1 lakh fine In a move to check malpractices in allotment of medical college seats, the NTR University of Health Sciences has decided to impose a hefty penalty of Rs 1 lakh on candidates who opt out of studies after taking admission. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Maharashtra to take back 100 hectares allotted to Videocon The City Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has been allowed to take back 100 hectares allocated to Videocon at Navi Mumbai in 2008 to set up a TFT-LED plant. Downsize diktat in Rajasthan villages trims big fat Marwari weddings in Mumbai Big fat Marwari weddings are slimming down as rules imposed by community elders in towns and villages of south Rajasthan domino down to families from there settled across the country. 500 AAP volunteers quit party in Maharashtra Claiming to be dissatisfied with AAP’s functioning in the state, over 500 volunteers from the party’s Maharashtra unit resigned on Saturday. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Two of family killed in hit & run on NH-24 In a freak hit-and-run accident, a man and his 5-year-old daughter were killed and the man’s wife and son were critically injured after their motorbike was hit by an unknown vehicle on NH-24 near Ghazipur on Saturday evening. Bus speeds to overtake, bikers hurt Two persons travelling on a bike sustained grievous injuries after they were sandwiched between a DTC bus and another which was hit by the first bus in a bid to overtake it. Delhi high court refuses to put off DUSU polls The Delhi high court has refused to stay the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election on the plea of a students' body that the current procedure results in "unfair advantage" to a select few. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Bangalore doctors turn saviours for five Indonesian kids Five Indonesian kids suffering from congenital heart defects have got a new lease of life. 3-yr PG in public health comes under UGC scanner In a notification on July 5, the UGC had specified nomenclatures and the duration of degree programmes in higher educational institutions Retired police officer locked in house for 17 days The ordeal would have continued and become worse had it not been for his younger brother V Ramachandra who started searching for him. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Committee rules out single capital as feasible option An expert committee tasked by the Union home ministry to study alternatives for a new Capital for Andhra Pradesh has ruled out a single capital as a "feasible option for now" and instead suggested "distributed development" of capital functions and institutions among the Vizag region in Uttarandhra, Rayalaseema Arc and along Kalahasti-Nadikudi railway line. Kin seek probe into IPS officer's death A day after a trainee IPS officer drowned in a swimming pool on the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) campus here, the young officer’s family has demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident. Wary of Singapore, S Korean models: Sivaramakrishnan committee Sivaramakrishnan committee in its report has cautioned the Andhra Pradesh government against following the Singapore and South Korean models for the development of the state. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Row over Stalin fest greeting “Greetings to all on the occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi.” This could pass off as just another festival greeting. Instead, it has kicked up a storm in political circles as it appeared in a Facebook post of DMK heir apparent M K Stalin. Many want to know how an atheist could have committed such an act. 2 of UP gang held for Tamil Nadu train robberies Two members of an Uttar Pradesh-based gang were arrested on the outskirts of Delhi on Friday for their alleged involvement in two incidents of robbery on trains in Erode and Dharmapuri in April and May. 2 workers die after inhaling poisonous gas in sewage pit Two workers died after inhaling toxic gas in a sewage pit at a Metrowater facility in Kodungaiyur on Saturday morning during maintenance. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Senior citizen robbed of Rs 22 lakh Inspector K D Champawat said that they are probing various angles of the case. Gujarat University defers result of PhD entrance test Gujarat University has once again failed to announce the results of the entrance examination for MPhil and PhD which were to be declared on Saturday. A free kick from heaven Heavy rain lashed many parts of the city till Saturday evening.The rains led to several traffic blocks and literally threw the city out of gear till 1.30 pm on Saturday. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Water-borne diseases spreading in Manda, Koraon blocks Supply of contaminated water is the key reason behind spreading of water-borne diseases in villages falling under Manda and Koraon blocks. Health teams visited several villages after death of eight children and revealed that villagers have no source to get pure and fresh potable water. AU prof designs cost-effective solar-based system to overcome power crisis Even as the entire state is reeling under acute power shortage, a professor of Allahabad University and his students have come up with a cost-effective solar-based system to overcome the power crisis. The prototype has shown encouraging results promising of harnessing more solar power from the same solar cells as compared to conventional method. MP-PMT accused nabbed In a joint operation, crime branch sleuths and Gwalior special investigation team (SIT) arrested one Gyanendra from Gaughat on Saturday. He was wanted in connection with the MP PMT (Pre-Medical Test) scam. The MP police had declared a cash reward of Rs 15,000 on his head. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		CDA resumes temple demolition After a brief lull, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday resumed temple demolition drive in the city and razed Subhadra Khetra Temple at Sector 9 of Markat Nagar here. Leadership drive to ensure quality education In a bid to infuse quality in school education, a school leadership programme will be launched in the state. CBI to probe custody death The Orissa high court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the alleged custodial death of Kuldeep Mohapatra, 27, at Saheed Nagar police station in Bhubaneswar in 2012. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		No UP's Azam, but he fought alone to get buffaloes back A middle-aged man from a village in Bhopal's outskirts may not be as lucky as powerful UP minister, Azam Khan, who mobilized the entire police machinery to search for his stolen buffaloes. But he was equally passionate about his cattle flock. Three of family attempt suicide outside police HQ in Bhopal As a person accompanying them went inside to meet an official, Babybai, Sanjay and Sunil, who were waiting in the parking lot, suddenly drank insecticide. Institute of Hotel Management celebrates 25th anniversary in Bhopal The Institute of Hotel Management recently organised its alumni meet on the occasion of completing 25 years More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Badal to raise Punjabis' detention in Kuwait with Sushma Swaraj Parkash Singh Badal said that he would talk to the Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj for immediately providing all possible help to the Punjabis in distress. Drought in state: Haryana seeks special package To meet the drought-like situation in state, Haryana government has sought a special package of Rs 4,829.25 crore from the Centre. Sonipat public distribution system riddled with loopholes Major irregularities have been detected in the Union government's flagship food security programme in Sonipat ahead of Haryana assembly elections. More Chandigarh News»

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