News Digest: Maggi ban: Spice firm sacks 300 employees

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Sunday, June 14, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Maggi ban: Spice firm sacks 300 employees A company in Punjab's Moga that supplied spices to Nestle India for Maggi noodles has retrenched nearly 300 temporary employees in the aftermath of the ban on the snack. Khap puts 51-buffalo bounty on filmmaker A khap in Muzaffarnagar thinks the upcoming Bollywood film 'Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho', starring Annu Kapoor, has portrayed them in a bad light and has announced an award of 51 buffaloes to anyone who brings the film's director Vinod Kapri to them dead or alive. 19 killed, 24 hurt as truck rams into trolley in Etah At least 19 people were killed and 24 others were seriously injured when a speeding truck collided with two tractor-trolleys carrying devotees in Malawan area of Etah district on Saturday. More India News»

		Business
		Cairn India, Vedanta boards to meet on Sunday to discuss merger The boards of oil company Cairn India and its parent, Vedanta Ltd, will meet on Sunday to discuss a potential merger, both companies said. IIA & EEPC India join hands to promote exports from UP Regional Director (North India) of Engineering Export Promotion Council India (EEPC India) Rakesh Suraj recently visited apex association of micro, small and medium enterprises. Appreciating dollar, oil, commodities slow forex growth Strengthening dollar, crude oil and commodity prices, coupled with a downfall in foreign investors' sentiment, has led to a slowdown in the growth of India's foreign exchange reserves. More Business News»

		Environment
		Newborn lion-tailed macaque attracts visitors at Vandalur It was born more than a month and a half ago but it was only on Saturday that visitors to the Vandalaur zoo got to see the lion-tailed macaque. HC to Maharashtra: Spell out steps to clean Godavari The Bombay high court has asked Maharashtra government to declare within a week what steps it would take to make the Godavari river in Nashik, where Kumbh Mela starts next month, pollution-free and its water fit for drinking. NGT order on water release in Yamuna cheers activists The governments of UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh were also directed to interact with an official panel led by Shashi Shekhar to sort out the issue of minimal release of water in the Yamuna. More Environment News»

		World
		57 killed in Iraqi province as US advisors arrive Up to 80 US military advisors arrived in Iraq's western province of Anbar to train Iraqi forces and Sunni tribal fighters on Saturday, while suicide car bombers and an air strike against the Islamic State (IS) militants killed 57 people across the volatile province, a provincial official and a security source said. Suspect dead after attack on Dallas police HQ A man sprayed gunfire and planted several bombs at Dallas police headquarters in a rampage that came to a brutal end when snipers shot him dead after several terrifying hours Saturday. Syrian Kurds nearing IS border stronghold, thousands flee Hundreds of Syrian refugees poured into a Turkish-Syrian border crossing, fleeing intense fighting as Syrian Kurds closed in on an Islamic State-held town the only passageway linking Turkey with the extremist group's stronghold of Raqqa. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'Would pay an actress what she thinks she deserves' With her latest film Dil Dhadakne Do, Zoya Akhtar has proven that she is a director with a unique cinematic voice. The film is not just being loved by the audiences, but what is beautiful about it is how Zoya without being preachy has dealt with the extremely relevant subject of gender equality. Akshay Kumar in Vipul Shah's Namastey England Vipul Shah has directed Akshay Kumar in four out of a total of five films (Aankhen, Waqt, Namastey London, Action Replayy) in his career. ​​Same-sex romances in Bollywood As India’s first lesbian couple commercial takes social media by storm, here’s a look at Hindi films that have shown gay love. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Hipsters aside, 'yuccies' are here These young urban creative professionals are a blend of yuppies and hipsters. Sometimes, women too need a smooth shave Kate Somerville, a celeb rity facialist whose long list of Hollywood clients includes Jessica Alba and Debra Messing, has a beauty secret that many women would prefer to keep secret. New medicine could help diabetics save Rs 10,000 per year A new anti-diabetes drug from the ‘gliptin’ family soon to be launched in India promises to lower treatment cost for patients by 55-60%. More Science News»

		Sports
		You will see bigger stands between me and Vijay: Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan, who returned to form with blazing 173 against Bangladesh, said that many more big stands are in store with opening partner Murali Vijay. India beat France 1-0 in first HWL practice match The Indian men's hockey team on Saturday notched up a 1-0 win over France in their first practice match, ahead of the Fintro FIH World League Semifinals. Rafael Nadal beats Gael Monfils to reach Stuttart final Top seed Nadal could become the first man to win titles at the event on both clay and this year's new grass surface if he wins the Sunday final. More Sports News»

		Technology
		10 hot smartphones launched recently in India The month of May witnessed the launch of several new smartphones. Here’s the list of 10 hottest smartphones that were unveiled recently in the Indian market. Buyer's guide: Digital cameras under Rs 15,000 If you are looking for greater control over shutter speed, aperture, exposure, etc, then opt for a 'bridge' camera. LG G Watch Urbane review: Headturner We used the watch for more than two weeks to find out if it is the perfect smartwatch. More Technology News»

		Education
		Sahitya Akademi opens new centre for oral literature If proof of the pudding is in the sampling, so too are pleasures of an oral language manifest in the listening. IIT-Goa misses a year, as state govt dithers on land The new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) allotted to Goa by the Union human resources development (HRD) ministry will not admit students for 2015-16, IIT Bombay has said in a release on Saturday. Demand makes MBBS cost soar in TN, engineering seats go abbegging Pursuing a medical degree can leave one’s finances in a critical condition with private medical universities and colleges in Tamil Nadu raising their tuition as well as capitation fee for MBBS admissions this year in the face of higher demand and tougher competition for seats. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Mega blocks on CR, WR on Sunday Suburban services on Central and Western Railways will be affected by mega blocks on Sunday. 'Need panel to monitor cop housing projects' Setting up a committee to supervise proposed private police housing projects in Maharashtra will do away with malpractices, director general (housing) Arup Patnaik has told the Bombay high court. No permission given for 'bike taxi' service, says Maha transport department The state transport department on Saturday said it had not given permission to any individual or firm to operate “bike taxi” services in the city. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Tomar clueless on H2O, says 'all chemistry one chemistry' Former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar tied himself up in knots while parrying basic questions on chemistry, which he claimed to have studied at a college in UP’s Faizabad. Recording device found in ACB chief's office? An alleged recording device was found in newly appointed Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief M K Meena’s office a few days ago, highly placed sources have told TOI. Science graduate Tomar fails basic quiz by cops The common names of compounds like H2O and NACL were some of the questions tossed at Tomar at the Faizabad college from where he claimed to have graduated in chemistry (science stream). More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Belagavi's tower clock to fall silent A British-era tower clock here will be silenced forever to enable widening of a road. Builders, manpower firms main tax evaders Have you ever wondered what happens to the money you give f or service tax while buying a property? It seems not all builders are remitting that to the government. For, builders and manpower providers constituted nearly 65% of se rvice tax (ST) evaders in Bengaluru during the last financial year. Do not arrest ganjifa artist yet: High court The high court has asked the Lokayukta police not to arrest well-known ganjifa (Indian playing cards) artist Raghupathy Bhat over the gold-leafing controversy pertaining to Mysuru palace. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Crackdown on unrecognised schools In a crackdown on unrecognised schools in Old City, the school education department on Friday sealed 10 schools that had failed to apply for recognition. 'My sister asked for water, but I was helpless' Three generations of a family were wiped out in the accident at Dhowleswaram barrage in East Godavari district in the early hours of Saturday. Overcrowded vehicles at higher risk of accidents The Godavari mishap has once again brought to the fore the need for a stringent check on over-crowding of passenger vehicles. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		SC panel on Mullaperiyar to meet on June 22 With the southwest monsoon bringing rains to catchment areas of the Mullaperiyar dam, the Supreme Court-appointed supervisory panel for the dam will meet on June 22 to ensure that pre-monsoon inspection is carried out to raise water level to 142ft. Tribals' livelihood hit as their habitat declared reserved forest Muthu has been cultivating marigold behind her hut in the Kalvarayan hills near Kallakurichi for more than two decades. Women breadwinners to get training The state rural development department has introduced a new scheme to train women who head households in the state to help them eke out a living. Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of households, after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, which are headed by women. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		US customers fund $11,580 vacation for NRG storekeeper A Florida-based American executive has raised $11,580 (Rs 7.5 lakh) through a crowd-funding website for a 48-year-old Gujarati shopkeeper’s 15-day Europe holiday. Suicide attempt at CM's function Everybody was shocked when a 30-year-old man slit his wrists at a public function of chief minister Anandiben Patel at the Sabarmati riverfront on Saturday evening. Ahmedabad model accuses casting director of harassment It was nightmare for a city-based model, when a person named Kishore, hailing from Odisha, identifying himself as casting director from a prestigious film production company started harassing her over cellphone. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Chowkidars to lead anti-crime drive in rural Kaushambi Unable to check spiraling crime graph, Kaushambi police has once again turned to chowkidars to put a tab on anti-social elements of the district. SRTC plan to upgrade depots jolted Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) plan to upgrade bus depots in the state as ‘commercial hubs’ received a setback after it failed to get any response from popular mega-retail chains of the private sector. 2 dalit youth shot, 4 injured over payment of Rs 4 A petty dispute over payment of Rs 4 turned ugly when some upper caste people opened fire, killing two Dalit youths and injuring four others in Mohddinpur village in Ghoorpur, 25 km from the district headquarters on Friday. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Cuttack structure not a tunnel: Cuttack Municipal Corporation A tunnel-like structure discovered during a road digging work at Kathagada Sahi here on May 20 is probably part of an underground sewerage and drainage system constructed during the British period. Operation Muskaan from July 1 to rescue missing kids in Odisha After 'Operation Smile', police are all set to launch 'Operation Muskaan' from July 1 to rescue missing children from the state.The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) last month wrote to all states ordring such drives. Cops to quiz Iyer's friend on hotel stay Police have decided to summon and interrogate Chitra Athwani, friend of Deccan Chronicle's vice-chairman P K Iyer, who was staying in the Trident Hotel in a room booked in her name for several days. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Four persons burnt to death in Gwalior Four persons were burnt to death and the same number of people sustained burn injuries in an incident of fire in Gwalior around 1.30 am on Saturday. Shivraj posters violate SC directive: State Cong MP Congress has objected to display of posters of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at public expense stating it a violation of Supreme Court guidelines issued on May 13. MPPEB scam: A yr after FIR, no action against CMs associate A year after an FIR was filed against eight people including chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's close associate Gulab Singh Kirar, Gwalior police failed to proceed with their investigations in the case. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Truck robbed outside Attari check post A group of armed assailants fled with a truck filled with Pakistani cement without paying entry tax at the barrier of excise and taxation department, near the integrated check post of Attari, on Saturday. Cops mull booking coach for Narayan Sai's transit Haryana Police are trying to get an entire rail coach reserved to bring Narayan Sai, son of self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu, from Gujarat to Panipat in connection with the alleged assault that took place in May on Mahender Chawla, a key witness in sexual assault cases registered against Asaram Bapu. Ban on Maggi noodles affects ancillary units, cultivators engaged in contract farming Neel.Kamal@timesgroup.With ban on Maggi noodles, working of various ancillary units of Nestle India situated around Moga town is also getting impacted. More Chandigarh News»

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