QUICK NEWS

The decision of the Mangalore University syndicate to amend the existing uniform rule and impose a total ban on headscarves on the entire campus, including within classrooms, has met with resistance and criticism from both students and faculty members.

The syndicate is the governing body of the university. The rule applies to the varsity's six constituent colleges.

Earlier, Muslim girls at University College, one of the colleges, were allowed to cover their heads with uniform shawls. University College principal Anasuya Rai told TOI that they have asked Muslim girls to abide by the syndicate's decision.

Salvador Ramos, the accused of the horrific Texas elementary school shooting which killed 21, including 19 children, had a minor argument with his grandmother over the payment of a phone bill, Ramdos's grandfather Rolando Reyes said, expressing shock at how his grandson is at the centre of one of the most tragic mass shootings in the United States.

In an interview to an international channel, he said he came to know from the neighbours that Salvador Ramdos shot at his grandmother at their home in Uvalde before driving his grandparents' car to Robb Elementary School where he opened fire. Ramos was killed by the police, while his grandmother is in the hospital -- in critical condition.

Biomass-burning emissions rather than fireworks drive the poor air quality in the national capital during the days following Diwali, a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi has found.

The study titled "Chemical speciation and source apportionment of ambient PM2.5 in New Delhi before, during and after the Diwali fireworks", led by IIT-Delhi researchers, has shed light on the pollution sources impacting the ambient air quality in the capital before, during and after the festival.

In a first, an experimental cancer-killing has been administered to a human patient. The scientists are hopeful that the testing will ultimately reveal evidence of new alternatives for successfully fighting cancer tumors in people’s bodies.

The drug candidate, CF33-hNIS also known as Vaxinia, is an oncolytic virus. According to the scientists, it is a genetically modified virus that is designed to selectively infect and kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.

The modified pox virus works by entering cells and duplicating itself. After the infected cell bursts, releasing thousands of new virus particles that act as antigens, it stimulates the immune system to attack nearby cancer cells. Meanwhile, earlier research in animal models has revealed that the drug can harness the immune system in this way to hunt and destroy cancer cells, but up until now, no testing has been done in humans.

Shortly after Kapil Sibal on Wednesday filed the nomination for Rajya Sabha as independent with Samajwadi Party's support, party chief Akhilesh Yadav's Dimple Yadav will be filing nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls dumping RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary.

Elections to 57 Rajya Sabha seats spread across 15 states will take place on June 10. The maximum number of seats falls in Uttar Pradesh i.e. 11.

Meanwhile, Sibal said he had resigned from the Congress on May 16 and is an independent voice.