Princeton University-based researchers have found that machine-learning programs can acquire the cultural biases embedded in the patterns of wording, from a mere preference for flowers over insects, to discriminatory views on race and gender.

Maternity leave is generally not available to adoptive mothers in India, even though an adoptive mother needs it just as much as a biological mother. The central government recently passed an order reversing this situation in part, thanks to Atmaja, an association of adoptive parents in Kolkata. Ranjita Biswas reports.

The disappearance of inflammatory communal slogans from political speeches suggests development is the agenda for 2014.

Service dogs and other assistance animals play important roles in helping people with disabilities interact and function in the modern world. But what happens when people exploit the system, possibly even to the point of blatant fraud?