All about Ricin

Ricin is a protein that can be extracted from the castor bean, grown industrially for castor oil production, and is fatal to humans even in small doses, with no antidote against its poisoning. But there is no recorded instance of ricin being used in a mass-casualty event, largely due to difficulties in producing it at scale and the lack of an effective delivery mechanism.

Why I introduced a Bill for a permanent framework for state reorganisation

India is not merely a country; it is an embodiment of civilisational diversity, a subcontinent defined by a breathtaking mosaic of cultures, languages, and topographies. Our Constitution vests the unity and strength of the nation in the promotion of individual interest, but promoting that interest in a country of 1.4 billion people living across states of vastly unequal size and complexity has become the central challenge of modern Indian governance.

It was in recognition of this systemic challenge that I introduced a Private Member's Bill in the last session of Parliament, seeking to establish a clear, objective, and permanent framework for the reorganisation of our states. My logic is simple: The time for ad-hoc, reactive decisions, like the messy creation of Telangana, has passed. We must now engage in a pre-planned, consistent study that replaces ad-hoc and responsive populism with administrative prudence.

At least 9 dead, 25 hurt as shooter opens fire at Canada high school

Canadians were in shock Wednesday after one of the country's deadliest mass shootings as authorities said seven people were killed at a school in remote northern British Columbia and two others were killed at a nearby home. A woman that police believed was the shooter was found dead, apparently from a "self-inflicted wound."

Bangladesh set for historic polls

Amid a heavy security blanket, Bangladesh goes to polls in one of the most consequential elections in the country's history on Thursday, a year-and-half after massive student and political protests led to the dramatic collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024.

Pulses, tax: How US toned down its trade fact sheet

The US on Wednesday revised a fact sheet it had released on February 9 about the trade deal with India, softening its claims about the gains it had secured from New Delhi and entirely dropping a section on digital services taxes. It also made one change to the India-US joint statement of February 6, replacing the word "committed" with "intends" to reflect the non-binding nature of the provision.

Washington has softened its claims about its gains from the deal with New Delhi and entirely dropped a section on digital services taxes.

In all of 2024-25, India's pulses imports from the entire world rose 46% to $5.48 billion.

The US, however, was a minor source of India's pulses imports at just $90 million.

India's new telescopes are set to be a game-changer for astronomy

In this year's Union Budget, the government sanctioned the establishment of two new telescopes to study the sun and the origins of the universe, besides the upgradation of an existing telescope, in Ladakh.

Ladakh is already a major centre of astronomy in the country, being home to several big and small telescopes. The decision to set up these new telescopes is seen as a big boost to observational astronomy in India and the Global South.