A breath test to detect the deadly tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in six minutes flat has been developed in the US, with help from experts in Mumbai. Doctors from Hinduja Hospital in Mahim and the state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla have helped validate the prototype for the point-of-breath test, according to an article published in medical journal 'Tuberculosis' recently.  The test could emerge as the quickest way to screen a patient for...

Of late, a childhood friend's 80-year-old mother has taken to writing. Emboldened by her single-mindedness, memories dulled by a lifetime of contingencies now respond readily to the daily rustle of pen on paper. One memory stands out in Surjit Kaur's mind. In 1957, as a fresh eyed schoolteacher from Delhi she went on an educational tour to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. It was 10 years after Independence...

The decision to reform the IIT selection process from next year by introducing a weightage for candidates’ Class XII board marks appears headed for a court battle. Alumni association members from the IITs of Delhi, Kanpur and Kharagpur met here today and decided to move “various high courts” within a week against the IIT Council’s “unilateral” decision that overruled objections from several IIT senates. IIT teachers and senates have cited how the...

Government should consider a freeze on mining in Naxal-hit areas, tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo has said. Deo clarified that he was not against the industry or economic development, but unresolved land rights and mining were principle causes of alienation among tribals. This gave Maoists a toe-hold to exercise control over the area and local population. “To a CERTain extent, unrest among the tribal population can be traced to...

State-run fuel retailers don't tire of flashing their "autonomy" to justify raising petrol price. But when it came to a reduction on Thursday, they suddenly appeared to have developed political bones: the three oil marketers firms hastily pulled back plans to cut price by Rs 1.60 or so, excluding taxes, to prevent the opposition from taking credit. The retailers had raised petrol price by Rs 6.28, excluding taxes, on May 23....