Author: currato

4 min readFeb 21, 2026 01:15 PM IST First published on: Feb 21, 2026 at 01:15 PM IST When the March 2026 cover of British Vogue featured Indian model Bhavitha Mandava, the response was immediate and celebratory. But this is not primarily a diversity story. It is a question of authority. For much of the 20th century, fashion functioned as one of the West’s most subtle instruments of cultural power. Even after the end of the Empire, aesthetic hierarchies remained intact. London, Paris and New York defined what modernity looked like; the rest of the world measured itself against that…

Uganda’s history with mountain gorillas is inseparable from its political turmoil. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are restricted to Central Africa and number around a thousand individuals. They inhabit dense volcanic, bamboo, and montane forests at elevations of 2,200-4,300 m.Yet from Uganda’s independence in 1962 through Milton Obote’s centralisation, Idi Amin’s brutal dictatorship, and Yoweri Museveni’s lengthy rule, poaching and habitat loss have pushed gorillas confined to the Bwindi and the Virunga parks to the brink. And in Uganda’s collective efforts to restore both the species and a sense of national identity, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka stands out as a defining figure.Dr.…

Google has rolled out a new AI-powered upgrade for Circle to Search, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and get smarter responses. Now, the responses will be backed by AI Mode, allowing users to have more meaningful conversations with AI-backed responses. Earlier, the AI Mode shortcut was only available to the Google app, but now it has also been made available to Android users. The AI Mode upgrade for Circle to Search is rolling out to Android smartphone users, supporting the features. Google Circle to Search with AI ModeGoogle’s Circle to Search feature is now integrated with AI Mode for…

Afghanistan said Sunday that “dozens” of people were killed and wounded after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in eastern border provinces, in one of the deadliest recent escalations between the two countries.Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a post on X said, “Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children.”Afghanistan’s Tolo News reported that the Pakistani army targeted a civilian house in Behsud district of Nangarhar province, leaving 23 members of a family buried under rubble. Only four people had been pulled out so far, the report said.…

File photo of India’s Jasprit Bumrah during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. (ANI) TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Right from the build-up to the start of the T20 World Cup, all the noise has surrounded India’s famed batting line-up. The broadcaster has relentlessly hyped the 300-mark and even after four group stage games, the talk remains focused on Indian batting. Reasons may vary, but the subject has seldom changed and all pre-match discussions have revolved around Abhishek Sharma’s three ducks, Ishan Kishan’s heroics, the slowdown by Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, or the firepower in the lower order. Batting has…

Salsa music legend Willie Colón has passed away at 75. The Nuyorican pioneer, known for hits like ‘Calle Luna, calle Sol’ and his collaborations with Héctor Lavoe, died peacefully surrounded by family. His family announced the news, expressing gratitude for support while requesting privacy. Colón’s Grammy-nominated career leaves an indelible mark on Latin music. Willie Colón, a musical legend who was best known for being one of the pioneers of the Salsa music genre, has passed away. He was 75 at the time of his passing. Willie Colón passes away at 75Taking to his social media account, his family announced…

Tata Motors has launched the updated Tata Punch EV, marking its first major facelift since its introduction. The refreshed model features design updates, revised battery options, and an expanded feature list. It is offered with two battery packs: a 30 kWh unit for lower variants and a 40 kWh LFP battery for higher trims. Fast charging enables a 20–80 percent charge in about 26 minutes, while a 15-minute charge can add around 135 km of range. Introductory ex-showroom prices start at Rs 9.69 lakh. The model is also available with a Battery-as-a-Service option, where the vehicle price begins at Rs…

5 min readFeb 21, 2026 01:51 PM IST First published on: Feb 21, 2026 at 01:46 PM IST The discourse surrounding the recent UGC guidelines on equity in the classroom has gone off the rails — so much so that the agency of vocalising our pain has also been stripped away. From public intellectuals to social-media trolls, the conversation across platforms appears fixated on a single question: Who is the victim? Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit‘s recent statement is not merely disappointing but alarming, revealing how sections of the intelligentsia can perpetuate and justify systemic injustice. Her remark…

Ultra-precise “POMbranes” sieve out larger molecules (red) and allow only 1-nm species (green) to pass through, enabling sharp molecular sorting. | Photo Credit: CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, Bhavnagar Imagine trying to filter sand from pebbles using a fishing net: it won’t work because the holes are too big and uneven. In chemistry, separating molecules that are almost the same size is just as difficult. However, a new study from IIT-Gandhinagar has offered a solution: a synthetic membrane capable of distinguishing between molecules with sub-nanometer precision.At the heart of the solution is a type of cluster called a…

Apple is expected to increase the price of the iPhone 17 model in India in just 2 months of its official debut. In September, the iPhone 17 model was launched at a starting price of Rs. 82,900 for the base 256GB storage variant, which was already a Rs. 3,000 price bump. Now, there are speculations that Apple by increase the smartphone price by Rs. 7000 in the country. This decision was reportedly taken due to the growing demand and limited stock of the product. Here’s what we know about the iPhone 17 price in India. iPhone 17 price hike in…