-Frontline Odisha shows the way in the implementation of the ICDS scheme to ensure that children receive nutrition and care in their earliest years, but the Centre’s moves to slash budgetary allocations could wreak havoc on such programmes. At the Tasarda anganwadi centre in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, as the auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM) pulled out the blood pressure (BP) instrument to check a pregnant woman, the children at the anganwadi began...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In a move to put the rights of women in live-in relationships and single independent daughters on a legally firmer footing, an expert committee set up the Centre has recommended an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to ensure their rightful claim to maintenance. The report is expected to be discussed at an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday. The Pam Rajput Committee report, recently submitted to...

-PTI UNITED NATIONS: The head of a UN agency mandated to defend freedom of expression has called on Indian authorities to investigate the mysterious death of TV reporter Akshay Singh while covering the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, saying crimes against journalists must not go unpunished. Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Irina Bokova expressed condolences to Singh's family, friends and colleagues and urged the authorities to...

-The Times of India MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Medicines widely used to treat diabetes, infections, pain and digestive disorders will cost 5-40% less with immediate effect, with the drug price regulator issuing an order to fix the prices of 39-odd formulations. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's (NPPA) order, issued on Wednesday, includes drug combinations such as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, cefotaxime, paracetamol, domperidone and metformin + glimepiride and amoxycillin + potassium clavulanate. These drugs and combinations are...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Challenging repromulgation of land acquisition ordinance by Narendra Modi government, three Delhi-based NGOs and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that government was trying to "govern the country by ordinance raj" which was not permissible. Appearing before a bench headed by Justice JS Khehar, senior advocate Indira Jaising said that the govt is making mockery of the constitution by bringing ordinances when...