Author: Sharad Natani
In one of the darkest chapters of modern European medical history, a French court has sentenced former anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier to life imprisonment for deliberately poisoning patients under his care, leading to the deaths of 12 people and endangering many more. The court found that Péchier intentionally tampered with intravenous (IV) infusion bags, contaminating them with toxic substances during routine medical procedures. These acts, carried out over nearly a decade between 2008 and 2017, occurred at two private clinics in the eastern French city of Besançon, where Péchier was employed. Judges ruled that his actions caused sudden cardiac arrests, severe…
In a move set to reshape security dynamics across the Indo-Pacific, the United States has approved its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, a massive $11.15 billion (nearly Rs 98,000 crore) defence package that has triggered sharp reactions from China and renewed global focus on the Taiwan Strait. The decision comes amid rising military pressure from Beijing and growing concerns in Washington and regional capitals over the possibility of a future conflict involving Taiwan. Strategic experts say the scale and timing of the deal underline the United States’ determination to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence capabilities as geopolitical fault lines across Asia deepen.…
India’s ride-hailing landscape may be on the brink of a major shake-up. Bharat Taxi, a driver-owned cab aggregation platform, is set for a full-scale launch in Delhi in January 2026, promising ultra-low fares, zero commission for drivers, and transparent pricing that directly challenges industry giants like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. With a headline-grabbing fare of Rs 30 for rides up to 4 kilometres, Bharat Taxi is positioning itself as a people-first alternative in a market long dominated by investor-driven platforms. A Cooperative Model Where Drivers Are the Owners Unlike conventional ride-hailing companies, Bharat Taxi operates under Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited,…
भारतीय कला और मूर्तिकला जगत के लिए यह एक अपूरणीय क्षति है। स्टैच्यू ऑफ यूनिटी जैसे विश्वविख्यात स्मारक को आकार देने वाले महान मूर्तिकार राम वनजी सुतार का 100 वर्ष की आयु में निधन हो गया। उन्होंने 17 दिसंबर 2025 की मध्यरात्रि नोएडा के सेक्टर-19 स्थित अपने निवास पर अंतिम सांस ली। उनके निधन के साथ ही भारतीय मूर्तिकला के एक स्वर्णिम युग का पटाक्षेप हो गया। परिवार के अनुसार, राम सुतार बीते सितंबर से अस्वस्थ चल रहे थे। उनके बेटे अनिल सुतार ने बताया कि अंतिम समय में ऑक्सीजन स्तर और रक्तचाप तेजी से गिर गया था। रात करीब…
In a major step towards cleaning up India’s statute books, Parliament on Wednesday passed the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, paving the way for the repeal or amendment of 71 obsolete and redundant laws that no longer serve any practical purpose. The Bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote, a day after it received approval from the Lok Sabha. The government said the move is aimed at simplifying governance, correcting long-pending drafting errors, and improving the “ease of living” for citizens. ‘No Place for Useless Laws’: Law Minister Piloting the Bill in the Upper House, Union…
When IAS officer Supriya Sahu walked onto the global stage in Nairobi to receive the United Nations’ ‘Champions of the Earth’ award, she carried with her stories rooted far away from conference halls — in overheated classrooms, plastic-strewn forests, and vulnerable coastlines of Tamil Nadu. This was not a victory born in boardrooms. It began where climate change had already entered daily life. Where Climate Change Was No Longer Abstract In government schools across Tamil Nadu, summer temperatures made classrooms unbearable. Children struggled to concentrate as heat trapped itself inside concrete rooms. In the Nilgiris, wildlife fed on plastic waste…