When 67-year-old Vatal Nagaraj takes to the streets, he turns every conceivable item — donkeys, commodes, vegetables, fire lamps, cattle, vehicles, footwear — into political expression. His talent for curating grounds for protest could give an inferiority complex to most activists. As leader of the Kannada Para Okkoota, a federation of pro-Kannada organisations, Nagaraj has called for a state-wide bandh on 9th September. Nagaraj called this particular bandh after the […]

United Arab Emirates — Around 2 million Muslims from around the world are beginning the five-day hajj pilgrimage on Saturday. They will circle Islam’s most sacred site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, and take part in a series of rituals intended to bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims. Here’s a look at the pilgrimage and what it means for Muslims: The hajj is […]

Teenagers are the biggest victims and addicts of technology. However, we need to accept that technology is here to stay and there is no escaping its use. As an educator I am often asked: “Is technology a boon or a bane?” We need to understand that human beings are lazy by nature and would love it if other people did all their work. The introduction of technology has done precisely […]

If you are a lover of sweat-inducing spicy food, then here’s a good news for you! A recent research has revealed that the combination of ginger and chili pepers in your diet prevents the growth of cancerous tumor. Both of these spices provide an array of health benefits- from boosting immunity to regulating blood sugar. Some earlier research has suggested that capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their kick, […]

Most of us experience a calling at some point in our lives, something like Mother Teresa had in a moving train or SRK had at the NASA launch station. Yet many of us fail to respond to it. Working as an IT professional in California, Madhuchandan Chikkadevaiah too experienced a calling: to come back to his village Mandya and help the distressed farmers reeling under debt. He chose to abandon […]

It’s been four long years since Ben Affleck’s last film as director, the Oscar-winning Argo. And now, he’s back with Live by Night, a gangster drama set in 1920s Boston. Warner Bros released the first trailer for the film, which they’re really hoping is going to be a major Oscar contender this year. First, here’s the official synopsis: Live by Night is set in the roaring `20s when Prohibition hasn’t […]

The kalonji, or Nigella seeds, is an interesting spice – when used for tempering, it adds a beautiful aroma to the dishes, and a hint of flavour that you can’t quite nail. In India, dry roasted kalonji is used for flavouring curries, dal, stir-fried vegetables, and even savouries such as samosa, papdis and kachoriamong others. Flavour and aroma aside, the tiny black seed comes with a whole lot of health […]

Why is Karnataka growing water-intensive crops in arid regions? While Karnataka’s farmers are decrying the government’s decision to release water to Tamil Nadu in compliance with the Supreme Court’s direction, a look inwards is also perhaps warranted. Karnataka’s cropping patterns have shifted in at least two major ways in the past four decades, moving away from millets that grow well in arid areas and towards water-intensive crops enabled by irrigation. […]

Some Apple loyalists were going crazy at last night’s launch of iPhone 7 that boasts of a 3 GB Ram. You’ll forget all about the iPhone 7 after hearing about this new phone. A smartphone company called Turing has announced specifications for their new smartphone and it puts all the best phones of the world to shame. The Turing Monolith that’s going to be released in 2018 will boast of […]

The first Trailer of Shreyas Talpade and Manjari Fadnis starrer ‘Wah Taj’ is out and it’s quite interesting! The makers of Shreyas Talpade and Manjari Fadnis starrer Wah Taj, have released its first trailer and it looks quite interesting by the first impression. The trailer begins with Amitabh Bachchan’s voice over, introducing us to the city of Agra, which takes pride in the squeals of Ghalib and houses the souvenir […]