New Delhi, Dec 17: A team of UK researchers has developed a pioneering blood test that could enable doctors to detect and monitor lung cancer in real time, which will help reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes.

Using the technique Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, the team detected a single lung cancer cell in a patient’s blood.

The technique combines advanced infrared scanning technology with computer analysis, focusing on the unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells, said researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), Keele University, and Loughborough University.

“This approach has the potential to help patients receive earlier diagnoses, personalised treatments, and fewer invasive procedures, and it could eventually be applied to many types of cancer beyond lung cancer,” said lead author Professor Josep Sulé-Suso, Associate Specialist in Oncology at UHNM.

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are a type of cancer cell that can break away from a tumour and travel in the bloodstream. They can provide vital clues about how the disease is progressing and how well treatment is working. CTCs are also the cells that can lead to the spread of cancer (metastases).

Current methods for detecting CTCs can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming — and they can sometimes miss cancer cells altogether, as the cells often change their characteristics while circulating in the blood.

The research team’s method detects CTCs in a blood sample by shining an infrared beam onto it– similar to the light in a TV remote control, but far more powerful.

Different chemicals absorb infrared light in different ways, and CTCs have a distinct absorption pattern, or “chemical fingerprint.”

Computer analysis of the infrared absorption data can quickly identify whether circulating tumour cells are present.

The technique, published in the journal Applied Spectroscopy, is simpler and more affordable than existing approaches and uses standard glass slides already found in pathology labs to prepare blood samples for analysis under the infrared instrument, making it easier to adopt into everyday clinical practice.

The team now aims to test this method in larger patient groups, aiming to develop a rapid, automated blood test that could be integrated into cancer care pathways.

New Delhi, Dec 17: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, which sought to repeal 71 obsolete laws and make minor amendments to four others, as part of the Central government’s ongoing efforts to declutter the statute book and eliminate colonial-era remnants.

The Bill was passed through a voice vote. Introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 15 and passed the next day, the Bill targets principally amendment Acts of which the provisions have been incorporated into main laws, along with outdated enactments like the Indian Tramways Act, 1886.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the legislation as a “housekeeping measure” aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five pledges (Panch Pran), including shedding colonial mindset, promoting unity, ease of living, ease of doing business, citizen-centric approach, and the mantra of minimum government, maximum governance.

Replying to concerns that the Bill was rushed, Meghwal emphasised it was not done in haste, contrasting it with the UPA governments, which he claimed did not introduce any such repealing Bills.

He highlighted amendments removing discriminatory provisions in the Indian Succession Act, 1925, where Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and Parsis were required to “probate wills” in certain presidency towns like Calcutta (Kolkata), Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai), unlike Muslims — a practice he termed colonial and violative of equality under the Constitution.

The Minister also addressed updates to the General Clauses Act, 1897, and Code of Criminal Procedure, incorporating modern “speed post” in place of obsolete “registered post” systems.

For the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (enacted under UPA), the Bill substitutes “preparation” with “prevention” to correct a drafting error.

Trinamool Congress member Sushmita Dev questioned why the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) was excluded, arguing that the Speaker’s absolute powers for disqualification are often misused to encourage horse-trading rather than curb defections.

Other members raised unrelated issues; Incarcerated AIP MP Engineer Rashid sought amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), calling some provisions draconian and sub-judice.

Discussions also touched on judicial reforms, including increasing judge numbers to reduce pendency, by senior Congress member Vivek Tankha.

Meghwal clarified that UAPA and judicial appointments require separate discussions, and the government is actively addressing judicial bottlenecks without haste.

The non-controversial Bill underscores periodic legal cleanup, with the Modi government having repealed over 1,500 obsolete laws since 2014, while sparking broader debates on electoral and judicial reforms during the Winter Session.

New Delhi, Dec 17: The multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll system and AI-driven highway management will be completed across the country by 2026-end, and after implementation, these technologies will eliminate wait time at toll plazas for commuters, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to supplementaries during the question hour, the road transport minister said the new technology will be AI-based. Commuters will not have to wait any longer at toll plazas, and this will help save fuel worth Rs 1,500 crore and add Rs 6,000 to the government revenue.

“The multi-lane free flow toll (MLFF) is a very good facility. Earlier, we had to pay at the toll, and it would take 3 to 10 minutes; then, due to FastTag, the time has come down to 60 seconds or less. Our income has increased by at least Rs 5,000 crore. After MLFF came, replacing FastTag, cars can now cross the toll at a maximum of 80 km per hour, and no one will be stopped at the toll,” he said in the House.

“Our attempt is to make it to zero minutes, and this would involve number plate recognition through satellite with AI and FastTag,” he added.

“By 2026, we will complete this work 100 per cent, and once this task is complete, our income will help save Rs 1,500 crore, and our income will further rise by another Rs 6,000 crore, and toll theft will end. There will be no problems, and people will not have to stop at the toll plaza,” Gadkari told the members.

He said the new technology will certainly help people, and travel time will certainly be reduced.

The minister said the government was, however, only responsible for national highways and not state highways or city roads. But, many times on social media, there are problems on state and city roads and are dubbed as if they happened on national highways, he said.

“We are trying to make the system transparent and corruption-free,” the minister told members.

New Delhi, Dec 17: Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday announced Rs 10,000 in compensation for construction workers rendered unemployed due to the pollution-battling GRAP III and GRAP IV measures.

The minister also said all government and private institutions must mandatorily switch to work from home for 50 per cent of the staff from Thursday, or face action.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said GRAP III had been in place for 16 days, and workers affected by the restricted activity during the period will be compensated with Rs 10,000.

“Similarly, workers will be awarded compensation for the days GRAP IV will remain in place. These benefits will be extended to workers registered with the government. The registration process is ongoing,” he said.

The measure excludes workers from hospitals, departments involved in the fight against air pollution, the fire department and other essential services.

Mishra also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party for protesting against the government.

“Their chief minister used to run away during the season, but our chief minister is there on the road. They are indulging in dirty politics. It is our mistake that there is pollution because the problem of 30 years cannot be eradicated within five months,” he said.

New Delhi, Dec 17: National Conference MPs in Rajya Sabha have submitted a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah seeking the transfer of J&K prisoners currently lodged in other states to prisons within the Union Territory, and the release of those against whom charges have not been proven.

Raising “humanitarian concerns regarding prisoners lodged outside J&K,” the Rajya Sabha members of the party — Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan — also sought restoration of statehood of the Union Territory “in keeping with constitutional principles, judicial observations, and the assurances already given at the highest level.”

On the issue of prisoners, the MPs said thousands of families in J&K continue to suffer because their loved ones are lodged in prisons far away from the Union Territory.

“In several cases, detainees continue to remain incarcerated despite serious charges not having been proven,” the memorandum said.

Many families do not have the financial means to travel long distances, engage legal counsel, or even meet their family members once, the MPs said and sought a review of the policy in this regard.

In the representation to the Home Minister, the MP said, the Prime Minister and “your good self” have, on the floor of the House and on various occasions, unequivocally assured the nation that full Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir shall be restored.

“These assurances have been received with hope and trust by the people of the Union Territory,” it said.

Citing the judgment of the Supreme Court, dated 11 December 2023, relating to Article 370, and the reorganisation of J&K, the MPs said the Court had recorded the statement made on behalf of the Union of India that the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir would be restored at the earliest and as soon as possible.

The top court had further directed that democratic processes, including elections, be completed, reinforcing the expectation that Statehood would follow in due course, it said.

The MP said the continued delay in restoring Statehood is causing democratic, administrative, and emotional distress and “is increasingly felt as a denial of constitutional dignity.”

“We humbly urge the Government of India to initiate clear, concrete, and time-bound steps for the early restoration of full Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir,” it said.

The MPs also sought notification of the Business Rules governing the functioning of the administration in Jammu & Kashmir, saying it will ensure the governance is conducted smoothly, transparently, and in accordance with democratic norms and constitutional propriety.