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A panel discussion on ‘Building Innovation-First GCCs: AI, R&D & Digital Transformation’ was organised as part of BioAsia 2026 in Hyderabad on Wednesday (February 18, 2025) | Photo Credit: Siddhant Thakur Hyderabad is emerging as a key hub for building artificial intelligence-driven capabilities for global pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, with several multinational firms developing core digital, R&D and decision-making platforms from their Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the city, executives said during a panel discussion titled ‘Building Innovation-First GCCs: AI, R&D and Digital Transformation’ at BioAsia 2026 in Hyderabad on Wednesday (February 18, 2026).Gail Horwood, chief marketing and customer…

Perth Scorchers players celebrate their win after the Big Bash League T20 cricket final against Sydney Sixers at the Optus Stadium in Perth on January 25, 2026. | Photo Credit: AFP The Big Bash League, Australia’s franchise-based T20 cricket league, is exploring the possibility of hosting a few games of the 2026-27 edition in India. Two BBL executives — Phil Rigby and Margot Harley — along with a Cricket Australia production executive — Richard Ostroff — visited India to assess the feasibility of hosting a few games. The representatives visited the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here last week and met officials…

I am surrounded by racks of poofy skirts. It’s a drizzly day at Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeollabuk-do(North Jeolla province), South Korea, home to more than 700 hanoks — traditional Korean houses with distinct wooden frames and tiled roofs. The rain is no deterrent. I follow tourists and locals into a hanbok rental store. I am on a mission. But first, some background. A mix of traditional architecture and commercial establishments, which include cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and hanbok rentals, Jeonju Hanok Village draws hundreds of tourists with its history and selfie-friendly surroundings. An added perk? South Korea encourages visitors…

Hailed as a ’landmark’ by proponents and criticised as a ‘concession’ by detractors, the newly unveiled India–US trade agreement signals a decisive shift in bilateral economic ties. The deal lowers US reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to 18 per cent, a sharp reduction from earlier effective levels that touched nearly 50 per cent once the Russia-linked punitive surcharge was factored in. The announcement, however, raises a pivotal question: has India finally secured its seat at the high table, or does it come at the cost of diluting the country’s long-held commitment to strategic autonomy?STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADExport Gains and…

The story so far: In 1999, California-based Nvidia Corp. marketed a chip called GeForce 256 as “the world’s first GPU”. Its purpose was to make videogames run better and look better. In the 2.5 decades since, GPUs have moved from the discretionary world of games and visual effects to becoming part of the core infrastructure of the digital economy.What is a GPU?Very simply speaking, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is an extremely powerful number-cruncher.Less simply: a GPU is a kind of computer processor built to perform many simple calculations at the same time. The more familiar central processing unit (CPU)…

Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips steering New Zealand to victory against Canada during the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday, Febraury 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN Rachin Ravindra wasn’t in the best of form coming into the T20 World Cup and if that wasn’t enough he was under the weather too. Somehow, global showpieces seem to bring out the best in him and he has probably run into form for New Zealand as the Super Eight looms. After enjoying a wonderful run in the 2023 ODI World Cup in the…

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a convergence of conservation, community participation, and history. Once affected by deforestation and poaching, the sanctuary has emerged as a model for modern conservation, where local communities play a central role in protecting wildlife and restoring balance to the ecosystem.After a two hour drive through towns, crossing the coal and ore mining areas of Sambalpur (giving me Mad Max: Fury Road feels), the sights outside begin to change. We finally reach the dyke, an arm of the Hirakud Dam stretching 25 kilometres, and the view is cinematic. On one side lie the wetlands, their rippling waters…

In recent times, Bollywood has come out with a set of movies based on overt and covert conflicts with Pakistan. While Dhurandhar and Border II have made it big at the box office, Ikkis ran aground, perhaps because it converted what should have been an outstanding war movie into an anti-war whimper. But this story is not intended to be a critique or even a commentary on Ikkis but seeks to shed more light on the personality of the man who commanded the regiment ‘Ikkis-year-old’ Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Param Vir Chakra – Posthumous) fought as part of.STORY CONTINUES BELOW…

Fatigue, brain fog, irritability, headaches, and palpitations are not isolated symptoms. Doctors report seeing these especially among young professionals who stay up past midnight juggling project deadlines and household responsibilities, working long shifts, where restorative sleep feels impossible. Over time, this continuous lack of rest gradually alters the brain and body, affecting cognition, mood, metabolism, and long-term health. A study published in Nature Neuroscience helps explain why this happens. Researchers found that when you are sleep-deprived, your attention does not fade simply because you feel tired. Instead, the brain and body begin to shift together: brain activity changes, pupils subtly…

There continues to be intense debate worldwide about the definition of biological sex, boosted by some recent executive orders. The official theme of LGBTQ+ History Month (February) this year is ‘Science & Innovation’ and the natural universe is replete with examples of how the simple binary of sexes and genders to which some people would like to fall back on is really a cultural convenience rather than a “natural order”.A particularly clear example is the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Studies of this bird have revealed that nature uses complex genetic systems to create a spectrum of sexual and social roles.…