Just a week into my arrival in Ottawa, I asked my interlocutor, a well known US-Canadian educationist, if Canadians were indeed as friendly as they appeared. Without batting an eyelid, she recounted an experience of shopping at a supermarket, when a watermelon she had just placed in the cart simply disappeared. Intrigued, she wondered, “When had watermelons learnt to fly?” A G7 and G20 nation, with a resource-rich expansive landmass […]
Nearly 40 million Indians will be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050, with people in Mumbai and Kolkata having the maximum exposure to coastal flooding in future due to rapid urbanisation and economic growth, according to a UN environment report. The Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6): Regional Assessments said that the worst impacts of climate change are projected to occur in the Pacific and South and Southeast Asia. It […]
Until recently, the common scientific belief was that the brain was plastic (or changeable) only during childhood and young adulthood — the period when a person grows to maturity. However, as far back as in the 1890s, psychologist William James observed in his book The Principles of Psychology, “Organic matter, especially nervous tissue, seems endowed with a very extraordinary degree of plasticity.” What Is Neuroplasticity? Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s […]
Apple on Thursday announced the opening of a new office here that will focus on development of digital maps for its products including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. The Californian tech giant said in a statement that this investment will accelerate Maps development and create up to 4,000 jobs. The company, however, did not disclose the quantum of investment that it intends to invest on the facility. “We are […]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party is heading for a historic victory in the north-eastern state of Assam, one of five states electing new governments. The party is ahead in 61 of the 126 seats, while the Congress is leading in 25 seats, the Election Commission said. Assembly elections were held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam and in the union territory of Pondicherry. The main opposition […]
Just as I started penning down my thoughts on Verdict16, I could not help but go through the gamut of opinion floating across social media. From a no Congress reign across states to Jayalalitha emerging as the strongest leader in Tamil Nadu there is lot to ponder about. But one comment kind of got me hooked. It was from West Bengal’s Chief Minister who had a clean sweep in the […]
Here is a text of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s English remarks apologizing for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident: ___ Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by acknowledging the hard work done by many of my colleagues. From my own caucus, I’d like to thank the members from Surrey-Newton and Winnipeg North for their tireless advocacy. They have petitioned the Canadian government for years to make the apology that will […]
Documentaries hold a power unique to any other type of film. They have the remarkable capacity to shift our understanding of the vast and complex world in which we live, most of the time presenting us with powerfully relevant information, a previously unknown perspective, and hopefully, a new choice to make a difference. The following list of documentaries showcases films that may inspire a new outlook on the world we […]
With the awful memories of the last year’s floods still fresh in their mind, people in Chennai have begun preparations to tackle the worst situation in coming days. The MeT Department has issued a cyclone alert for north Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh, predicting heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. The reports say that the local civic body has deployed over 1000 officials to handle any emergency […]
Planning a holiday is super exciting, but even more so when you know it’s not going to burn a huge hole in your pocket! Budget holidays are awesome because you often discover yourselves looking for places to visit, restaurants to eat at, shops to buy from that are low-key, authentic and also present yourself with unique experiences! So, here is a list of 8 fantastic, yet low-on expenditure, travel holidays […]
