The travails of the rupee have dominated newspaper headlines over the last fortnight. Its value has fallen precipitously against the dollar, and is now hovering around the 72 level; it was just under 64 at the beginning of the year. There is now intense debate in the media on whether …

The one who reached out to China In the evolution of India-China ties, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s contribution was seminal India-China relations have come a long way from the period of enmity and bitterness that followed the 1962 war. True, they have not returned to the cheery days of Hindi Chini …

It analysed bone conduction sounds Scientists have developed a new vibrating device that is placed behind a patient’s ear to diagnose dizziness, and offers significant advantages over the current tests. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden developed the testing device using bone conduction sounds. Issues with balancing Hearing …

The system visualises an object’s 3D shape Robots of the future could be useful in homes and offices, thanks to MIT scientists who have developed an advanced computer vision that enables machines to inspect random objects and accomplish specific tasks. Breakthroughs in computer vision have enabled robots to make basic …

The boulder, which was embedded deep in river, has reappeared in the Czech Republic after a dry spell Once an ominous harbinger of hard times and even famine due to critically low water levels, a massive “hunger stone” embedded deep in the Elbe River has reappeared in the Czech Republic …

Smiling does not necessarily indicate that a person is happy, according to a study. It is widely believed that smiling means we are happy, and it usually occurs when we are engaging with another person or group of people. Researchers from the University of Sussex, U.K., show this is not …

Seven countries, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Turkey, are at risk of exchange rate crises as investors re-assess their risks following the contagion in Argentina and Turkey, a new index by Nomura says. According to the global financial services major, emerging markets are under pressure as investors reassess the risks …

Sensex drops 500 points intraday A combination of global and domestic factors affected investor sentiment on Monday with the benchmark indices registering their biggest single-day fall in almost six months. While renewed concerns over an escalation of trade war between the U.S. and China pulled down global markets, the domestic …

‘Many producers planning to expand capacity’ India is set gain the top slot in farmed shrimp production, overtaking China in 2019-20, said Ravi Kumar Yellanki, president, Society of Aquaculture Professionals. “We have already overtaken China in shrimp exports last year but are on par with regard to farmed shrimp production. …

‘Pichai sought two more months for Google Pay to comply’ Technology giant Google has sought two more months from the Indian government to comply with RBI guidelines mandating storing of data by digital payment services providers locally. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in April this year, had directed payment …

Currency among worst performers in emerging markets; widening current account deficit weighs, more rate hikes may be on the cards The rupee breached 72.5 a dollar on Monday and touched all-time low of 72.67 intraday as the current account deficit widened to five- year high in the first quarter of …

‘They wouldn’t talk about that with previous administrations’ India has asked for a trade deal with the U.S. due to his tough policies, President Donald Trump told his supporters. Addressing a rally in South Dakota on Friday, he said countries have learned to respect the U.S. now. “India called us …

Trump seeks to force an ‘ultimate deal’ The United States has decided to close the Palestinian mission in Washington in the latest move against them by President Donald Trump, a Palestinian official said on Monday, denouncing it as a “dangerous escalation”. The closure comes as Mr. Trump seeks to force …

‘We will prioritise livelihood projects and extend them to western Pakistan’ China and Pakistan are looking afresh at projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in tune with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s focus on development of social infrastructure. “China will give more assistance on a priority basis to such areas …

The lives of the former spy and Putin, two former intelligence agents from the Soviet-era, intersected at key points Sergei V. Skripal was a little fish. This is how British officials now describe Mr. Skripal, a Russian intelligence officer they recruited as a spy in the mid-1990s. When the Russians …

Neither of the two mainstream blocs can form a government on their own as far-right party makes major gains Sweden faced political deadlock on Monday after the far-right made gains in legislative elections that left the question of who will form the next government up in the air. As expected, …

Historians have vociferously opposed changes to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, which proposes to allow the construction of Centre-approved public infrastructure within a 100 metre radius of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments at a Parliamentary panel’s meeting held on Monday. Historians Nayanjot Lahiri, Narayani …

The court said Mr. Singh should face charges as soon as he ‘ceases’ to be Governor. In its 40-page judgment in April 2017, the Supreme Court had invoked its extraordinary constitutional powers under Article 142. It had evoked the maxim — ‘Let justice be done though the heavens fall.’ Besides …

The state-owned oil marketing companies again increased the price of petroleum products such as petrol and diesel in the country on Monday, with Mumbai paying the highest among the four major metros. Petrol costs Rs. 88.12 a litre and diesel Rs. 77.32 in the city, according to the daily price …

Senior Congress leader raises demand after neighbouring Rajasthan reduced tax on petrol, diesel on Sunday Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath on Monday demanded that the State government reduce VAT on fuel two times of what has been done in neighbouring Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had on Sunday …