“Ultimately, we concluded, cancer immunotherapy passes the test. It does so because this year, clinical trials have cemented its potential in patients and swayed even the sceptics. The field of cancer immunotherapy hums with stories of lives extended — the Read More …
Month: December 2013
Thailand in Another Round of Turmoil

Download PDF version The proximate cause for the latest wave of protests which has swept through Bangkok since October was the ruling party’s attempt to ram through legislative changes that would have benefi ted the former prime minister and deeply Read More …
Draft policy on rooftop solar power generation favours Delhi’s private discoms, say experts
Delhi’s power regulator has called for public feedback on a policy that will allow consumers to use solar panels to generate electricity at their homes and also sell excess power if any. The draft proposal on net metering, posted on Read More …
A greenhouse gas 7,100 times more harmful than CO2 discovered
It is a manmade chemical used in electronic equipment industry Scientists from University of Toronto claim to have discovered a greenhouse gas that is 7,100 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). “Perfluorotributylamine or PFTBA stays in the atmosphere for Read More …
Testing cervical cancer made easy
New device called AV Magnivisualizer will assist initial screening; can operate on battery in remote areas The device, named AV Magnivisualizer, will cost Rs. 10,000 and is equipped to work on a 12-volt portable rechargeable battery, requiring no electricity, making Read More …
‘Treat severe malnutrition at home’
THE World Health Organization (WHO) formulated new guidelines on November 27 to treat children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). These guidelines are to be used as an interim measure till the results of an inter-governmental study on malnutrition are out. Read More …
Environmental fallout of cooperation
Whether energy cooperation will benefit the environment or create problems in South Asia depends largely on whether hydropower is considered clean or damaging Reports released by SAARC Energy Centre say that the South Asian grid can help minimise pollution from Read More …
National Policy for Children 2013 High on Promises, Low on Budget
Download PDF version India is home to the largest number of children, 43 crore, in the world. Their care situation is in a shambles. Although, the new National Policy for Children reaffirms that they are “national assets”, the budgetary outlays Read More …
Women at the Crossroads Implementation of Employment Guarantee Scheme in Rural Tamil Nadu

Download PDF version While the transformation of rural gender inequalities was not an intended goal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, this study draws on evidence from two villages in western Tamil Nadu to show how the Read More …
Direct Cash Transfer System for Fertilisers Why It Might be Hard to Implement

Download PDF version The challenges in implementing a direct cash transfer system for fertilisers are daunting. This paper points out that they range from the very large number of beneficiaries to volatile fertiliser prices, necessitating market price indexation of cash Read More …