-The Telegraph Shillong: The Union cabinet today approved the implementation of a "comprehensive telecom development plan" for the Northeast where thousands of uncovered villages would be connected. The proposal entails an estimated expenditure of Rs 5,336.18 crore and the plan will be funded through the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). "The USOF would fund capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (Opex) net of revenue for a period of five years," an official communiqué...

-Down to Earth The move will give a boost to the export of the variety; help growers get a premium price for the fruit Citrus Reticulata Blanco, the world famous orange of Nagpur, was recently given the Geographical Indicators (GI) tag under the Geographical Indication of Goods, (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. This means the growers of the Nagpur orange, or Nagpur mandarin (as it is known to scientists), will now be...

-The Business Standard According to the department of agriculture, there were chances of an agriculture drought in about 35 districts across the country The southwest monsoon is continuing its weak run. For the week ended Thursday, it was 25 per cent below normal. This was a consecutive week when rains have been below-normal. A few parts of north India, however, recorded floods due to heavy rain in the Himalayas. According to a real-time assessment...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: India's weather agency has revised its 2014 monsoon forecast downwards, predicting 13 per cent rainfall deficit instead of 7 per cent forecast earlier this year, cautioning that yields of several crops may decline but dismissing fears of a widespread drought. The India Meteorological Department today said the rainfall during the remaining six weeks of the monsoon season will be much better than over the past two months. But...

-The Business Standard Interview with Union minister in charge of food and public distribution Ever since the new government took office in May, food prices and related issues have been one of the most discussed subjects. Ram Vilas Paswan, the minister in charge of food and public distribution, says hoarders are to blame. And, speaks of the various other priorities under his charge. Edited exceprts of a talk with Sanjeeb Mukherjee: * The...