News Digest: Erratic monsoon poses challenge to kharif crop

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Saturday, September 06, 2014
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Erratic monsoon poses challenge to kharif crop Parts of north and east India face drought while others have been hit by floods. A report on how farmers are coping with unusual weather. SC order to release undertrials will come to aid of Muslim prisoners Muslim prisoners are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of the government's decision to facilitate release of undertrials languishing in jails for long. India confident of sealing Australia N-deal, but wary of US The India-Australia nuclear deal comes as a boost for New Delhi days after the Japanese government refused to lift a block on a nuclear agreement. More India News»

		Business
		RIL GenNext, Microsoft join hands to boost startups Reliance Industries’ venture investment management arm GenNext Ventures on Friday signed a pact with software giant Microsoft India to set up innovation hubs to offer resources to technology startups. Sahara chief seeks 15 more days for hotel deal Sahara chief Subrata Roy, in prison since March 4, on Friday told the Supreme Court that a deal he had struck with the Sultan of Brunei for sale of his three hotels in London and New York was in danger of getting cancelled because of a foreign media report and sought 15 more days to complete the deal. Retailers pin hopes on festive season The big fat Indian shopping season has begun, and early indications suggest that ‘acche din’ are ahead for retailers and consumer goods makers. More Business News»

		Environment
		Forest dept to open seventh vulture 'restaurant' in Gadchiroli today Even as International Vulture Awareness Day will be observed by the forest department on Saturday to highlight plight of vultures facing extinction, Naxal-infested Gadchiroli district is booming with vultures. White tigress mates with Royal Bengal tiger, gives birth to 4 cubs In a rare experiment, four cubs were born after the successful mating of a Royal Bengal Tiger with a white tigress at Kamla Nehru Zoo here. Surface ozone pollution in India killing crops: Study Researchers point out that surface ozone pollution owing to rising emissions in the country damaged six million metric tonnes of India's wheat, rice, soybean and cotton crops in 2005. More Environment News»

		World
		Ukraine signs ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels Ukraine and the Russian-backed rebels have signed a ceasefire deal that starts in less than two hours, a European official at the talks said on Friday. Iran fails to address nuclear bomb concerns: IAEA Iran has failed to address concerns about suspected atomic bomb research by an agreed deadline, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday, a setback to hopes for an end to an international stand-off over Tehran's atomic activity. Boko Haram attacks 'a challenge to sovereignty': Nigeria Nigeria's military on Friday said that increasing Boko Haram attacks were a challenge to the country's sovereignty but rejected claims it was in denial about the seriousness of the threat. More World News»

		Entertainment
		'I believe that you should never ask God for anything' While doing the aarti at Lalbaug,I looked at Ganpati and just knew that I am going to win. OMG: Actor's intimate scenes with co-star irks his wife Host-turned-actor Rannvijay Singh, who is paired with newcomer Anindita Nayar in thriller '3 AM', has shot for some very bold and intimate scenes in the movie. However, it seems his wife is not too pleased about it. Aishwarya Rai's comeback film copy of a Korean film? Sanjay Gupta’s 'Jazbaa' has been making news for several reasons. Not only is it Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's comeback film and will see an unusual cast but also if reports are to be believed it is said to be a copy of a South Korean film. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Isro to test-fire MOM engine on September 22 On September 22, about 48 hours prior to its crucial orbit insertion, the Mars Orbiter Mission's (MOM) 440N liquid apogee motor (LAM) will be test-fired for five seconds. US approves use of novel cancer drug The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first of an eagerly awaited new class of cancer drugs that unleashes the immune system to fight tumours. New 'smart chopsticks' to tell you if food is safe to eat From recycled cooking oil to fox meat and chemicals, a litany of food scandals have turned Chinese diners' stomachs, but a new smart chopsticks concept by Internet search giant Baidu could put the answer in their hands. More Science News»

		Sports
		Sania Mirza-Bruno Soares win US Open mixed doubles title Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares defeated American Abigail Spears and Mexico's Santiago Gonzalez 6-1, 2-6 and 11-9 (tie-breaker) in the US Open final. I feel like a footballer again, Barcelona's Luis Suarez says Luis Suarez is starting to "feel like a footballer" once again after being allowed to train with new club Barcelona following his appeal against a FIFA ban. Materazzi in Chennai Titans radar for ISL Former Italian World Cup winner Marco Materazzi could become the marquee manager-cum-player of Chennai Titans in the upcoming ISL. More Sports News»

		Technology
		Samsung launches first Android-powered printers Samsung has unveiled a fleet of office printers powered by Google's Android operating system at the IFA 2014 expo in Berlin. Motorola launches new Moto G at Rs 12,999, Moto X to arrive later this month Motorola Moto G sports a 5-inch HD (720x1020p) display with Corning Gorilla Glass. Twitpic is shutting down, blames Twitter Twitpic — that allows internet users to share photos on the Twitter— is shutting down due to what it said were legal threats from Twitter. More Technology News»

		Education
		Nation honours teachers who are a study in selfless service The word ‘dedicated' occurs nearly thousand times in the 345-page directory of recipients of this year's national award to teachers. All awardees are dedicated to their profession. Yet, there are some who have gone the extra mile. National Institute of Advanced Studies gets new director Dr Baldev Raj, on Friday assumed responsibilities as the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, a premier multi-disciplinary institution. Applications invited for NPTEL online courses National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) has launched two new online courses -- Basic Electrical Circuits and Introduction to Programming in C. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Month to go, Mumbai already receives season's full rainfall quota Despite a dry spell in June and August this year, Santa Cruz has already received the full quota of rainfall that is required from June to September every year; the four monsoon months. Housewife killed in Mumbai high-rise Seema Pathare, a housewife, was smothered to death in her flat in a Borivli high-rise on Friday afternoon. Her body was found by her daughter on returning home from college. Police officials who were summoned to the crime scene soon after said robbery could have been the motive as some of the victim’s ornaments were missing Supply of water to coolers at CST cut The closure of water supply to three coolers at CST by Central Railway (CR) has left passengers fuming More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		8-year-old girl raped by minor An 8-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by her landlord’s son, also a minor, in south east Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area. AAP to form youth wing in Delhi Aam Aadmi Party has announced formation of its youth wing as part of its restructuring and reorganizing the organization. Demand for power falls after rains Power demand plummeted by nearly 1,000MW with the city experiencing showers daily. A peak demand of 5,000MW was seen till last week, but the showers have given a relief to the government and discoms which have been battling reduced generation from coal and gas-based plants and a prevalent power crisis in the Northern Grid. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Kids endure tech glitches At 4.21pm, an otherwise restless crowd of kids screamed in unison when the projector showed ‘Alastair Cook (46), caught Dhoni, bowled Raina’ and the English bats-man trudged back to the pavilion. Modi Meshtru gives moral gyaan It was full house at Government Higher Primary School at Gandhipuram in Whitefield. Winning hearts, lingo no bar Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have achieved what he set out to do with his 90-minute talk and interaction with students; loud applause and words of appreciation indicated that he had hit home. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		More Hyderabad youth may be in touch with ISIS Kolkata police chief Surajit Kar Purkayastha told TOI the city police were not involved in the operation. "It seems Hyderabad police tagged with security agencies and intercepted the youth from Kolkata," a top STF official said. How Jagan was managed Jagan's statement of support on Thursday had baffled both Rayalaseema activists and many of his own party leaders. Rousing welcome for Naidu AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was accorded a rousing reception on his maiden visit to the newly-declared capital city of Andhra Pradesh on Friday. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Higher ticket prices spell a hard ride for travellers Travellers will be the ones to pay this price — with trains perennially running full and government buses unable to meet the demand, frequent travellers have no choice but to accept the new fares. T A Sekar: From an unknown in Pak to training pacers It was 1983 and Tamil Nadu pacer T A Sekar, then 26, got an SOS to join the Indian team in the middle of the Test series in Pakistan. DMK inducts Karunanidhi loyalist into Kaliagnar TV board In a quiet move, the DMK appointed its organizing secretary and former MP T K S Elangovan as one of the directors of Kalaignar TV. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Teacher Modi's address tripped by election code of conduct In Gujarat, excitement Narendra Modi's `teacher's' address was interrupted by election code of conduct (ECC) in wake of bypoll elections to nine assembly seats and one MP seat scheduled to be held on September 13. Lewd letters: Zala kin gets anticipatory bail Additional sessions judge S J Raje granted anticipatory bail on Friday to Samat Bhatu, a close relative of Prof Sarman Zala of Gujarat University, in the case filed against the professor by Zala's female colleagues. Sowing crosses 95%, drought fears vanish Farmers of Gujarat have breathed a sigh of relief after August rains poured bounties on them.Fear of drought has almost vanished with the sowing activity going on in full swing. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Sirathu bypoll: Independent candidate goes missing An independent candidate contesting Sirathu bypoll assembly election, Dhirendra Kumar Saroj, went missing under mysterious circumstances on Friday. The Kokhraj police initially lodged a missing complaint but converted it into a case under Section 364 of the IPC after family members suspected abduction. The family members, however, denied enmity with anyone. Construction of Karchana Thermal Power Plant begin Karchana Thermal Power Plant project may see the light of the day as the authorities of Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) started work for constructing the boundary wall around 512 hectares of land. Two units, each producing 660 Mega Watt of thermal energy, would be constructed in the land spread in eight villages of Karchana tehsil. HC adjourns petition against Modi's election till Oct 31 The Allahabad High Court on Friday adjourned hearing in the election petition challenging PM Narendra Modi’s election from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat till October 31. The petition was filed by Congress leader Ajay Rai, who had unsuccessfully contested against Modi in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		18 AT agents quizzed in Sethy presence After interrogating top bosses of Artha Tatwa (AT) Group, CBI has turned the heat on agents, who collected deposits worth Rs 2 lakh and above. Fresh low pressure over bay Bhubaneswar/ Heavy rain lashed several parts of state on Thursday under the impact of a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal. No place to dispose of private hospitals waste The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) is in a fix over disposing biomedical waste of private hospitals in Berhampur and Burla. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Who is the 'Boss'? That's torture code In Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), they are called ?Boss'.In other engineering colleges, ?major major senior' unleash terror on junior students. After embracing Islam, Jatav duo return to Hindu fold Tularam and Manikram Jatav, who embraced Islam and even forced their wives to convert, decided to return to Hindu fold after being ostracised by their family and booked under MP Freedom of Religion Act, 1968. I-T department's 'clean chit' to Tinoo Joshi In a major relief to terminated IAS officer Tinoo Joshi, I-T department has reportedly given a clean chit to her in the disproportionate assets (DA) case considering her as a separate entity, sources said. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		State Congress launches counter offensive on INLD At the time when students and teachers communities were glued to their computers or TV screens to attend prime minister Narendera Modi's special sessions, Haryana Congress chose Teachers Day to launch a counterattack on Om Parkash Chautala-lead INLD for its "Gulabi Gang" ad campaign. India's contribution to WW-I grossly understated, Amarinder says in London Over one million Indians participated in World War-I, of these about 74,000 died and 67,000 were seriously injured. With material costs going up, fewer artisans reach Amritsar for festive season "Last year, more than two dozen artisans from Uttar Pradesh had arrived here for making effigies of demons but this year, only 13 arrived.Everything is getting expensive and buying power of consumers is going down. More Chandigarh News»

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