Prominent OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal was on Friday named as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

Bhujbal, besides taking charge of Deputy CM’s post will have an additional responsibility of Home Ministry.

"Our state legislature party has decided that Chhagan Bhujbal will be the leader," NCP supremo Sarad Pawar said.

Bhujbal succeeds RR Patil, who had quit owning moral responsibility for the Mumbai terror attacks.

Researchers have found a new drug, which could ease jet lag and reset the body's natural sleep rhythms. According to Shantha Rajaratnam from Monash University's School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, the drug testimelteon works on melatonin receptor in the brain and helped troubled sleepers nod off quicker and stay asleep for longer.  

London, Dec 6 : Young teenagers who have extreme gender identity disorder should be given puberty-blocking drugs to save them from experiencing distressing changes to their bodies which they perceive to be out of line with their true gender.

This is for the first time that the Endocrine Society has drafted international guidelines on the controversial issue, with the hope that delaying puberty would provide young teens with valuable thinking time, where they can decide if they want to begin gender reassignment using cross-sex hormones at the age of 16.

According to an Italian research, obesity among children may damage their thyroid as it creates a vicious cycle of metabolism and overweight. Researchers conducted the study on 186 obese children who were overweight. They tested their thyroid hormone levels, thyroid antibodies and imaging the thyroid gland by using ultrasound for about three years. These tests suggested that their weight might be linked to structural changes in the thyroid.

The fourth phase of polling for J&K assembly will be held on Dec 7, Sunday.

As many as 12 constituencies located in north Kashmir’s Baramulla and central Badgam districts will go to the polls on that day.

There are 902,951 eligible voters including 518,964 voters of Baramulla district and Badgam has 383,987.

The fate of as many as 13 senior politicians and former ministers will be decided on Sunday. In all, 176 candidates are in the fray in seven constituencies of Baramulla and five of Badgam.

Sydney, Dec. 6 : Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that his team must take all steps to stop Proteas skipper Graeme Smith from enjoying a run feast during the summer Test series.

Watson believes that he has Smith’s number, having watched and played with him during the Indian Premier League for the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals.

He is almost a certain inclusion in the Australian squad for the first Test against South Africa in Perth that begins from December 17.

Watson said last night that getting on top of Smith would be the key to Australia winning the blockbuster three-Test series.