Researchers have for the first time used a naturally occurring material — aloe vera gel — which inherently has superior oil repelling (oleophobic) property to separate oil from water. So far researchers have only been mimicking the structure of naturally existing materials such as fish scales to achieve super oleophobicity. …

Last week, Britain’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted about a case of a gang of men (commonly referred to as a “grooming gang”), who had sexually assaulted and abused young girls, and had been found guilty by a court in northern England of over 120 offences. “These sick Asian paedophiles …

An assumed saviour for Croat ethnic identity versus a saviour for all of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) who happens to be a Croat — this is the new political fault-line in the racially tense country. For a country with a tripartite presidency to represent each of the three major ethnic …

Sri Lanka’s first ever Northern Provincial Council completed its five-year term last week. About 25 years after the erstwhile North-Eastern Council lapsed, people living in the Tamil-majority areas had propelled their preferred political representatives to power in September 2013, sensing new hope post-war. Just as the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) …

Bangladesh has rediscovered Kamal Hossain, a jurist of international fame, as the face of the political Opposition in the country. From a rally in the northeastern city of Sylhet on October 24, Mr. Hossain, 81, announced a campaign for what he said was the revival of democracy. The rally was …

Veritas , Latin for “truth”, is the motto of America’s oldest and arguably most famous university, Harvard. The motto, presumably signifying a place that seeks truth in matters scientific and philosophical, has special meaning for Harvard these days with a Federal court in Boston hearing a case on discrimination in …

Afghans risked their lives to vote in legislative elections in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, after the Taliban-claimed killing of a powerful police chief delayed the ballot by a week. Turbaned men and burqa-clad women stood in long, segregated queues outside polling centres in the deeply conservative Kandahar’s provincial capital, which …

Initial findings showed that Cesar Sayoc, who was arrested on Friday in Florida in connection with the 13 package bombs, was a Donald Trump supporter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized a white van in which Mr. Sayoc appeared to be living and large sections of which were covered …

Govt. prefers to watch developments including Parliament vote, weighs options Even as the European Union and the United States expressed concern over the manner in which Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena withdrew support to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place, and China …

The Centre on Friday submitted to the Supreme Court details of the decision-making process for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in a fly-away condition from France’s Dassault Aviation. The details of the decision-making process were filed with the Secretary General of the Supreme Court in a sealed cover …

MP and son of Mr. Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa termed the current arrangement “a caretaker government” that would hold charge until “early” national elections. Claiming that their side had a comfortable majority, he said, “We want to first stabilise the economic and political situation”. Asked why the parliament was prorogued if …

Kohima, the only theatre of the Second World War in the Indian subcontinent, is gearing up for the centenary of an ethnic club moulded by events during the First World War in faraway France. But the Nagaland capital is divided over who has the right to celebrate the special day …

The Ayodhya title suit appeals are scheduled for hearing on October 29 before a completely new Supreme Court Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The appeals are listed for Monday under the head “directions matter” before a new composition of judges, who, besides the CJI, are his …

The 1903 artwork, measuring 17×11 feet, restored after a 2-year effort; will soon be put on display at the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata One of the biggest and most iconic oil paintings in the collection of Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) depicting the Delhi Durbar of 1903, has been restored …

Stubble burning cases in key grain-producing States of Punjab and Haryana have dipped this season compared to the last year, according to officials. With paddy harvest in full swing, Punjab this year witnessed 3,228 cases of stubble burning between September 27 and October 22 compared to the 8,420 cases reported …

The Supreme Court on October 8 issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission on a public interest litigation petition by a non-political forum seeking an exercise, similar to the one done in Assam, to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Tripura. Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, son …

Situated near the Great Rann of Kutch, Banni, the largest grassland of Asia, spread over 2,717 sq.km, is in the grip of a severe drought as winter sets in. While the area is known for its scarce rainfall and semi-drought conditions, it is for the first time in 13 years …

The situation in Kashmir is volatile and drifting into a negative sphere on two counts: rising violence and the shrinking space of regional mainstream parties after the four-phase urban local bodies elections on October 16. The spiral of violence showed no sign of let-up even after Governor Satya Pal Malik …

As work gets under way on one of India’s prize projects in the Indian Ocean to upgrade facilities on the Agalega islands in Mauritius, the government is watching a battle brewing in the Mauritius parliament over the project. After facing resistance over placing its helicopters in the Maldives’ Addu Atoll …

The Anti Extortion Cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch has arrested three self-styled Right To Information activists, including a former NCP corporator, for allegedly extorting builders in Thane and nearby areas.The accused are residents of Thane, according to Crime Branch officers. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/7-elephants-die-after-they-touch-power-line-in-odisha/article25350745.ece