Editorials

Volatility is back in the Indian markets. Stock indices witnessed an extraordinary swing on Friday, with the Sensex moving 1,500 points between its high and low during the day and the Nifty almost by 370 points. The Sensex and the Nifty were down 279 and 91 points, respectively, at the …

On two headlines used last week — one of which was misleading and the other problematic When Joy reached us through Happy, we expected to feel ecstatic, but it was to find fault with our journalism. Dr. Joy, a Consultant Neurologist and Movement Disorders Specialist at Aswini Hospital in Thrissur, …

The key to success is to integrate prevention, detection and treatment Universal health coverage is getting prioritised as a part of political reform with the launch of two pillars of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): Ayushman Bharat (AB), where 1.5 lakh health sub-centres are being converted into health …

Protecting the Kodagu watershed is essential to ensure the water security of three States We require water for everything: drinking, growing crops, producing electricity and industrial production. With the world population projected to grow to about 10 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations, and with climate change discernible, …

The story of the Bhim Army of western U.P. is a lens to understand the Dalit challenge to the Hindu Right In a move that took many by surprise, the Uttar Pradesh government recently released Chandrasekhar Azad, the founder of the Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission, from jail. It was …

“A new study on sleep patterns suggests that a regular bedtime and wake time is as important for older adults as children.” —Scientific Reports Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/healthline-ritesh-kumar/article25018334.ece

Virtual cure:Virtual reality (VR) therapy is now the buzzword and can help people overcome their greatest terrors. The technology is just now reaching the mainstream after 20 years of research. Equipment is lighter and more affordable, with technological advances spilling over from the gaming industry to help people fight disabling …

The world has witnessed a transformation in health care during the last century. Prescription drugs have helped wipe out diseases and revolutionise cures. The global bio-pharmaceutical industry has seen a steady growth of 3-4% annually over the past five years, with India enjoying an annual growth rate of 9-12%. India …

Blame it on the weather. Swine flu continues to hover over Maharashtra, with health authorities attributing 60 deaths to the lethal H1N1 virus since January this year. While this year has seen fewer casualties than last, say doctors and health officials, a less-dominant, non-lethal strain of the virus, called H3N2, …

Last week, a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur had to return within 45 minutes, after the pilots reportedly “forgot” to turn on the bleed air switch which helps in maintaining cabin pressure. This led to a sudden drop in air pressure inside the aircraft. The situation was scary: …

Have we always been this curious about others’ reading, or has this obsession to keep an eye out for random reading lists been fattened by the ease of sharing pictures and updates on social media? At one level, it’s a bit of stylised production, as people share their neat lists …

The belief that 40% of Indians may be infected with the bacterium is based on a ‘misunderstanding’ You have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) but not shown any symptoms for two years. Are those germs likely to persist and make you sick years later? Most likely not, suggests a study …

Being teleported to a different time without my laptop, phone, or TV felt good The other day I ran into a perfect storm. The friend I’m staying with in London left for a long trip to India early that morning. Half awake, with the Uber growling outside, he grabbed my …

On August 2, 1914, Franz Kafka wrote in his diary, “Germany has declared war on Russia. Went swimming in the afternoon.” The war he referred to was World War 1, which went on to kill 15-16 million people over the next four years, precipitated the end of the Ottoman Empire …

By allying with Ajit Jogi, Mayawati signalsthe BSP can’t be taken for granted Things are never as easy as they seem from a distance. If the Congress entertained hopes of being at the centre of a national-level alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party, then it was relying heavily on the …

The government must explain why it cancelled the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting Within 24 hours of announcing a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in New York next week, India called it off. The reasons cited for this overnight flip-flop are recent attacks in …

Without an alliance, the Congress may find the going difficult in Rajasthan Going by the electoral trend of the past 25 years in Rajasthan, it should be the turn of the Congress to form a government in Rajasthan after the Assembly elections later this year. The people of Rajasthan have …

A year after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his new Afghanistan policy, the stalemate continues Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was in New Delhi on September 19 for a day-long working visit. A short press release indicates the low-key nature of the visit. The reason is simple — the growing sense …

First detected in Karnataka only in May this year, the fall armyworm, a native of the Americas, has already spread as far as West Bengal and Gujarat, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Priyanka Pulla reports on the deficiencies in India’s quarantine regime It is a hot day …

Information reached Madura last evening [Sept. 18] that a serious rioting was committed in Kamuthi on Tuesday [Sept. 17]. Kamuthi is an important business centre inhabited mostly by the Nadars, and is situated in the interior of the Ramand district, 56 miles from Madura and twenty miles from the nearest …