Daily Archives: April 16, 2016
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 case, accused Muslim men plunge back into helplessness As NIA does a U-turn on Malegaon blast
The National Investigation Agency maintains that Hindu extremists were behind the blasts, but it has refused to withdraw cases against nine Muslim accused. Image credit: Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP The National Investigation Agency can’t seem to take a stand on the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case, and nine Muslim men accused of the crime are paying the price […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 In the bustle of Delhi, a wall covered with flowers provides a pause
A photo exhibition at the Jor Bagh metro station celebrates the evocativeness of gardens. Image credit: Tony Clancy | The panel by Tony Clancy at Jor Bagh Metro station. Saloni Shah’s daily commute to Gurgaon has lately been filled with a little colour. As she walks into Jor Bagh metro station every morning, her eyes cut […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 In Andhra and Telangana, workers continue to toil through hot hours, despite heat warnings
From auto drivers in Hyderabad to farmers in Nalgonda, many make their own provisions against the heat despite new heat action plans set up by the states. Image credit: Vivek Nemana More than 111 people have already died across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from sunstrokes. Following last year’s devastating heat wave that claimed over 2,000 lives […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 How sexually transmitted diseases might have driven the evolution of monogamy
Researchers show that an STD similar to gonorrhea could have got rid of promiscuous behavior in agricultural societies. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons | Bride and groom, 1900-1910 Exactly why so many humans choose monogamous pair bonds over juggling multiple partners has long been a mystery to scientists. After all, having several partners at the same time […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 He’s truly our angel: Why we shouldn’t laugh at Taher Shah
The singer is a break from the zeitgeist of cynicism. We all need that. Image credit: via Youtube It is easy to make fun of Taher Shah. In his latest video (which, like his previous one, has gone viral in the subcontinent) he appears clad in purple robes, wearing a tiara. Standing before a tree, and […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 Dear Supreme Court, let’s get real about sexual identities and sexual desire
In a short span, the apex court has dug itself a massive legal hole by issuing two contradictory judgments that pull in two separate directions. Image credit: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP April 15 marks the second anniversary of a landmark Supreme Courtruling that recognised the status of a “third gender”. The judgement made it legal to identify oneself […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 What should India do first: Build ports abroad or fix those at home?
The Modi government’s policy in the Indian Ocean Region is a sea change from the past. But it could suffer from an accountant’s attitude. Image credit: IANS/PIB The maiden Maritime India Summit in Mumbai from April 14-16 provides an appropriate backdrop to discuss a dilemma which will increasingly confront policymakers and money managers in New Delhi. […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 How King Hilsa made a comeback
The famous Hilsa fish is in decline across Asia due to overfishing, pollution and lack of water in the rivers, but Bangladesh is the one shining exception. Image credit: Reuters As Bengali New Year’s Day was celebrated in Bangladesh, people had an extra reason to cheer. After many years, they could have their favourite fish Hilsa […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 Delhi painted on ivory: Scenes from the Mughal and British era
The collection of topographical paintings are reflective of the city’s history. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons Previous posts on the subject of late Mughal or Delhi miniature paintings on ivory have dealt with portraits, with which the Visual Arts collection is well endowed. Not so well represented in the earlier collection are topographical paintings on ivory, so […]
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NEWS 
April 16, 2016 Are France’s #NuitDebout protests the start of a new political movement?
Proposed labour reforms in France have sparked mass protests led by young people who want to reclaim democracy from the elite. Image credit: Alain Jocard/AFP | Jean-Baptiste Redde holds a banner reading “Labour law – throw it into the water” as he takes part in a protest march against the proposed reforms of France’s labour laws […]
