Canada second to legalise marijuana

Ottawa: Canadian Parliament has passed a “historic” Bill legalising recreational use of marijuana nationwide, becoming second country to do so after Uruguay. Canadians will be able to buy and consume cannabis legally as early as September. Adults will be able to carry, share up to 30 grams of marijuana in public. They also will be allowed to cultivate up to four plants. However, stringent rules will still govern its purchase and use. IANS

Novel algorithm can predict who wins debate 

Washington: Scientists have designed an algorithm that can predict who will emerge as a winner of a debate, by identifying features of a strong argument. Researchers from Northeastern University believe the right mix of linguistic analysis, artificial intelligence, and data visualisation can produce more meaningful debates. The ultimate goal is to “help social media platforms evolve from echo chambers full of hate speech to places where constructive conversations flourish”. PTI