NEWSBytes

7th Edition

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Email: mantavya@nmims.edu.in

NATIONAL NEWS.
Newsbytes: National
SC refuses separate NEET merit list for State syllabus
students
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to pass an interim
direction to the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to publish
separate merit lists for CBSE students and their
counterparts who studied under the State syllabus in the
National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) held on July
24 for undergraduate medical and dental courses in
private colleges all over the country.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-refuses-
separate-neet-merit-list-for-state-syllabus-
students/article8995163.ece
Gen. V.K. Singh victimized me: Army Chief tells SC
In an unusual development that could cause severe discomfort to the
Union government, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Dalbir Singh has
accused Minister of State General V.K. Singh of levelling false, baseless
and imaginary allegations against him when the latter was heading the
Army.
With his affidavit before Supreme Court filed earlier this week, the COAS
has not only revealed the appalling power struggle within the Indian Army
but also placed the Narendra Modi government in a quandary since his
serious allegations are made against a member of the council of
ministers.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-dalbir-singh-alleges-
victimisation-accuses-vk-singh/article9002927.ece
Newsbytes: National
Sedition case filed against Amnesty International
Acting on a complaint filed by ABVP on Saturday, police have
charged Amnesty International India under Section 124A of the
IPC.
The police on Monday filed cases, including one of sedition,
against the organisers of a programme held on Saturday that
sought to project the human suffering of the Kashmir conflict.
Acting on a complaint filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday, the J.C. Nagar police charged
Amnesty International India under Section 124A of the Indian
Penal Code, which defines sedition as brings or attempts to
bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite
disaffection towards the Government of India.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/sedition-case-
filed-against-amnesty-
international/article8991258.ece?utm_source=InternalRef&utm
_medium=relatedNews&utm_campaign=RelatedNews
Bihar Assembly ratifies GST Bill in special session
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill was passed on Tuesday in a
one-day special session of the Bihar legislature, while 3 MLAs of
Communist Party of India-Marxist and Leninist (CPI-ML) boycotted the
bill and staged a walkout from the House. Participating in the debate,
legislators of both ruling and Opposition parties underlined the benefits
of the bill for the state.
With the GST Bill passed in the House, Bihar became the second state
after Assam to adopt it, while neighboring Jharkhand is scheduled to
convene a special session of the state assembly to ratify the bill on
Wednesday.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar-becomes-first-nonnda-
govt-to-ratify-gst/article8994825.ece
Newsbytes: National
Centre to set up 'Anomaly Committee' for
implementation of 7th pay commission
The centre on Wednesday announced setting up of
an 'Anomaly Committee' to settle issues arising out
of the implementation of the Seventh Pay
Commission's recommendations from August 1.
This announcement came following concerns by
unions of employees over the delay in setting up the
high level committee, assured by the Group of
Ministers to review the minimum wage and
multiplication factor as well as anomalies which
have crept in following implementation of the new
Pay Commission recommendations.
. population indirectly.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-
set-up-anomaly-committee-for-implementation-of-
7th-pay-commission/article9002123.ece
Cant avoid pesticides, say farm experts
Parliaments Standing Committee on Agriculture
may have expressed concern at the unscientific and
excessive use of pesticides in agriculture that pose
a threat both to the environment and human health.
But experts say their judicious use, combined with
safe agricultural practices, is the only way out as the
countrys growing demand for food cannot be met
through organic farming.
In its recently presented report in Parliament for
2015-16, titled Impact of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides on agriculture and allied sectors in the
country, the panel said fertilizers and pesticides
changed the face of agriculture by enhancing
production and productivity, but excessive and
unscientific use of pesticides caused tremendous
harm to the environment and affected human
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cant-avoid-
pesticides-say-farm-experts/article9003989.ece
Newsbytes: National

Kashmir: If not pellet guns, will be forced to fire

bullets in extreme situations, says CRPF to HC

The CRPF has informed Jammu and Kashmir High

Vacancies in judiciary a national challenge,
Court that if pellet guns are banned as a
says CJI T S Thakur
crowd control measure, its personnel will be forced
Raking up the judges appointment issue once
to fire bullets in extreme situations, which can cause
again, Chief Justice of India T S Thakur on
more fatalities.
Friday said vacancies in the judiciary,
especially state High Courts have become a
In case, this (pellet gun) is withdrawn from the
national challenge, and efforts were being
options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel
made to persuade the government to expedite
would have no recourse in extreme situations but to
the matter.
open fire with rifles, which may cause more
Read More:
fatalities, the CRPF said in an affidavit submitted to
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-
the High Court on Wednesday.
news-india/vacancies-in-judiciary-a-national-
.
challenge-says-cji-t-s-thakur-2985733/
Read More:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-
india/if-not-pellet-guns-will-be-forced-to-fire-bullets-
in-extreme-situations-crpf-tells-hc-2985300/
Newsbytes: National
New proposal to limit antibiotic use,
wants countries to set targets
For the first time, global health experts are
calling on world leaders to set specific
country-level targets limiting antibiotic
consumption in order to combat a looming
crisis of drug-resistant superbugs.
The proposal, which appears in
Thursdays issue of Science, is aimed at
heads of state set to convene September
21 for the United Nations High-Level
Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance,
where they will map out a plan for
preserving global access to effective
infection-fighting drugs.
Read more:
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/he
alth/new-proposal-to-limit-antibiotic-use-
wants-countries-to-set-targets-2985561/
NAM principles more relevant now
Venezuela is counting on Prime Minister Narendra
Modis attendance at this years Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) meeting in September, despite
reports he is unlikely to, said visiting Foreign
Minister Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday.
India is a founder of the Non-Aligned movement,
so, for Venezuela, it would be really important to
have Prime Minister Modi there.
We are hopeful he will come, Ms. Rodriguez
told The Hindu, while in Delhi for one day to hand
over the invitation letter from President Nicolas
Maduro to the government.
.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nam-
principles-more-relevant-now/article9004538.ece
Newsbytes: National
Maharashtra launches crime tracking system
On the occasion of the 70th Independence Day,
Maharashtra launched the country's first
comprehensive 'Crime Criminal Tracking Network
System' through 42 cyber labs inaugurated
simultaneously here on Monday.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while launching
the CCTNS, announced that the whole of Mumbai
would be under closed-circuit television monitoring
by October, while similar projects are underway in
other major cities like Pune and Nagpur.
Read more:
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-
ians/maharashtra-launches-crime-tracking-
system-116081500649_1.html
Delhi inks MoU with Dhaka to carry petroleum
goods to Tripura
Bangladesh and India yesterday signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the route
permit for carrying petroleum products from Assam to
Tripura through Bangladesh territory, reports UNB.
Based on the request by the government of India, the
government of Bangladesh has granted permission
for the movement of petroleum products on
humanitarian grounds through the territory of
Bangladesh till September 2016, officials said.
Read more:
http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/5
6497
Newsbytes: National
Countrys first bio-CNG plant to be inaugurated
in Pune on Sunday
Indias first bio-CNG plant is all set to be
inaugurated this Sunday, in Pune. Commissioned
by city-based Primove Engineering Private Limited,
this plant will use agricultural residue to generate
CNG which can be used in automobiles as fuel.
Santosh Gondhalekar, director, research and
development, said the idea of using agricultural
residue for generation of CNG was considered as
the problem of disposal of agricultural waste was a
major concern in the country.
Read More:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-
india/countrys-first-bio-cng-plant-to-be-
inaugurated-in-pune-on-sunday-2969150/
Najma Heptulla sworn in as Governor of Manipur
Former Union Minister Najma Heptulla was on
Sunday sworn-in as the governor of Manipur, All India
Radio News tweeted.
The Manipur Governor designate, Heptulla, arrived at
the Imphal Airport on Saturday afternoon, where she
was received by State Chief Secretary Oinam
Nabakishore, along with Director General of Police
L.M. Khaute, Imphal West Deputy Commissioner
Ningthoujam Jeoffrey, Superintendent of Police Dr.
A.K. Jhaljit and State Protocol Officer Rehanuddin
Choudhury.
Read more:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-
india/najma-heptulla-sworn-in-as-governor-of-
manipur-2988550/
Newsbytes: National
Urjit Patel to be the next Governor of RBI
Urjit Patel has been named as the 24th governor
of the Reserve Bank of India.
Patel will take over from Raghuram Rajan when
the latter leaves office after his term ends on 4
September. The choice of Patel will ensure
continuity at the RBI since he has been the
deputy governor in charge of monetary policy.
In a note released on 18 June, Rajan informed
the staff of the Reserve Bank that he will return
to academia after his term ends in September.
Read more:
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/uWsU1dinfL2eu
qEp0eSajI/Urjit-Patel-succeeds-Raghuram-
Rajan-as-new-RBI-governor.html
27 killed as rain lashes three States
Heavy rain in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Uttarakhand since Friday claimed 27 lives,
even as rivers continued to be in spate in
Bihar.
Fifteen deaths were reported in Madhya
Pradesh since Friday evening as the Met
department predicted more showers and
sounded heavy downpour alert for some
districts on Sunday.
Three Indian Air Force aircraft dropped food
packets and medicines in flooded areas of
Rewa district, Collector Rahul Jain said.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/many-
killed-as-rain-lashes-three-
states/article9012801.ece?w=alauto
Newsbytes: National

Central trade unions firm on September 2

nationwide strike call
Didnt stall judicial appointments: Govt.
Central trade unions, except the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor
After facing repeated salvos from Chief Justice
Sangh, on Friday reiterated their decision to strike
T.S. Thakur over delay in judges appointments,
work on September 2, 2016 in support of their long
the Centre on Friday said it had no role in stalling
pending demands.
them.
A worried Narendra Modi government is engaged in
Government sources said that for almost a year-
talks with the BMS to dissuade its leaders not to be
and-a-half from August 2014 to December 16,
part of the strike as it would be a matter of
2015 the entire judicial appointments process
embarrassment. The Group of Ministers led by
went into a deep freeze mode and vacancies piled
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is scheduled to
up as litigation challenging the National Judicial
hold a meeting with BMS leaders on August 22.
Appointments Commission (NJAC) laws dragged
on in the Supreme Court.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/central- Read more:
trade-unions-firm-on-september-2-nationwide-strike- http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/didnt-stall-
call/article9011486.ece judicial-appointments-govt/article9008974.ece
Newsbytes: National
Turkey briefs India on Gulen network
Turkey on Friday reached out to India over its
concerns about the network of Sufi leader
Fethullah Gulen, which it holds responsible for the
July 16 coup attempt. The discussion on the
Gulen network was the highlight of wide-ranging
exchange between the visiting Turkish Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Coup attempt There were discussions on the
terrorist attacks in Turkey and the internal
developments, including the recent coup attempt.
In this context, the Turkish side briefed about the
role of Fethullah Gulen-led organisation [FETO],
sources confirmed to the media after Mr.
Cavusoglu met Ms. Swaraj.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/turkey-
briefs-india-on-gulen-network/article9008662.ece
BSF, Pak. Rangers to open more lines for contact
Even as India and Pakistan are engaged in a bitter
confrontation over Kashmir, with Pakistan accusing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of crossing the line on
Balochistan, the forces guarding the borders of the
two countries have decided to open more lines of
communication.
Indias Border Security Force and their counterparts,
the Pakistan Rangers, posted along the international
border, have decided to add four additional telephone
lines for enhanced communication, up from the 12
now.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bsf-pak-
rangers-to-open-more-lines-for-
contact/article9008981.ece

Business
Newsbytes: Business
Hike messaging app raises $175 million, joins
unicorn club
India has a new unicorn, and its name is Hike.
Hike Ltd, which runs the messaging app Hike
Messenger, on Tuesday said that it has joined the
billion-dollar valuation club by raising $175 million
largely from Chinese Internet giant Tencent
Holdings Ltd and Foxconn Technology Group of
Taiwan.
According to the company, its latest round pumps
up its valuation to $1.4 billion. It has raised $250
million till date.
Rea More: http://www.business-
standard.com/article/companies/hike-joins-
unicorn-club-raises-175-mn-from-tencent-
foxconn-116081600516_1.html
\
3,000 jobs to get affected post RBS project
scrap: Infosys
Infosys has said it will ramp-down about 3,000 jobs
following Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)s decision
to cancel the project to set up a separate bank in the
UK.
RBS announced last week that it will not pursue its
plan to separate and list a new UK standalone bank,
Williams & Glyn (W&G), for which Infosys was a key
technology partner.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/wipro-
infrastructure-engineering-to-acquire-israel-firm-
givon/article8929342.ece
Newsbytes: Business
Who Pays Whom? Getting to the Heart of Reliance
Jio vs COAI
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in
its released last week tackles the subject of
interconnection usage charges or IUC. Telecom service
providers (TSPs) enter into commercial consultation
paper and technical arrangements with each other to
facilitate interconnection. Some of the issues associated
with interconnection are agreed between TSPs while
other protocols are determined by the regulator (TRAI) in
order to finalize these arrangements. One such
important issue that needs to be decided by the regulator
is the IUC.
Read More:
http://thewire.in/58883/who-pays-who-getting-to-the-
heart-of-reliance-jio-vs-coai/
RBI, Sebi make another bid at deepening
corporate bond markets
The banking and capital market regulators are
proposing a series of measures to try and deepen
the countrys corporate bond market, which
continues to remain shallow despite years of effort.
The regulators, however, have stopped short of
immediately accepting corporate bonds as a
collateral at the central banks Liquidity Adjustment
Facility (LAF) window, although they intend to move
in that direction eventually. This was one measure
that analysts felt could help the market leapfrog.
Read More :
http://www.livemint.com/Money/JudgJq9SnxGetcFk
54ByoN/RBI-Sebi-make-another-bid-at-deepening-
corporate-bond-marke.html
Newsbytes: Business
SBI sets swap ratio for merger with associates
The board of State Bank of India (SBI) approved
a swap ratio for the merger of its three listed
associate banks and the Bhartiya Mahila Bank.
The deal involves allotting 28 shares of SBI (of
Re 1 each) for every 10 shares in State Bank of
Bikaner and Jaipur (Rs 10 each) and 22 shares of
SBI for every 10 shares held in State Bank of
Mysore and State Bank of Travancore.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/sbi-
sets-swap-ratio-for-merger-with-
associates/article9003807.eces
How to deal with a fellow worker who cant say No
When I worked as a global media coordinator for the
United Nations several years ago, I organized biweekly
conference calls, during which I would ask my colleagues
around the world to provide information by particular
deadlines. My colleagues almost always responded with a
resounding yes, but all too often, the deadlines came and
went without the requested material, leaving me
bewildered and upset.
Finally, my South African boss had to explain what would
never have occurred to me: In many cultures, it is rude to
say no. So some people would say yes to anything I
asked, regardless of whether they had any intention of
delivering.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/news-service/how-to-deal-with-
a-fellow-worker-who-cant-say-
no/article8925194.ece?theme=true
Newsbytes: Business

Food lifts WPI inflation to 23-month high

Wholesale price inflation accelerated to a 23-month

high of 3.6 per cent in July, driven mainly by higher
food prices, according to official data. The pace of
price gains as measured by the wholesale price
index more than doubled in July from 1.62 per cent
in June, leaving the Reserve Bank of India even less
elbow room to cut benchmark interest rates at its
next meeting, according to experts.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/food-
lifts-wpi-inflation-to-23month-
high/article8995398.ece
Newsbytes: Business

Panel suggests corporate bond index, easier norms for FPIs

With an aim to develop corporate bond market in India, an expert

panel today suggested easing of norms for foreign investors, a
corporate bond index on the lines of Sensex or Nifty, and making it
mandatory for large corporates to tap this market for funds beyond
a threshold.

The panel, comprising nominees from Reserve Bank, Finance

Ministry, markets watchdog SEBI as also insurance and pension
regulators IRDAI and PFRDA, also wanted tightening of norms for
credit rating agencies by mandating them to strictly adhere to
timely public disclosure of defaults.

Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/panel-suggests-
corporate-bond-index-easier-norms-for-fpis/article9003894.ece
Newsbytes: Business
Cipla, Godrej recognised in Fortune Change the
World list
Indias pharmaceutical giant Cipla and consumer
goods conglomerate Godrej have been recognised by
Fortune magazine in a list of global firms changing the
world for the good and having a positive social impact
through their activities.
Cipla is ranked 46th in the list of 50 followed by Godrej
on the 48th spot, the only Indian companies in the list.
The Fortune 2016 Change the World list recognizes
companies that have had a positive social impact
through activities that are part of their core business
strategy.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/cipla-godrej-
recognised-in-fortune-change-the-world-
list/article9007658.ece
Centre imposes $380 million additional
penalty on RIL
Government has slapped an additional penalty of
$380 million (around Rs.2,500 crore) on Reliance
Industries and its partners for producing less
than targeted natural gas from eastern offshore
KG-D6 fields.
With this, the total penalty, which is in form of
disallowing recovery of cost incurred, for missing
the target in five fiscal years beginning April 1,
2010, now stands at a cumulative $2.76 billion.
Read More:
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/centr
e-imposes-380-million-additional-penalty-on-
ril/article9003896.ece
Newsbytes: Business
Singtel to buy 7.39% more in Bharti Telecom for $659
million
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) said on
Thursday that it had signed an agreement with its majority
owner Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd to purchase a 7.39%
stake in Bharti Telecom Ltd, the holding company of
Indias largest telco Bharti Airtel Ltd, for $659.51 million.
The deal will strengthen the foothold Singtel, South-East
Asias largest telecom company, has in India, the worlds
second largest mobile-phone market, where consumers
are switching to smartphones from feature phones at a
rapid pace.
Read More:
http://www.livemint.com/Companies/bL1jZZdOhjoSkDsxK4
5vDJ/Singtel-to-buy-739-stake-in-Bharti-Telecom-
Thailans-Into.html
TCS throws weight behind blockchain
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) is
throwing its weight behind blockchain and
getting ready to launch core banking software
based on the underlying technology behind
virtual currency Bitcoin.
This will make Indias largest software exporter
only the second large company globally to do
so. Incidentally, local rival Infosys Ltd launched
a blockchain framework for Finacle, its core
banking platform, earlier this year.
Read More:
http://www.livemint.com/Companies/bXjPtlHZR
K46FQVb2hxhyN/TCS-throws-weight-behind-
blockchain.html
Newsbytes: Business
TRAI moots spectrum usage charge for small
ISPs
In a move that would hit broadband users of smaller
internet service providers (ISP), the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started a
debate on whether to impose spectrum usage
charge on ISPs which operate on airwaves allocated
administratively.
Currently, ISPs pay a flat fee of around 3.5 lakh per
year for using 5MHz of spectrum. If TRAI imposes
usage charges, the operators will have to cough up a
fee based on their annual revenues.
Read More:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/trai-
moots-spectrum-usage-charge-for-small-
isps/article9008533.ece?homepage=true
GIFT City banks get off to a roaring start mopping
up $650 mn
Countrys maiden international finance centre, GIFT
City in Ahmedabad, has got off to a good start with
financial services players mopping up over USD 650
million in forex funds through the Centre as of June.
Banks, which have opened their offices in the GIFT
City has raised USD 650 million as of end June.
Primarily, this has been mopped up by Yes Bank and
Federal Bank, which have functional offices at the
centre, GiftCity chief executive and managing director
Ajay Pandey told PTI here.
When contacted, an Yes Bank official said the lenders
IFSC branch has mopped up USD 400 million this
fiscal year alone, but refused to share client details.
Read More:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/gift-
city-banks-get-off-to-a-roaring-start-mopping-up-650-
mn/article9014256.ece?homepage=true

TECHNOLOGY
NEWSBytes: Technology
Google launches Duo to take on Apples
FaceTime, Skype
Now you can see a live video of the caller before
you answer.
Tech giant Google has launched its video calling
app, Google Duo, for Android and iOS users,
which will compete with apps like FaceTime and
Skype.
The video calling app, which was first announced
by Google three months ago at its I/O developer
conference, aims to take the complexity out of
video calling.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-
tech/technology/google-launches-duo-to-take-on-
apples-facetime-skype/article8994369.ece
US set to cede control of domain naming system
The US is set to cede power of the Internets naming
system to a non-profit organization on October 1,
ending the almost 20-year process to hand over a
crucial part of the internets governance.
The Domain Naming System, DNS, is one of the
internets most important components.
Key component
It pairs the easy-to-remember web addresses with
their relevant servers.
Read More
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/us-
set-to-cede-control-of-domain-naming-
system/article9003591.ece
 NEWSBytes: Technology
Intel's next-gen Kaby Lake processors
Intel's 7th-gen Core processors, known as
Kaby Lake, are right around the corner. What
does that mean? Faster, more capable
computers, obviously!
But Kaby Lake isn't your typical chip upgrade.
Here's everything we know so far.
What's a Kaby Lake?
Intel's 7th-gen Core processors, presumably
the latest and greatest CPUs the company
has to offer. They're the successor to Intel's
6th-gen "Skylake" processors from 2015.
Read More:
http://www.cnet.com/news/intel-kaby-lake-
7th-gen-core-processors-faq/
Tiny Stanford invention purifies water in
minutes using the sun
Is that a piece of bark in your drink? A bug,
maybe? Nope. It's a tiny water-purifying tablet
powered by the sun.
The device comes from scientists at the
Department of Energy's SLAC National
Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford
University's Institute for Materials and
Energy Science. It measures 1 centimeter by 2
centimeters, about the size of half a postage
stamp, and decontaminates water fast using a
readily available resource -- visible light from
the sun's rays.
Read More:
http://www.cnet.com/news/tiny-stanford-
invention-purifies-water-in-minutes-using-the-
sun/
 NEWSBytes: Technology
Disrupting Distribution
When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was
launched globally, Snapdeal arranged deliveries of
the book within two hours of the order being placed. It
could do so thanks to its predictive demand
management system fueled by big data, and its 69
fulfilment centres across the country.
In the age of instant gratification, its getting harder
and harder for companies especially e-commerce
retailers to meet customer expectations as
shoppers want stuff here and now. Drones may help
in the future. But today, as Samay Kohli, CEO and
co-founder of Grey Orange, a logistics start-up that
builds robotic solutions, says, The only way you can
do two-hour deliveries is if you set up automated
warehouses which are closer to market.
Read More:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/disrupti
ng-distribution/article9002795.ece?homepage=true
How carbon nanotubes could give us faster
processors and longer battery life
Is that a piece of bark in your drink? A bug, maybe?
Nope. It's a tiny water-purifying tablet powered by the
sun.
The device comes from scientists at the Department of
Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
and Stanford University's Institute for Materials and
Energy Science. It measures 1 centimeter by 2
centimeters, about the size of half a postage stamp,
and decontaminates water fast using a readily available
resource -- visible light from the sun's rays.
Read More:
https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/20/how-carbon-
nanotubes-could-give-us-faster-processors-and-longer-
battery-life/
 NEWSBytes: Technology
Is big data in big trouble?
We recently saw two critical developments in the
big data and analytics space. Tableau (DATA)
released earnings and missed their forecast by
$0.05; their stock dropped 5 percent.
Then Hortonworks (HDP) announced a revenue
miss that sent the stock into a downward spiral.
Whats going on with the business intelligence
(BI) and Hadoop space? Should we run for the
hills, far away from the BI and big data space
before it implodes?
What were we thinking?
Read More:
https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/19/is-big-data-in-
big-trouble/
Reimagining the ecosystem for identity
verification
Whats in a name? When it comes in the form
of a password, everything. The password has
long been the safeguard and in many cases,
the only one to protect our online identity.
With increased mobility, and our need to stay
constantly plugged in, our online identity today
extends into almost every touch point of our
lives. From checking social media as soon as
we wake up, to streaming music on a commute,
to doing one last email check before hitting the
pillow at night, our digital identity allows us to
consume, connect and transact as we move
through the day.
Read More:
https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/19/reimagining-
the-ecosystem-for-identity-verification//
STARTUPS
 NEWSBytes: Startups
India worlds third biggest tech start-up hub: Study
India is home to the third largest number of technology
driven start-ups in the world, with the US and the UK
occupying the top two positions, according to a report.
The study, done by Assocham in association with
Thought Arbitrage Research Institute, also revealed that
Bengaluru is host to the largest share of technology
start-ups in the country, followed by Delhi NCR and
Mumbai, while Hyderabad and Chennai are also quite
popular among budding tech entrepreneurs. In the
technology driven start-ups, India has moved up to third
position with the US occupying the top position with
more than 47,000 and the UK with over 4,500.
Read More:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-
worlds-third-biggest-tech-startup-hub-
study/article9014365.ece?homepage=true
Askmebazaar may down shutters soon
One of the top 10 players in the Indian e-commerce
sector, Askmebazaar, is likely to down its shutters.
Astro Entertainment, the majority owner of Askme,
said on Friday it would review its investment in the
company in the absence of profits.
The company denied it was shutting down, but
sources said Askme has asked its 4,000-odd
employees to look out for other opportunities.
The Malaysian investment firm, Astro, owns around
95 per cent of Getit Infomedia, Askmes parent.
Read More:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-
tech/askmebazaar-may-down-shutters-
soon/article9008535.ece?homepage=true
 NEWSBytes: Startups
This queen of seed funding has Europe under
her feet, America in her veins, and India in her
soul
Reshma Sohoni is the Co-founder and managing
partner of Seedcamp, a First Round Funds based
in London with over 200 investments, and one of
the authors of the European Startup Manifesto,
the document to support startups promoted by the
European Union. She was born in India and
moved to the US with her family when she was
10. Later, she went to France to do her MBA with
a return ticket to the US but, as it happens, she fell
in love with Europe and decided to stay.
Read More:
https://yourstory.com/2016/08/reshma-sohoni-
seedcamp/https://yourstory.com/2016/08/reshma-
sohoni-seedcamp/
Gender-biased Indian startup ecosystem
only 21 of 670 funded startups in 2016
run by women
Eight months into 2016 and 670 funding
deals worth $2 billion have been
closed. Guess what percentage of these
deals were bagged by startups with women
co-founders or a solo woman founder? A
mere three percent. Approximately 14
percent has gone into startups with male
and female co-founders, while the rest 83
percent went to those founded by men.
Read More:
https://yourstory.com/2016/08/gender-
biased-startup-ecosystem/

SPORTS
Newsbytes: India at Rio
Sakshi Malik Becomes The First Indian
Woman To Win An Olympic Medal In
Wrestling
The most glorious chapter in Olympic history in
terms of an individual athletes endeavor has
come to an end, providing students of the
biggest youth movement of the world with
enough material, and more, to soak in and
savour.
A lot of encomiums have already come the way
of Michael Phelps, the most decorated
Olympian ever, who, in an international career
spanning 16 years, has won everything in sight
in the pool.
Read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sakshi-
malik-india-
wrestling_us_57b5d780e4b0fd5a2f41a3a1
Kidambi Srikanth bows out fighting against
defending champion Lin Dan in Rio Olympics
quarter-finals
India's Kidambi Srikanth went down fighting to two-
time defending champion Lin Dan of China in the
quarter-finals of the men's singles event of
badminton competitions at the Olympic Games at
Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Five-time world champion Dan edged World No 11
Srikanth 21-6, 11-21, 21-18.
With this win, the 32-year-old Chinese legend took a
3-1 head-to-head lead against the 23-year-old
Indian shuttler.
Read more:
http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/inside-
an-olympians-testosterone-
ordeal/article8991078.ece
Newsbytes: Sports

Not so Super: Lin Dan bats off retirement talk after

Denmarks Viktor Axelsen wins Olympic Games
badminton bronze

Chinas Lin Dan, regarded by some as badmintons

greatest-ever player, batted off retirement talk after
leaving the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games empty-handed
on Saturday after losing the bronze medal match to
Denmarks Viktor Axelsen.
The double Olympic champion took the first set 21-15 but
tired to lose the following two games 21-10, 21-17 in a
defeat that likely brought the curtain down on his hallowed
Games career.
I was pretty drained from yesterdays match, Lin said,
referring to his semi-final defeat to Lee Chong Wei of
Malaysia on Friday.
Read more:
http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-
sport/article/2006670/not-so-super-dan-chinas-lin-leaves-
rio-de-janeiro-empty-handed
India to host 12-nation Kabaddi World Cup in
October
New Delhi: India will host the Kabaddi World Cup in
October 2016, featuring South Africa, Canada,
United Kingdom, Australia, Iran, Poland, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Korea, Japan and Kenya.
Read More:
http://www.firstpost.com/sports/india-to-host-12-
nation-kabaddi-world-cup-in-october-2926422.html
Newsbytes: Sports

PV Sindhu creates history, wins silver medal

in Olympics
Neymar quits captaincy after leading Brazil to maiden
PV Sindhu has won India's second medal of the
Olympic Gold
2016 Rio Olympics, but it isn't the one she, her
coach P Gopichand and all those who tuned into
Neymar, who scored the winning goal of Brazil in the Gold
the gold medal women's singles badminton
medal match against Germany in Rio, said he had told his
match at the Riocentro on Friday wished for.
national team coach he wouldn't want to continue as
Sindhu, tenth in the global rankings, lost to
captain of the team.
Spain's Carolina Marin, ranked No 1, 21-19, 12-
Shortly after leading his country to a maiden Olympic
21, 15-21 to settle for silver.
gold, Neymar, in a televised interview, said he had told
national coach Tite that he did not want to continue as
Read More:
captain.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-
"It was an honour, something that I received with all my
2016-olympics/india-in-olympics-
heart," he said.
2016/badminton/PV-Sindhu-creates-history-wins-
silver-medal-in-
Read more:
Olympics/articleshow/53774654.cms
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/olympics2016/story/neymar-
quits-captaincy-after-leading-brazil-to-maiden-olympic-
gold/1/745295.html
Newsbytes: Sports

Dipa Karmakar finishes 4th

Usain Bolt wins the 4x100m relay: Bolt completes the
Gymnast Dipa Karmakar narrowly missed the
triple triple before declaring himself 'the greatest' and
bronze by finishing fourth in the women's vault
vowing 'this is the last one'
event even as shuttler Saina Nehwal, the men's
Usain Bolt declared himself the greatest as he achieved
hockey team and tennis pair of Sania Mirza and
the unique sprint triple-triple that has long seemed his
Rohan Bopanna crashed out on a dismal day for
destiny.
India at the Olympic Games on Sunday.
Dipa, from the north eastern state Tripura,
Bolt, 29, won his third gold medal of Rio 2016 - and his
emerged as one of the few shining spots on a
ninth overall - as he anchored the Jamaican 4x100m relay
disastrous campaign as she ended up just
team to victory.
outside a medal bracket with 15.066 points after
putting on a superb display in the eight-woman
He had already said he would be immortal if he pulled it
vault final.
off, and after his last ever Olympic race he said: There you
Read More:
go. I am the greatest.
http://www.firstpost.com/sports/rio-olympics-
2016-dipa-karmakar-finishes-4th-saina-nehwal-
He adds the medal to the 100m and 200m golds he took
stunned-on-disappointing-day-for-india-
earlier in the Games, just as he did in London and Beijing.
2956176.html
Read more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/19/usain-bolt-
runs-the-4x100m-relay-live-what-time-is-rio-olympic-f/

International
Newsbytes: International
Ryan Lochte Made Up Robbery Claim After
U.S. Swimmers Damage Gas Station,
Brazilian Authorities Say
Brazilian authorities suggested Thursday that
the U.S. swimmers who claimed they were
robbed at gunpoint in Rio had made up the
robbery following an incident in which they
vandalized a gas station.
Swimmer Ryan Lochte and teammates Gunnar
Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen claimed
that they were robbed after leaving a party early
Sunday morning by individuals posing as police
officers.
Read More:
http://time.com/4457457/ryan-lochte-olympics-
robbery-report/
Turkey wedding blast: 30 dead and 90 hurt in
Gaziantep
A blast at an outdoor wedding party in the south
Turkish city of Gaziantep has killed at least 30
people and injured 94 more, the authorities say.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said so-called
Islamic State (IS) was likely to have carried it out
amid reports of a suicide bomber targeting the
party.
The attack, in an area popular with university
students, could be heard across the city.
Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, is known to
have several IS cells.
Read More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37146531
Newsbytes: International

The stunned, bloodied face of 5-year-old Omran

Daqneesh sums up the horror of Aleppo
The video shows a child after he was pulled from rubble
in Aleppo, a Syrian city that has been devastated by
constant bombardment.
A man carried the boy away from the rubble after a
suspected Russian or Syrian regime airstrike in the
neighborhood of rebel-held Qaterji.
He placed him in an orange seat, and the boy brushed
his eye and face after the man walked away.
Looking dazed, he then wiped the blood and debris on
the seat.
Read More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2
016/08/17/the-stunned-bloodied-face-of-a-child-survivor-
sums-up-the-horror-of-aleppo/
Newsbytes: International
French Prime Minister Supports Local
Bans on Burkinis
Chinas Launch of a Quantum Satellite is a
Major Step in the Space Race
Full-body swimsuits worn by some Muslim
women have been banned in three French
Chinas launch of the first quantum satellite Tuesday
towns
will push forward efforts to develop the ability to
send communications that cant be penetrated by
French prime minister Manuel Valls has
hackers, experts said.
entered the fray over full-body swimsuits,
known as burkinis, offering support for
The satellite launched into space from the Jiuquan
several coastal towns that have banned
launch base in northwestern Chinas Gobi desert
them from beaches.
will allow Chinese researchers to transmit test
messages between Beijing and northwestern China
Valls said Wednesday that wearing a
as well as other locations around the world.Read
burkini is not compatible with the values
More:
of the French Republic,
http://time.com/4453675/china-quantum-satellite-
Read More:
launch/
http://time.com/4456282/france-pm-
manuel-valls-burkini-ban/
Newsbytes: International
Russian Warplanes Take Off From Iran to
Target ISIS in Syria
Russias Defense Ministry says that Russian
warplanes have taken off from a base in Iran to
target Islamic State fighters in Syria.
Tuesdays announcement marks a major
development in the efforts against the Sunni
militant group. Russia has never used the territory
of another country in the Middle East except
Syria for its operations inside Syria before this
.Read More:
http://time.com/4453717/russia-syria-isis-strikes-
iran/
Chinese ships, planes hold war games in Sea of
Japan:
Chinese planes and ships held war games in the Sea of
Japan last week, the military said, during which Beijing
displayed its latest-generation frigate at a time of bitter
territorial disputes with Asian neighbours.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement on its website
late Saturday that the long-range exercises staged on
Friday pitted a red army against a blue one in a
simulated bomber attack on a naval task force.
Read More
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-
ships-planes-hold-war-games-in-sea-of-
japan/article9014610.ece
Thanks!