Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to resign as Prime Minister, an office to which he was controversially installed by President Maithripala Sirisena, is the first sign that the dragging constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka is heading slowly towards a resolution. He had also played a part in the unfolding of the crisis …

The pervasiveness of climatic aberrations and the associated socio-economic vulnerability are now widely recognised and experienced across the globe. The Sixth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on “Global Warming at 1.5°C” distinctly propagates the need to strengthen and enhance existing coping capacity and to remain …

After remaining in suspended animation for five months, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was dissolved by Governor Satya Pal Malik last month. After the November-December 2014 elections to the State Assembly, which produced a fractured mandate, J&K had several years of a Peoples Democratic Party-BJP coalition government, interspersed with a …

For the first time since fleeing to neighbouring Tripura 21 years ago, the displaced Brus of Mizoram exercised their franchise on home soil during the Assembly polls on November 28. Rahul Karmakar reports on the changing dynamic between the minority Brus and the dominant Mizos and the possibility of greater …

Google has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that can detect diabetic retinopathy with a level of accuracy on par with human retinal specialists, the technology giant said. Verily, an Alphabet-owned company, is working on rolling out the diabetic retinopathy initiative in clinics in India. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/google-s-new-ai-model-to-help-detect-diabetic-retinopathy/article25747996.ece

The Dracula ant, located mostly in the tropics of Africa, Australia and Asia, spend most of their lives burrowed into tree trunks or underground. One could easily beat the Dracula ant in a foot race. But one species,Mystrium camillae, has a pair of ingeniously designed mandibles that can snap at …

The insects are vital as they help fertilise three out of four crops around the world Scientists in Finland have developed what they believe is the world’s first vaccine to protect bees against disease, raising hopes for tackling the drastic decline in insect numbers which could cause a global food …

Fintech companies have asked the government to issue a clarification that will allow regulated entities such as banks and non- banking financial companies (NBFCs) to use Aadhaar for eKYC in case of “voluntary submission” by customers. This follows the Supreme Court striking down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, that …

China pressed on with its trade war truce with the United States on Friday, announcing that it will suspend extra tariffs added to U.S.-made cars and auto parts for three months from January 1. The move is another sign that the ceasefire has not been derailed by the recent arrest …

China on Friday rebuked the U.S. Congress over legislation seeking greater access to Tibet, saying American lawmakers “grossly interfered” in Beijing’s domestic affairs. The bill, which passed this week with bipartisan support, demands access to the region for U.S. diplomats, journalists and tourists, threatening to bar Chinese officials responsible for …