The U.S. Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform Bill, that would roll back what are seen as excessively punitive criminal justice policies that have been in place since the crackdown on crime in the 1980s. The Bill, which had wide bipartisan support (only …

Debris caused by Titli cyclone cleared by forest department for nesting Thousands of olive ridleys, as part of their annual mating season, have assembled near the Rushikulya rookery on the Odisha coast. The forest department has stepped up its patrol in the area to safeguard the turtles. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/olive-ridleys-congregate-for-mating-season/article25785560.ece

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the government was trying to reduce goods and services tax (GST) on 99% of the items below 18% as ‘belated wisdom’. “Having scrambled the egg needlessly when GST was introduced, government is trying to unscramble it! …

“The hon. Supreme Court, Madam, has recently decriminalised Section 377 and the LGBT community has been accepted to be a part of the mainstream. So, we have same sex couples now. But, in this Bill, there is no mention of them,” she said. The Trinamool MP also called for stopping …

Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said on Wednesday that the launch of satellite GSAT-7A would enhance the networking and communication capabilities of the Air Force. Big push “We have several platforms (aircraft) which have capabilities of communication through satellite. The communication to the platform (aircraft) through the satellite will be …

The Supreme Court has ordered the West Bengal government to respond to a case of 27 farmers, who are fighting to retain their land against the State’s claim of having acquired it over six decades ago. Srikanta Charan Kanp, the lead petitioner in the case, told an apex court Bench …

A team of scientists from the Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory and the Advanced Seismic Testing and Research Laboratory, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Chennai, conducted a crucial qualification test of the fuel drop tank of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The laboratory designed and developed the test in consultation …

Officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Food & Drug Administration on Wednesday (FDA) visited some facilities of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to take samples of baby powder to test them for the presence of cancer-causing asbestos. This follows a recent Reuters report on the presence of …

In the aftermath of criticism by scientists, eminent agriculture scientist, M.S. Swaminathan, has said that he’s a “supporter of genetic engineering technology” and that he ought not to have co-authored the article, which was a review of genetic modification (GM) technology in crops, in India. “I wish to… reiterate my …

For the seventh consecutive day, the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were washed out over a war of words between the government and the Opposition on the Rafale aircraft deal and protests by Tamil Nadu parties over the Cauvery issue. Minutes after the Upper House convened for the day, Congress …

Two more Kerala “Naxalites” were arrested by the City Police last night [December 17, Madras], following the arrest of K.P. Narayanan on Monday night [December 16]. They are A. P. Balan (30), an agricultural worker, and N. P. Viswanathan (18), a beedi worker, both hailing from Pallur, a village near …

The sugar cane farmers of Bihar are in distress as the government has not yet announced the cane price for the mill owners for the current season. The farmers are also agitated with the mill owners over non-payment of their dues. Speaking to The Hindu over phone, sugar cane farmers …

An anxious ISRO Chairman K. Sivan on Wednesday watched the flight path of the GSLV-F11 intently as it soared into the evening sky carrying communication satellite GSAT-7A, meant to enhance the communication infrastructure of the Indian Air Force. Three key factors had weighed on the minds of the launch team …

The devastating fire at the Andheri hospital of the Employees State Insurance Corporation in Mumbai that killed at least eight people is a shocking reminder of the low priority fire safety gets in India. That a blaze could break out in a relatively new building with such deadly consequences calls …

President’s Rule will come into force in Jammu and Kashmir from Thursday, after expiry of six months of Governor’s Rule, an official order said on Wednesday. President Ram Nath Kovind signed the proclamation paving the way for imposition of Central rule in the State which was placed under Governor’s Rule …

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill banning commercial surrogacy with penal provisions of jail term of up to 10 years and fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh. The Bill, which will become law once the Rajya Sabha approves it, allows only close Indian relatives to be surrogate …

Raise investment, reform agriculture and codify labour laws: vision document A growth rate of 9% is essential to generate enough jobs and achieve universal prosperity, according to a vision document released by NITI Aayog on Wednesday. Towards this, the ‘Strategy for New India @75’ document recommends a number of steps, …

Falling crude oil prices helped the rupee record its highest gain in over five years on Tuesday. The Indian currency appreciated by 112 paise against the U.S. dollar. After making a strong opening at 71.34 a dollar, as compared to the previous close of 71.56, the currency gained further in …