News Digest: Monsoon gets a boost, rains 13% above normal

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Tuesday, June 16, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Monsoon gets a boost, rains 13% above normal The monsoon has got off to a good start after a slightly delayed onset, with widespread showers over the past five days taking the countrywide rain tally to 13% above normal so far this month. Deal clears way for road trips to Bangladesh and Bhutan By next year you can go to Bhutan or Bangladesh in your own car as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal on Monday signed the motor vehicle agreement for seamless movement of goods and passenger vehicles among the four Saarc countries. Artists too latch on to govt houses Politicians are not the only ones trying to hang on to their government accommodations long after their term has expired. Prominent artists too are overstaying their welcome. More India News»

		Business
		Nestle to take 320cr hit on Maggi recall Nestle India would take a hit of around Rs 320 crore from the process of withdrawal and destruction of Maggi noodles. Rosneft may buy 49% in Essar refinery Ruias-promoted Essar Group is said to be close to stitching up a multi billion dollar deal to sell a substantial minority stake in its 20-million tonne refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat to Russia’s Rosneft. RCOM, Sistema's Indian arm may merge in stock swap deal Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications and Russian telecom operator AFK Sistema have entered into exclusive discussions on a merger between the Indian telecom business of Sistema Shyam TeleServices and RCOM through a stock swap, triggering a potential consolidation in the highly competitive telecom space. More Business News»

		Environment
		Himachal Pradesh has 4.8% of India's forest cover Out of total 55,673 sq km geographic area in the state, the forest comprises 37,033 sq km, which is 4.80% of total forests in the country. HP successfully sells its sequestered carbon Himachal Pradesh has successfully sold its sequestered carbon through plantations and has earned a financial incentive of Rs 1.93 crores as first installment from the government of Spain for implementing climate change mitigation project under Kyoto Protocol. Survey finds 113 butterfly species in Srivilliputhur sanctuary The survey found butter species like sawtooth, female albatross, commander and blue oak leaf. More Environment News»

		World
		Mexico's top court quietly legalizes gay marriage The Supreme Court in Mexico has legalized same-sex marriage in a landmark legal ruling. Kurdish fighters seize large parts of IS border stronghold US-backed Kurdish fighters captured large sections of a strategic town on the Syria-Turkish border on Monday, dealing the biggest setback yet to the Islamic State group, which lost a key supply line for their nearby self-proclaimed capital. Alaska wildfire quickly grows, forces homes to evacuate An Alaska wildfire that has mushroomed in size was prompting help Monday from people offering their homes to scores of displaced residents and their animals. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Salman, Bebo romance on the streets of Delhi Anything that involves Salman Khan gets eyeballs. Tanushree Dutta's sister impresses Ajay Devgn Tanushree Dutta (Miss India Universe, 2004) may not have signed films after her turning to spirituality, but now her younger sister Ishita Dutta is foraying into Bollywood. Films that got word-of-mouth publicity More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Amsterdam to get 3D-printed bridge A 3D printing company based in Amsterdam has developed a revolutionary robotic 3D printer that can 'draw' structures in the air. Sexting now the norm for teens Sexting between teenagers has become the norm, said the National Crime Agency as it launched a campaign on Monday to deal with a surge in cases of children sharing sexually explicit images and video. Fish oil may restore nerve damage in Diabetic neuropathy patients In a new study, scientists have found that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may restore nerve damage in patients suffering from Diabetic neuropathy. More Science News»

		Sports
		ED to slap penalty notices in 16 cases against Lalit Modi, others The Enforcement Directorate is in the process of serving final penalty notices in 16 alleged forex violation cases of Rs 1,700 crore against Lalit Modi. Indian basketball the big loser in latest political stand-off The latest example of political infighting within the vast, jumbled and at times incomprehensible coterie that is Indian sports administration has cast a shadow over the country's basketball prospects - and yet again it is our athletes who stand to lose the most. I still see myself as a beginner, says Mohit Sharma Mohit Sharma, who calls himself a "beginner in international cricket" attributes his recent success in international cricket to ODI captain MS Dhoni. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Here's Apple India's plan for the next 3 years Apple is planning more than a twofold expansion of its retail reach in India to double iPhone sales in each of the next three years. How IT companies exploit H-1B visa loopholes Despite common perceptions about the H-1B law, it does not require companies to recruit American workers before looking overseas. 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. More Technology News»

		Education
		Cheating in exams a national phenomenon Images of parents and friends scaling walls and clinging to windows to help Bihar students taking their Class X exams are still fresh. Everyone finds ground to flay school Act changes Turns out, the draft Bill to amend the Delhi School Education Act and Rules 1973 has pleased no one.  Even more sign up for DU this year The number of applications for Delhi University’s undergraduate seats has increased but only marginally. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		From today, pay 8% more water charges As a part of a regular annual hike, water charges in the city will go up by 8% from June 16. It also means that sewerage charges, calculated as 70% of the water charges, will increase. 20-year-old slits throat in Bandra court A 20-year-old man, Jigar Makwana, slit his throat with a razor blade inside the Bandra metropolitan court on Monday. He was protesting against his brother’s arrest by the Khar police. No noodles barred: Leading down the 'lead' path Medicine has always made heavy weather over the presence of heavy metals in the body. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when it builds up in the body over a period of months or years. The controversy over noodles now brings our attention to lead poisoning. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Govt to seek 'fair share' in pulse import To control rising prices of pulses in the city, the Delhi government will be writing to the Centre to ask for a “fair share” in the import of pulses to ensure that there is an adequate supply of food grains in the capital. Everyone finds ground to flay school Act changes Turns out, the draft Bill to amend the Delhi School Education Act and Rules 1973 has pleased no one. Even more sign up for DU this year  The number of applications for Delhi University’s undergraduate seats has increased but only marginally.  More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Karnataka CM meets governor to broker peace Chief minister Siddaramaiah called on governor Vajubhai R Vala on Monday and reportedly discussed for three hours various issues as part of his efforts to improve the strained relationship between the government and Raj Bhavan. All pets, domestic animals need licence It's not just your pet dog that will need a licence. That cow grazing on the footpath or the buffalo which suddenly parks itself in the middle of the road need one too. Stay on processing applications extended The high court on Monday extended by two weeks, the stay on processing of applications for Akrama-Sakrama, a scheme to regularize unauthorized constructions and developments in urban areas. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Vijayawada takes a fancy to haleem Not very far from the 'haleem capital' of India - Hyderabad -Vijayawada is also getting ready to dig into a piping hot bowl of the rich delicacy just days ahead of the Ramzan season. President coming, Nilayam wakes up President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in the city on June 29 for his 10-day southern sojourn. As always, he will stay at the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, the only presidential retreat in south India. Mobile phone towers in Hyderabad driving migratory birds crazy Increasing radiation from thousands of mobile phone towers in Hyderabad is playing havoc with the natural flight paths of migratory birds, experts said on Monday. Rare species of birds are unable to find their way back home after winter, they added. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Parties' demand to share power puts pressure on DMK DMK’s efforts over the past few months to lay the base for a united opposition alliance for the next assembly elections has not met with much success as various smaller parties are insistent on sharing power in 2016. Ramanathapuram to get south India's largest solar plant Power major Adani group is setting up a 700MW solar power plant, the largest in south India, at an investment of 5,000 crore in Ramanathapuram district. Child trafficking: TN gets NHRC notice The National Human Rights Commission, responding to media reports that children are being trafficked frequently from many districts in Tamil Nadu to Kerala, issued notices to chief secretaries and directors general of police of both the states on Monday. They have been asked to reply to the notices within eight weeks. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		2003 Sadiq Jamal encounter: Two accused cops get bail The Gujarat high court on Monday granted conditional bail to two former cops accused in the 2003 Sadiq Jamal Mehta encounter case. Lower cut-off may engineer students' admission dream Admissions to engineering colleges this year could turn out to be a dream neatly machined for students. Statewide Congress stir against education business Congress party has threatened to stage a state-wide protest against commercialization of education in Gujarat. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Proposal for Green Park renovation to be sent to govt today The proposal for renovation and alteration of Green Park Stadium, jointly prepared by the district administration and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, would be sent to the government on Monday. Yoga secular but BJP giving it political colour, says Azam State urban development minister Azam Khan on Sunday said that yoga was secular but the saffron brigade was indulging in divisive politics over it. High humidity leaves city sweating After a short relief with the first pre-monsoon showers on Saturday high humidity was back with bright sunshine in the city on Sunday. Despite the drop in temperature there was no relief due to sultry weather condition. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Govt to fast-track acquarium project Problems in land acquisition and alterations in design have delayed the proposed aquarium in Puri. Foundation stone of the Rs 5-crore project was laid in January 2013. Man arrested for 1-cr land fraud Police on Sunday arrested a man on charges of duping some doctors of nearly Rs 1 crore by promising them land in the city. Uliburu scam: Govt nod to prosecute forest officer The state government recently gave permission to the vigilance to prosecute 1992-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Pradeep Raj Karat in connection with the multi-crore illegal mining in Uliburu reserve forest of Keonjhar district. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		MP ministers rehearse yoga with CM for June 21 Early on Monday morning, red-beaconed ministerial vehicles sped towards 6, Shyamla Hills, the official residence of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Cabinet ministers Sartaj Singh, Babulal Gaur, Jayant Malaiyya, Gopal Bhargava, Bhupendra Singh, Narottam Mishra, Paras Jain and ministers of state Lal Singh Arya and Surendra Singh reached CM House. Farmers suffering from depression, need support: BJP BJP national vice-president and Madhya Pradesh party in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe on Monday said that not making crop insurance a priority in the country has resulted in increasing cases of depression and addiction with our rural population. Madhya Pradesh linked to AIPMT-2015 paper leak case, one booked In yet another shocker for the Madhya Pradesh government after MPPEB and DMAT scam, medial students from the state have been found involved in May 3 - All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) leak case too. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Last day to submit BCom fee As many as 8,714 students have submitted online applications for centralized admission to BCom first year in colleges of Panjab University (PU) in Chandigarh and department of evening studies at PU. Capitol biggest property vying for heritage tag Chandigarh's Capitol Complex is the biggest property vying for Unesco's heritage tag among the nine countries in the fray. Beat workout blues with aqua zumba Mercury is rising and stepping out in the Sun has become very difficult.The idea of workout in such scorching heat is certain to leave you baffled. More Chandigarh News»

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