News Digest: Painless access to narcotic drugs cheers palliative care community

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, June 04, 2015
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Painless access to narcotic drugs cheers palliative care community Five essential narcotic drugs (END) will now be made available to registered medical institutions on a single licence issued by the state drug controller’s office. No unanimity in opposition and Cong over quitting joint panel on land bill The opposition is divided over a proposal to quit the joint parliamentary committee on land acquisition bill, with many parties wondering if it would serve the purpose of putting the government under pressure. Curious about Rajasthan panchayat contestants going to Agra schools, EC busts scam A large number of candidates contesting for panchayat elections in Rajasthan seem to have gone to school hundreds of km away in Agra. Or that's what they would have you believe. More India News»

		Business
		Don't charge premium: India tells Opec India on Wednesday strongly reiterated its long-standing demand for fair pricing of crude and urged Opec, the cartel of oil exporting countries, to stop charging premium from Asian buyers. Tariff-based bidding likely for future coal linkages The government is looking at auctioning coal linkages — supply quota from mines — for future power stations through states via tariff-based bidding route. India Inc on a fund raising spree this fiscal Corporates may be staring at a sharp downturn in earnings. But that hasn't stopped them from tapping the markets for funds. Corporate India has mobilised $16.7 billion or around Rs. 1.05 lakh crore (equity and debt) in April alone. More Business News»

		Environment
		Your toothbrush may be contaminated with faeces If you are using a shared washroom there is a 60 per cent chance your toothbrush is covered in fecal matter from someone else, a new study suggests. 2,000-yr-old natural pearl found at remote Australian site Australian scientists said Wednesday they have uncovered a "very rare" 2,000-year-old natural sea pearl -- the first found on the vast island continent -- while excavating a remote coastal Aboriginal site. Himachal monitors forest fires via satellites The state forest department is, for the first time, monitoring the situation via satellites. More Environment News»

		World
		Families march to China shipwreck site Dozens of people broke through a police cordon on Wednesday as they marched towards the site of a sunken cruise ship in the Yangtze River to demand news of missing relatives. Anti-Muslim sentiments on the rise in Europe Even though Islam is fast becoming the preferred religion across Europe, vilification of Muslims has been found to be rampant across many of its countries. Russia wants accountability for chlorine attacks in Syria The U.N. Security Council should make sure that the people allegedly responsible for chlorine attacks in Syria are brought to justice, Russia's U.N. ambassador said Wednesday. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Salman says he will commit once he's mature The Stallone of B-Town whose renowned propensity for living the Kick lifestyle, met Hello! for their June edition, on stands now. Govinda's daughter Tina makes B'wood debut Govinda’s daughter Tina Ahuja and Gippy Grewal, a well-known face in Punjabi films, will be seen making their Bollywood debuts in director Smeep Kang’s forthcoming romcom titled Second Hand Husband. Celebs who were banned by the media Read on to check the list of celebs who have faced the media's ire. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Chimps are capable of cooking: Research Chimpanzees have the cognitive abilities required for cooking, which were believed to be limited to humans, and the primates even choose to hoard raw vegetables if they know they will have the chance to 'cook' them later on, according to a new research. Toys that play back aim to make kids more active For more than two years, inside a Walt Disney laboratory built to resemble a child's bedroom, grade scholars have been secretly testing an at-home version of Iron Man's high-tech armor. Reduced smelling ability precursor to early death: Study People who are unable to smell certain odours as they grow old may be at an increased risk of death, a renowned Indian-American researcher has revealed. More Science News»

		Sports
		I would not change my leadership style: Virat Kohli India's Test cricket team captain Virat Kohli says he would not change his leadership style even if anyone asks him to. Djokovic beats Nadal to reach French Open last four Djokovic handed nine-time champion Nadal his second defeat in 11 years at Roland Garros to reach the semifinals of French Open with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 win. Tendulkar shares Legends T20 blueprint with ICC Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne met ICC chief executive Dave Richardson at the global body's headquarters to discuss their ambitious Legends T20 cricket League. More Sports News»

		Technology
		23 tough questions asked in Facebook interviews Facebook is one of the most sought-after workplaces in the tech industry. Phicomm Passion 660 review: The new entrant Will the Phicomm Passion 660 to be able to compete with the likes of YU Yureka, Xiaomi Mi 4i and ZTE Nubia Z9 mini? We try to find out in our review. Telcos may soon return users' balance for call drops Frustrated by frequent call drops in the middle of conversations? You may soon be reimbursed money for the inconvenience. More Technology News»

		Education
		Cut-off score declared for JEE (Advanced) he cut-off score for JEE (Advanced) has been released and like the previous years, it has been declared at 35% or 177 for the common merit list. The minimum aggregate score for the other backward category candidates is 159. First-cum-first admissions to degree courses In a big relief to students passing out of standards XII, colleges in Pune have assured admission to every student eligible to the first-year degree courses. Horticulture varsity to come up in Karnal Haryana government has approved the setting up of a world-class horticulture university at Karnal with its three regional centres at Raiyya village in Jhajjar district, Jind and Dera village near Kala Amb in Naraingarh. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Tailor-made 'add-on' courses popular with degree students While popularity of programmes is one of the major parameters why students choose a degree college, of late, ‘add-on’ courses offered by city colleges are also a key factor in deciding a student’s choice. Expansion plan: Over 20 schools in west zone The state education department has given 47 city schools permission to either start functioning on a self-finance basis or increase the number of classes offered. Among the schools are St Stanislaus High School, Bandra, St Joseph Convent International School, Bandra, Vibgyor High, Borivli, and Aspee Nutan Academy, Malad. Need to start market-oriented courses One-and-a-half decades ago, we introduced self-financing courses, keeping our fingers crossed about market acceptability. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Dad's post on Delhi boy's death highlights Wall Street stress He was born in New Delhi, graduated from University of Pennsylvania, interned at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank and worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs in San Francisco. Often he complained to his father on phone about “working 20 hours at a stretch.” Haryana government pushes to reduce buffer zone around Mangar grove The new BJP regime in Haryana has endorsed the previous Hooda government's move to whittle down the crucial buffer zone meant to protect the sacred Mangarbani forest in Aravalis and has even moved to get the proposal cleared at the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB), which meets next week. Man throws bottle of petrol inside mosque, held There was tension in Govindpuri on Wednesday afternoon when a man threw a liquor bottle filled with petrol inside the Madina mosque. More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Schoolbuses clog up neighbourhoods Institutions not ready to let vehicles inside campuses - say it's an impractical solution to traffic chaos Students can get bus passes from June 6 Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will issue concessional passes for primary, secondary and high school students for this academic year. Act to penalize doctors gets Prez nod After four years, the state government's proposal to penalize doctors who refuse to work in rural areas has received approval from President Pranab Mukherjee. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Junior doctors boycott duties after medico attacked at SDEH Health services at the state-run Sarojini Devi Eye hospital (SDEH) in the city came to a standstill on Wednesday when some 100-odd junior doctors boycotted elective and out-patient (OP) duties to protest the attack on a final year post-graduate student by a patient’s attendant in the hospital premises two days ago. India Post to sell Godavari water Godavari pushkaram water will be available at your local post office from July 15. Massive search on for 'missing' bird A massive search is now on in the Sri Lankamalleswara wildlife sanctuary in Kadapa district for the 'missing' bird - Jerdon's Courser - that was last seen six years ago. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Chunkath's scrabble journey: From kitchen table to top prize Growing up in Delhi, Mohan Verghese Chunkath used to play ‘kitchen table scrabble’ with his siblings and parents. What started out as a pastime became a passion and today, despite a demanding career, the senior bureaucrat is a force to reckon with in the war of words. Chunkath recently won the Bayer National Scrabble Championship 2015 held in Mumbai from May 29 to 31. Yet another extension for IGP handling Jaya case A retired inspector general of police, who was on extension since May 2013 and was in charge of the cases against chief minister J Jayalalithaa and others, has been given one more year of extended service. Heart flown from Madurai to Chennai for transplant Swift action by doctors and traffic police officers in Madurai and Chennai gave a new lease of life to a patient with end-stage heart failure in the city on Wednesday. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		60% of school toilets not used: Survey A recent study has revealed that in over 60% of the schools surveyed, students avoid using the school toilets. The main reason for this is lack of hygiene or (in the case of girls) privacy. Narmada making Nalsarovar too deep for birds Nalsarovar, a fresh water body and the only Ramsar site in Gujarat, seems to be turning into an artificial lake. Over 40L covered under PM's insurance schemes The ambitious insurance schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month has found over 40 lakh takers in his home state with cities and towns in north Gujarat and Saurashtra racing ahead of the rest of the state to be covered. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		HQ Purva celebrates 45th Raising Day HQ Purva UP & MP Sub Area, Allahabad, celebrated its 45th Raising Day on Monday with full zeal and enthusiasm. AAP seeks rollback in service tax Volunteers of Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Monday staged a demonstration in the city demanding Union government to rollback service tax which has gone up to 14% from Monday. 'Fabricator' on world tour after losing a leg BV Narayana was in his early twenties when he lost a leg after being hit by a group of motorcyclists. After three decades, he decided to tour across the globe to make people aware of traffic norms so that they could be saved from the pain that he had to undergo. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Bhubaneswar businessman in EOW net in Vista scam Economic offence wing (EOW) of the state Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a businessman on charges of embezzling Rs 50 lakh of Vista Management Services Limited, a chit fund company. Seer relents, visits Jagannath temple on Debasnan Purnima Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Tuesday visited the Jagannath temple with six of his disciples and offered prayers to the deities. Direct fund transfer to beneficiaries The state government is planning to transfer funds directly to the accounts of beneficiaries to ensure transparency in different rural housing schemes, including Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY). More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		MP to have 10% deficit rain: Met dept While the country stares at a deficit monsoon this year, Madhya Pradesh will have a shortfall of less than 10% according to meteorological department. Rain deficit for the country is forecast at 12%. Inter-state vehicle lifters gang: Cops probe nexus with RTO staff Police are tightening noose on Regional Transport Office (RTO), Bhopal for registering stolen vehicles through fake no objection certificates issued from Agra. Young boys practise knee exercises at Raahgiri in Bhopal Youngsters seem to be making the most of Raahgiri by coming out in droves every Sunday morning and enjoying the traffic-free roads. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		Anandpur Sahib to get 'tallest' Nishan-e-Khalsa Apart from being the second 'white city' of India, Anandpur Sahib is set to get the "world's tallest" Nishan-e-Khalsa (symbol of Khalsa order) this week. The 70-foot engineering marvel will be installed this week to mark the city's 350th foundation year. Residents oppose liquor vends in Bathinda town, half a dozen villages Two months into the allotment of liquor vends, excise authorities are facing the heat over location of vends in Bathinda. FCI employee caught taking bribe A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the office of Food Corporation India (FCI) near Pipli and caught an assistant grade employee with the account section taking a bribe of Rs 7,000 on Wednesday. More Chandigarh News»

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