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Latur (Maharashtra), June 1 : Stating there was need to improve the quality of higher education in India, President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday expressed concern over Indian universities not figuring among the top institutions across the world.

"Today there in no Indian university amongst the top 200 universities in the world. This situation must be improved," Mukherjee said the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Dayanand Education Society here.

Mumbai, June 1 : Actress Alia Bhatt, who donned an ultra-glamorous avatar for her debut film "Student Of The Year" (SOTY) last year, has gone de-glam for her upcoming film "Highway". She says the movie is a challenging opportunity.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, "Highway" is the story of two completely different individuals who take a road trip in a truck.

"I wanted to do something challenging, something different and I got this chance to do it in my second film," Alia told reporters here Friday at the launch of international apparel and accessories brand Forever 21.

New Delhi, June 1 : India and Sri Lanka have "robust and strong relations" and New Delhi's vote against Colombo at a UN rights body was a "dissonance" between two friends, the Sri Lankan envoy has said.

High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam also said his country was perfectly capable of developing "home-grown solutions" vis-a-vis the Tamil issue and "extra country interventions" would be counterproductive.

Nokia India may take the Rs 20.8 billion ($370M) tax dispute with income-tax authorities back to the Delhi High Court as the Commissioner of Income-tax Appeals has dismissed its appeal.

In March this year, the Indian income-tax department had served the Finland-based handset maker's Indian unit with the tax demand for a period of five years starting 2006-07. Nokia challenged the tax demand in the Delhi High Court, which referred the case to the appeals division of income tax authorities. But, the Commissioner of Income-tax Appeals dismissed the appeal.

Chennai, June 1 : DMK president M. Karunanidhi said Saturday he would consult lawyers and chart out a course of action over the personal appearance of his wife Dayalu Ammal before a CBI court.

The special CBI court hearing the 2G spectrum allocation case in New Delhi had Friday dismissed the application of Dayalu Ammal seeking exemption from personal appearance, and directed her to appear before it July 8.

Speaking to reporters here, Karunanidhi said: "As the court's order is not final, what should be done will have to be decided after discussions with lawyers."

Farmers' demand for the withdrawal of the SIR (Special Investment Region) notification in the Mandal Becharaji belt will not affect the expansion plans of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the carmaker's Chairman R C Bhargava said.