News Digest: New diabetes drug cuts cost by 80%

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Thursday, January 21, 2016
		Today's Headlines

		India
		New diabetes drug cuts cost by 80% A completely new drug in the ‘gliptin’ family has disrupted the anti-diabetes market by lowering the cost of therapy for patients by 80%. With the launch of the teneligliptin molecule, the popular gliptin category has witnessed a price erosion of over 80% in the last six months. Sop on sale of compost made up of waste Pushing its mission of converting “waste to wealth”, the government on Wednesday approved the proposal to provide financial incentive of Rs 1,500 per tonne on the sale of compost made from municipal waste. The Cabinet also made it mandatory for power discoms to buy 100% power generated from municipal waste. Sharp decline in maternal, child mortality rate The overall health status of Indians has improved substantially with a sharp decline in key indicators like maternal and child mortality, fertility rate and malnutrition over the past decade, according to the fourth national family health survey 2015-16. More India News»

		Business
		Ratan Tata invests in FirstCry Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, has invested an undisclosed amount in FirstCry.com, an e-commerce platform for baby and maternity products. Equity MFs see 66% rise in SIPs on weak mkts The no-show by stock markets isn’t deterring investors from committing fresh funds under the SIP (systematic investment plan) route. Trai slams Facebook's push for 'Free Basics' Telecom regulator Trai has called Facebook’s high-pitched ‘Free Basics’ campaign a “crudely majoritarian and orchestrated opinion poll” having “dangerous ramifications for policy making in India”. More Business News»

		Environment
		Carcasses of over 150 Olive Ridley turtles found Carcasses of over 150 Olive Ridley turtles and a bottlenose dolphin washed ashore were on Wednesday recovered by Forest department officials here, a top official said. Ocean warming doubled in recent decades Half of the global ocean heat content increase since 1865 has occurred over the past two decades, says a new study. Plenty of fish in the sea? Maybe not, says study The global fisheries catch has been underestimated by more than half since 1950, with tens of millions of tonnes unreported every year, said a study on Tuesday, and warned that stocks may be running low. More Environment News»

		World
		UN envoy says Syria peace talks may be delayed Internationally brokered talks between Syria's government and opposition groups due to start on Jan. 25 may be delayed, but major powers must keep up the pressure to bring participants to the table, the United Nations envoy said on Wednesday. Shallow 5.9 magnitude quake jolts northwest China A shallow 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted awake residents of China's northwestern Qinghai province on Thursday, with some choosing to sleep in their cars out of fear despite freezing temperatures of -20C (-4F). Vietnam to kick off secretive political transition The meeting will take place largely behind closed doors, with a changing of the guard expected for the top brass of the party that has ruled Vietnam since the end of war in 1975. More World News»

		Entertainment
		Katrina-Ranbir make separate entries at Umang On Tuesday evening, Ranbir and Katrina made seperate entries and exits at the Umang Mumbai Police show. Akshay Kumar's alleged love affairs Khiladi Akshay Kumar has had a colourful history as far as his love life is concerned. Starting from Pooja Batra to his wife Twinkle Khanna and Priyanka Chopra, the actor has had a series of alleged love affairs. Actors who refused to do love-making scenes Bollywood is getting bolder by the day. Actors are willing to shed their inhibitions and throw caution to the winds when it comes to dropping their clothes for love-making scenes. More Entertainment News»

		Science
		Spammers find 'small' way to beat email filters When a group of hackers sought to steal iTunes passwords from Apple customers in France, they didn't spam the entire country. They sent out just 5,000 e-mails to French-speaking targets containing links to a fake login page. GM mosquitoes join Brazil's war on Zika A genetically modified mosquito has helped reduce the proliferation of mosquitoes spreading Zika and other viruses in Brazil, its developers has said. Space gardening can destress astronauts Nasa is exploring how caring for plants and flowers may help improve feelings of isolation and stress that can be a part of a long-duration mission in space. More Science News»

		Sports
		4th ODI: India implode after Dhawan, Kohli tons Kane Williamson came up with career-best figures as India lost nine wickets for 46 runs from a comfortable position to lost the fourth match of the series by 25 runs. India's infamous ODI batting collapses Against Australia in the 4th ODI on Wednesday, the current Indian team reminded the fans on the 1990s with a mind-boggling batting collapse that saw India lose their last nine wickets for just 46 runs With another early Nadal exit, Federer's record looks safe When Federer won his last title at Wimbledon 2012 by defeating Britain's Andy Murray, Nadal was going strong with 11 titles. But since then, injuries have limited his achievements to just three titles. More Sports News»

		Technology
		17 words only Facebook employees understand Facebook is a huge company with approximately 12,000 employees, so it is only natural that there will be some words that may sound like gibberish to outsiders. If you take a visit to Facebook's campus in Menlo Park, words like "purple tie" and "epic" won't mean a piece of clothing or a synonym for awesome. Kingston HyperX Cloud Drone headphones review: Good budget headphones for gamers The Kingston HyperX Cloud Drone headphones are priced at Rs 3,999 and come with a swivel mic and volume control and braided cable of 2m length with a splitter. LeEco Max smartphone review: High on specs LeEco launched the Max smartphone when it was Letv. The Chinese company's flagship smartphone is its first offering to the Indian market. More Technology News»

		Education
		Delhi schools to suspend primary classes due to cold weather Delhi government has directed the schools run by it to suspend primary classes in wake of the chilly weather in the national capital and private schools to alter their timings. CA success rate dips by 2.5% After a steady rise in the success rate of students in the final chartered accountancy (CA) exam in the last three chances, the performance of students dropped in the November 2015 exam. With 595/800, Chennai boy ranks 1st in CA exams A chartered accountancy aspirant from Chennai, James John Britto, topped the CA final examinations that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) held last November and December last year in the results declared on Sunday. More Education News»

		Mumbai
		Wockhardt Hospital, police launch road safety drive Wockhardt Hospital from Mira Road has partnered with the Thane Traffic Police to launch Road Safety Abhiyan 2016. Thousands treated for free or at lesser rates: Association of Hospitals The Association of Hospitals (AOH), which is one of the oldest healthcare associations of the city, claimed to have treated 13,780 indigent and 5351 weaker section patients. Greater access to HIV testing applauded Stakeholders in India's HIV programme have applauded the decision of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to modify outdated HIV testing regulations and allow community-based HIV testing in various set-ups. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		CBI abused its power in CM's secretary case: Court A trial court on Wednesday made scathing remarks about the Central Bureau of Investigation’s conduct in probing an alleged corruption case against the chief minister’s principal secretary, Rajendra Kumar, and others, saying the agency seemed to be in “haste” and appeared to have “abused its powers”. Dumper Overturns On Car of Businessman Returning Home, Flattens Vehicle Didn't write to self: AIIMS CVO More Delhi News»

		Bangalore
		Belagavi Corporation forces Big Bazaar to pay up tax dues Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) cracked a whip against tax evaders' within city limits. EMPRI report on TGR: CM would take a final call, HC told The state government has informed the Karnataka high court that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would take a final call regarding recommendations made by the Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) relating to the protection of Tippagondanahalli reservoir (TGR) and its catchment area. NAAC re-accredits KLE University with A grade KLE University has been accredited with A grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), acknowledging the excellence of the University in various aspects of health science education. More Bangalore News»

		Hyderabad
		Cops bar entry of activists into Hyderabad University campus While politicians continued to make their way into the University of Hyderabad (UoH) unhindered all through Wednesday, student leaders who trooped into the city from across India to express their solidarity with the expelled Dalit students were barred from setting foot on the campus. An expert at networking, Appa Rao outsmarted 35 others to become VC Professor Appa Rao Podile, who is in the eye of the Rohith Vemula storm, is where he is today because of his political connections, networking abilities and great lobbying skills, allege many in academic circles. Role limited to forwarding 2 letters only: Bandaru Dattatreya Under fire for his alleged role in circumstances leading up to University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Wednesday said his role was “limited to forwarding” two representations from ABVP. More Hyderabad News»

		Chennai
		Missing IITian calls parents, says she's fine Close to three days after an IIT-Madras student went missing from the institute, she contacted her parents on Tuesday night and assured them that she was safe. Schoolgirl's death: Consumer panel awards Rs 10 lakh compensation to father The consumer disputes commission today ordered Rs 10 lakh compensation to be paid to a man whose second standard daughter slipped through a gaping hole on the floor of her school bus here and was fatally run over more than three and half years ago. Fire management training held for forest personnel in Kodaikanal With the winter slowly fading away, it is time to begin patrolling of forests to stop fires. Forest officials across Tamil Nadu are gearing up to face the forest fires that would destroy precious green cover, says district forest officer Kodaikanal D Venkatesh. More Chennai News»

		Ahmedabad
		Attack on social activist Revati Laul Former journalist turned social activist Revati Laul was allegedly attacked by Naroda patiya accused Suresh Langdo on Wednesday. CID raids 12 offices of Ponzi firms across the state CID (crime) officials probing a multicrore scam raided 12 offices on January 18 and 19 in Ahmedabad, Kheda, Anand, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surat and Vapi districts belonging to agents of Deep Capital Services Pvt Ltd and Jay Khodiar Mitra Mandal and collected computers and documents related to various schemes as evidence. Surgery on Uganda girl, funded by US kid, a success The five-year old Ugandan girl born with bladder outside her body , who was funded by a seven-year old US boy who suffered the same condition, underwent a successful surgery at Nadiad kidney hospital. More Ahmedabad News»

		Allahabad
		Siddharth Varadarajan held hostage in Allahabad at VC's office by ABVP Senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan along with Allahabad University student union president Richa Singh was held hostage for around half an hour inside the office of AU VC, RL Hangloo when the senior journalist went to meet the VC at his office on Wednesday. Mela was source of revenue for British Around 150 years back, Magh Mela used to be a major source of revenue for the then British regime.The revenue was used for annual salary budget, maintenance of buildings and im proving the sanitation facilities in the city. Allahabad High Court orders probe for missing boy Taking note of the plea of mother of a missing boy that her son would not be traced as relatives of the alleged accused are high-ranking police officers in the state, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed that this matter of Islamnagar police station of Badaun district be transferred from the state police to the CBI. More Allahabad News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Chit fund commission notices state government Justice M M Das commission, probing into the multi-crore chit fund scam in Odisha, on Wednesday issued notice to state government to file report on the measures taken by it to create awareness among people against investing in chit fund companies. Couple killed as ambulance hit their bike from back A man and his wife were killed when an ambulance rammed the motorcycle from its back on National Highway 5 at Tamando on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening. Prime accused of Kandhamal nun-rape case granted bail Orissa high court on Wednesday granted bail to Santosh Patnaik alias Mitu, the main accused of 2008 Kandhamal nun gang rape case. More Bhubaneswar News»

		Bhopal
		Change in school timings comes as a bolt from blue It was around 9.30pm and there were hardly few souls visible on roads in a city engulfed in a thick fog cover. Most children were snuggled up in quilts and blankets on Tuesday, the coldest night of this month. Shivraj announces chairpersons, vice-presidents for 14 boards, corporations Putting an end to months of speculation, Shivraj Singh government on Wednesday announced names for the posts of chairperson, vice-president and member in 14 boards and corporations of Madhya Pradesh. Total 19 persons have been appointed for a period of two years. MP Govt plans transfer policy for revenue officials to check corruption In an effort to curb corrupt practices in district administration, the revenue department has planned transfer policy for revenue officials and patwaris. A decision to this effect was taken after a series of protests launched by revenue inspectors and tehsildars to press for their wage hike. More Bhopal News»

		Chandigarh
		CDLU professors fined for threatening girl Amit Sangwan and Sewa Singh Bajwa of Department of Mass Media and Journalism were accused of making advances towards the girl student in the year 2010. No political will to act against human traffickers: Ramoowalia Even as concrete information is yet to come out in the boat capsizing incident near Panama, in which at least two Punjabi youths are feared drowned, UP jail minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia has come down heavily on human traffickers. Punjab looks to strengthen primary education Instructions to all the district education officers (DEOs) and block primary education officers (BPEOs) have been issued to ensure the implementation of a revamped education plan in the primary schools. More Chandigarh News»

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