For over a decade now the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) — an annual survey of learning proficiency in primary schools in India — has been hammering the point that in spite of high enrolment, learning outcomes have barely improved. The proportion of Class V children able to read ... Read More »
When G.S. Srinivas took his mother, K. Sitakumari, to a pulmonologist for a recurring breathing problem, the doctor’s line of questioning seemed bizarre. “Do you live in close proximity to pigeons,” the doctor had asked. When the answer was in the affirmative, the doctor’s prescription was even stranger — put ... Read More »
A well-known heart specialist Dr. T.S. Mahant has expressed concern and warned the younger population in the hills on their declining cardiac health. Excessive tobacco, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet are becoming the major reasons of the youngsters falling to the incidence of cardiac ailments at an alarming rate here. ... Read More »
The price of oil jumped after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to discuss ways to stabilise the oil market. The announcement was made by the countries’ energy ministers, Alexander Novak and Khalid al-Falih. The price of Brent crude initially jumped by 5% but then fell to to stand 1.6% higher ... Read More »
Lego enjoyed an 11% increase in sales in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2015. The Danish toy company, best known for its building bricks, had a turnover of 15.7bn Danish kroner (£1.8bn). However, net profit fell slightly to 3.5bn DKK (£393m) from 3.6bn ... Read More »
Labour MP Keith Vaz has stepped down as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. It follows newspaper claims he paid for the services of two male sex workers. He said: “It is in the best interest of the Home Affairs Select Committee that its important work can be conducted ... Read More »
Hurricane Newton has made landfall in western Mexico near the popular tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas. The US National Hurricane Center said hurricane-force winds were spreading over Baja California Sur. The Center registered maximum sustained winds of 150km/h (90mph). Forecasters earlier predicted torrential rains and possible flash flooding and ... Read More »
Tens of thousands of British Airways passengers experienced long lines and hours-long delays at airports around the world overnight after a computer failure affected check-in systems. Airline employees had to manually process passengers at airports including San Francisco, Seattle and Phoenix, delaying the departures of dozens of London-bound transatlantic flights. ... Read More »
British Airways has apologised to passengers facing delays after an IT glitch affected check-in desks. Passengers complained of delays at check-in and at the baggage drop, and on the tarmac waiting for take-off. The airline said passengers were able to check in at Heathrow and GatwickAirports “although it is taking ... Read More »
Germany’s Bayer has raised its offer for Monsanto to $65bn (£49bn), or $127.50 a share, in a bid to create a global seeds and pesticides giant. Bayer said it was in advanced talks with Monsanto, but warned there was no guarantee a deal would result. Its initial offer of $122 ... Read More »
The iPhone 7 is mere days away from its September 7 unveiling, but until that actually happens it’s never too late for a forecast by a respected analyst. KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo has rounded up all the available intel on Apple’s next-gen smartphone in a new report. The important stuff ... Read More »
