East Africa is not willing to be turned into a refugee camp for British citizens of Asian origin, Mr. Tom Mboya, the Kenya Minister for Economic Planning and Development, said here [Nairobi] yesterday [January 6]. Speaking as the Secretary of the Kenya delegation to the Commonwealth conference, Mr. Mboya stated, …
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Beyond the lens in Jantar Mantar
As a journalist in Delhi, I have spent at least a couple of days every month at Jantar Mantar, the premier protest venue since the early 1990s. On some days mega rallies take place under the gaze of dozens of cameras. But even after the crowds have left, the space …
Read More »Death traps
The tardy response of the Centre and the State of Meghalaya to the plight of at least 15 workers trapped in a rat-hole coal mine since mid-December has exposed the extraordinary indifference in government to labour welfare and the law. Two workers have been found dead in a second mine …
Read More »The wizards in Oz
Dark clouds hung over the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, holding off India’s bid to win the Test series against Australia in greater style. Yet, the final 2-1 result is historic, with India for the first time defeating Australia in Australia in a Test series. Having flourished at Adelaide and …
Read More »A different outreach
Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat’s argument that Pakistan must “develop as a secular state” to have any dialogue with India can be interpreted to convey two contradictory messages. The first is that India has no intention of engaging with Pakistan since there is no possibility of Pakistan …
Read More »The un-Gandhian cane
Over the last few years, battles over symbols — for long an Indian pre-occupation — have reached a crescendo and show no signs of abating. Perhaps no historical figure has been mined as thoroughly as M.K. Gandhi (although B.R. Ambedkar today comes a close second). No government would dare dislodge …
Read More »Jaitapur: A risky and expensive project
In December, the French company Électricité de France (EDF) submitted a “techno-commercial proposal” to the Indian government for the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra. The idea of importing six nuclear European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) was initiated by the United Progressive Alliance government more than a decade ago, but the …
Read More »Still nothing to show for
In October last year, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a public address stated that Pakistanis should stop worrying, “ Ghabrain nahin , hausla rakhain (do not worry, have fortitude).” But after five months of waiting for the government to deliver on its numerous promises, perhaps it is now time …
Read More »Our body may cure itself of diabetes in future: Study
Researchers have identified glucagon producing cells in the pancreas that can mimic functions of damaged or missing insulin-producing cells, an advance that may lead to cures for diabetes. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/our-body-may-cure-itself-of-diabetes-in-future-study/article25936011.ece
Read More »‘Air pollution hampers work productivity’
Besides affecting health, prolonged exposure to air pollution can also reduce employee’s productivity, finds a study. The study showed that daily fluctuations in pollution did not immediately affect the productivity of workers. However, a definite drop in output was witnessed when measured for more prolonged exposures of up to 30 …
Read More »Gas hydrates produced under ‘space’ conditions
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have experimentally shown that methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) can exist as gas hydrates at temperatures and pressures seen in interstellar atmosphere. Gas hydrates are formed when a gas such as methane gets trapped in well-defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline …
Read More »Paragliding a hit as Hong Kongers seek escapade
On a mountain slope overlooking Hong Kong, Giovanni Lam waits for the right gust of wind to send him soaring skywards, one of a growing number of paragliders using flight to escape the dense urban sprawl below.f Patience is rewarded in paragliding, explained Mr. Lam, a university lecturer and youth …
Read More »Lupin gets USFDA nod for generic schizophrenia drug
Drug maker Lupin said it had received approval from the U.S. health regulator to market Lurasidone Hydrochloride tablets in the U.S. The firm can sell its product, which is a generic version of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Latuda tablets, in strengths of 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and …
Read More »Direct tax collections up 14.1%
Direct tax mop-up grew 14.1% to Rs. 8.74 lakh crore during April-December 2018, the Finance Ministry said on Monday. Refunds amounting to Rs. 1.3 lakh crore have been issued from April to December, 2018, which is 17% higher than refunds issued in the year-earlier period. Advance tax As much as …
Read More »First India-flagged cruise from April
Aimed at contributing to India’s cruise tourism, Zen Cruises, a company promoted by Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra’s family office, has announced plans to start cruise services on India’s coastline starting April 17. Karnika, the first ship under the Jalesh brand, with a capacity to take 1,900-2,000 people on board, …
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