Live-in partner kills woman, her son

A 25-year-old woman and her four-year-old son were strangled by her live-in partner here in the capital, police said Sunday.

Rukhsana and her son Firoz were found dead in their rented accommodation in a slum in north Delhi’s Sarai Rohilla area around 8 a.m. Sunday.

Her sister Naveesha told police she found their bodies when she entered the house.

Police said Rukhsana’s live-in partner Salman committed the crime Saturday night and fled after locking the door of the house from outside.

“A hunt is on to nab Salman,” said a police official.

Why is Kejriwal lying on power, water rates, asks BJP

The BJP Sunday asked Arvind Kejriwal why he was lying to the people on the electric tariff and water prices among the fourth set of five questions for the AAP chief.

BHaratiya Janata Party leader Nirmala Sitharaman asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to answer why he was lying to the people of Delhi by putting up hoardings comparing the lowest per unit rates of electricity bill in January 2014 with the highest in January 2015.

12 killed in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria

Boko Haram militants killed at least 12 people Sunday as government forces repelled multiple attacks by the group in Maiduguri city, capital of Nigeria’s Borno state, hospital sources said.

Some 37 people sustained injuries in the attacks that started early Sunday, Xinhua quoted sources at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri as saying. Another state-run health facility said the casualties included civilians who were hit by stray bullets.

Swaraj unveils Chinese version of India’s diplomacy magazine

India on Sunday launched its flagship diplomacy magazine in Chinese language to give “interesting” information about the country’s rich culture and tradition.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, on her maiden visit to the coummunist nation for bilateral talks, took the opportunity to unveil the Chinese version of ‘India Perspectives’.

The magazine is printed in 15 languages now and is circulated in as many as 170 countries “disseminates interesting information about India’s rich culture and tradition”, according to the details available on its website.

Rs.1,500 crore business generated at Stonemart

The eighth edition of the India Stonemart 2015, which ended here Sunday, generated business worth Rs.1,500 crore which was 25 percent over the last edition, said a Rajasthan government official.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Principal Secretary, Industries, Veenu Gupta, who is also the chairperson of the Centre for Development of Stones (CDoS) which organised the event, said the business generated saw a jump of Rs.300 crore from the last edition held in 2013.

US envoy to India stresses on improving trade ties

Describing US President Barack Obama’s visit as “transformative”, that brought US-India relations to a new level, the American envoy to India Sunday said improving the economic ties was a key area.

Speaking on the occasion of a book launch here, US Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma said the US was endeavouring to become India’s “best partner”.

“This was a visit which pushed the relationship to a different level. The best line of the visit is that the president said India and US are natural partners, we know that. But, he said, we want to be India’s best partner,” said Verma.

Tendulkar leads Richards’ top ODI batsmen list

West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards Sunday said Sachin Tendulkar would lead his list of top-10 One-Day International (ODI) batsmen of all time.

In a column written for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Richards said it would be the former Indian batting great who would undoubtedly be sitting at the top of his list.

Saradha scam: Arrested former union minister hospitalised

Former union minister Matang Sinh, arrested by the CBI for his alleged complicity in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha chit fund scam, could not be presented in court here Sunday as he was admitted to a hospital.

Sinh, who was arrested after over seven hours of interrogation here Saturday, was rushed to the NRS Medical College and Hospital and then to the state-run SSKM after he said he was feeling unwell.

Elect a government accountable to me: Modi to Delhiites

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday called for a BJP government in Delhi, saying the national capital needs an administration which works in harmony with the Centre and is also accountable to him.

Addressing a rally in west Delhi’s Dwarka area ahead of the Feb 7 assembly elections, Modi hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for making “false promises” to woo voters.

He said Delhi needs a government which works in harmony with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government and not one “which launches agitation day and night”.

Raahgiri Day for disabled held

The ministry of social justice and empowerment Sunday organised “Raahgiri day for persons with disabilities” here.

A first of its kind event was organised as a unique initiative at Connaught Place by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Digvijay Singh questions role of RSS activists in 1984 riots

Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Sunday questioned the “role” of RSS in the anti-Sikh riots as a government-appointed panel has recommended setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 riots in Delhi.

“One aspect of the anti-Sikh riots on which the media and others have been very silent is the role of the RSS activists in the Sikh riots,” the Congress general secretary said while speaking at a function.

In the backdrop of cases against some Congress leaders in the riots, Singh said that the issue has been investigated and people have been put to trial in courts.

Iran’s Ahmadinejad launches website ahead of vote

Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has launched a website ahead of parliamentary elections next year in a sign he may be eyeing a political comeback despite a recent corruption scandal.

The website, ahmadinejad.Ir, was launched Sunday with a big smiling photo of Ahmadinejad and the slogan: “We will come soon.”

Mahesh Bhatt gifts book to Ali Fazal

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has gifted a copy of his book “A Taste of Life: The Last Days of U.G Krishnamurti” to actor Ali Fazal.

Ali features in the newly-released film “Khamoshiyan”, produced by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt under their Vishesh Films banner.

“He gave it to me as a sign of friendship. I share a very unsaid unstated relationship with him. It’s not about exchanging books. It’s ideologies being bartered,” Ali said in a statement.

“I have grown very fond of Bhatt saab. He reminds me of a pleasant time,” he added.

“Khamoshiyan” also stars Gurmeet Choudhary and Sapna Pabbi.

Horror in Japan as video purports to show hostage beheaded

Appalled and saddened by news of journalist Kenji Goto’s purported beheading by Islamic State extremists, Japan on Sunday ordered heightened security precautions and said it would persist with its non-military support for fighting terrorism.

The failure to save Goto raised fears for the life of a Jordanian fighter pilot also held by the militant group that controls about a third of both Syria and Iraq.

Unlike some earlier messages delivered in the crisis, the video that circulated online late yesterday purporting to show a militant beheading Goto did not mention the pilot.

Surajkund crafts fair begins near Delhi

The 29th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela (fair) began Sunday at Surajkund in Haryana’s Faridabad district, adjoining New Delhi.

The Mela will be held till Feb 15.

Known for showcasing richness and diversity of handicrafts, handlooms and the cultural heritage of the country, the fair has Lebanon as the partner country and Chhattisgarh as the theme state this time.

The fair was inaugurated Sunday by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.

New ‘fat-fighting tactics’ may help drive down skyrocketing global obesity rates

A new study has revealed that new fat-fighting tactics may help combat global obesity epidemic.

From nutritious foods that fill you up faster to new weight-loss medications to government food taxes, obesity experts predict maintaining a healthy weight may get much easier during the next few decades, according to the latest series of interviews from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), FutureFood 2050 publishing initiative.

Cure for HIV on cards as latent virus’ secret whereabouts found

A new study has revealed that latent HIV may stay hidden in “quiet” immune cells, suggesting it may become possible to cure and not just control HIV.

Researchers at Rockefeller University showed that drugs for HIV have become adept at suppressing infection, but they still can’t eliminate it because the medication in these pills doesn’t touch the virus’ hidden reserves, which lie dormant within infected white blood cells.

One more swine flu case found in Odisha

With one more person afflicted by swine flu, the total number of cases in Odisha has gone up to four this year, said a health official on Sunday.

The fresh case was detected in Khurdha district, 27 km from capital city Bhubaneswar, and the patient was admitted to a private hospital here.

The patient was confirmed a swine flu case, following his blood tests at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) here.

Talk to nurse to ease pain, anxiety during surgery

Simple distraction techniques, such as talking to a nurse, watching a DVD or using stress balls, can help patients to relax during varicose vein surgery and reduce their pain, says a study.

“Undergoing conscious surgery can be a stressful experience for patients,” said study author professor Jane Ogden from the University of Surrey in Britain.

“Our research has found a simple and inexpensive way to improve patients` experiences of this common and unpleasant procedure, and could be used for a wide range of other operations carried out without a general anesthetic,” Ogden added.

Added fructose driving the rise in diabetics

Consumption of foods and beverages containing added sugars, particularly added fructose, is a major factor behind the dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes, contends a study.

Worldwide, approximately one in ten adults has type 2 diabetes, with the number of individuals afflicted by the disease across the globe more than doubling from 153 million in 1980 to 347 million in 2008, the study noted.

Craigslist contributes to increase in HIV cases: Study

More than 6,000 HIV cases annually in the US can be linked to the popular classified ad website Craigslist, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, claim.

Craigslist’s entry into a market results in a 15.9 per cent increase in reported HIV cases, according to researchers from the University of Minnesota.

When mapped at the national level, more than 6,000 HIV cases annually and treatment costs estimated between USD 62 million and USD 65.3 million can be linked to the popular website, researchers found.

Brain region behind addictive overeating found

Scientists have identified a brain region that leads to compulsive overeating and addiction to sugar, providing a novel target for safe and effective treatment for the disorders.

Compulsive overeating and sugar addiction are major threats to human health, but potential treatments face the risk of impairing normal feeding behaviours that are crucial for survival, researchers said.

The study shows a reward-related neural circuit that specifically controls compulsive sugar consumption in mice without preventing feeding necessary for survival.

Customised soap bubbles for more effective drug delivery

Tagging soap bubbles with biomolecules can prove to be a more effective drug delivery method to treat viruses, cancer and other diseases, scientists say.

Researchers cover soap bubbles with biomaterials that act as a disguise, tricking the body’s cells into mistaking the capsule for a bacterium, a cancer cell or almost any other disease-causing cell.

Because the technology is flexible, cost effective and highly efficient, it is drawing a lot of attention from both public and private funders for drug delivery and vaccine production, researchers said.

Japan launches intelligence satellite

Japan Sunday launched a backup information gathering satellite (IGS), the country`s first launch of this year.

The satellite is equipped with a radar spy instrument capable of peering through clouds, darkness and camouflage to obtain high-resolution imagery of the Earth`s surface. But the satellite`s exact capabilities were not disclosed, Xinhua reported.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the spy satellite aboard a H-2A rocket from Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima prefecture.