Month: April 2012

Rats may have ‘best bite of rodent world’

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Mice and rats have evolved to gnaw with their front teeth and chew with their back teeth more effectively than rodents that ‘specialise’ in one or other of these biting mechanisms, according to a new study.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool designed a computer model to simulate the bite of rats to understand whether their skull shape or muscle arrangement was a major factor in their evolutionary success and global dominance, making them one of the most common pest species in the world.

Egg-shaped globule could be evidence of life on Mars

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An ‘egg-shaped’ object, which was found inside a Martian meteorite that fell to Earth last year, could be final proof of life on the Red Planet.

Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe has asserted that the globule from the rock named Tissint is rich in carbon and oxygen and insisted that they could only have been produced by living organisms.

He said that they could not have been caused by contamination when they fell to Earth.

Manipulating heart-specific gene pathway may help treat obesity, diabetes

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Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that the heart can regulate energy balance throughout the body, a finding that may lead to effective treatments for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Using mice fed a high-fat diet, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found that manipulating a heart-specific genetic pathway prevents obesity and protects against harmful blood-sugar changes associated with type 2 diabetes.

Protein block `could halt multiple sclerosis`

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Scientists claim to have discovered that the progress of debilitating disease multiple sclerosis could be slowed or even stopped by blocking a protein which contributes to nerve damage.

An international team has shown that the key role played by the collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2)) in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), the `Brain` journal reported.

In their research, the scientists found that a modified version of CRMP-2 is present in active MS lesions, which indicate damage to the nervous system, in a laboratory model of MS.

Slightly-overactive thyroid tied to heart problems

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A new report suggests higher-than-normal thyroid activity is linked to a greater risk of heart disease, including irregular heartbeats.

People with so-called subclinical hyperthyroidism have a slightly-overactive thyroid — a gland at the front of the neck responsible for regulating metabolism by releasing certain hormones.

Those people often don`t have the typical signs of full-on hyperthyroidism, such as increased appetite, restlessness and fatigue — so the condition may frequently go undiagnosed.

Report of Mexican woman expecting nine babies a hoax

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Reports that a woman in northern Mexico is pregnant with nine babies are a hoax, health authorities said on Friday.

Mexico`s main broadcaster Televisa and top daily newspapers ran stories about a woman expecting nonuplets late on Thursday after she provided welfare officials with supposed evidence of the multiple pregnancy, including an ultrasound video, said a spokesman for the health ministry of Coahuila state.

Bipasha turns to seducing older men now!

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After playing several strong roles, actor Bipasha Basu has now been roped in for the remake of the 1982 blockbuster ‘Shaukeen’. Under the direction of Rohit Roy, Bipasha will play the role of the seductress in the remake of ‘Shaukeen’.

The remake, however, wouldn’t exactly be a replica of the original. Keeping in mind the elapse of thirty years since the release of ‘Shaukeen’, the story line has been adapted to the context of the day.

Pooja Bedi files case against Pooja Misrra

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Pooja ‘spare me’ Misrra is back in news again. The model who made headlines during her stint in reality show ‘Bigg Boss 5’ has always been in news for her hysterics and allegation on fellow contestants.

While the show is long over and the contestants have moved on to other things in life, Pooja seems to be still stuck on the show and how everyone has been gravely wrong with her.

Ms. Misrra recently gate crashed an event where her ‘arch enemies’ Pooja Bedi and her rumoured boyfriend Sky were present.

Gold regains all-time high of Rs 29,540/ 10 gms

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Gold prices spurted by Rs 100 to regain the all-time high level of Rs 29,540 per 10 grams in the bullion market here, Saturday on strong demand triggered by the ongoing wedding season amid firm global cues.

The precious metal, which was last seen at this level on December 8, has gained Rs 550 in the last seven days.

Silver also gained Rs 100 to Rs 56,500 per kg on increased offtake by industrial units and jewellery makers.

Beckham`s 9-month-old baby offered job

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Victoria and David Beckham`s daughter Harper has been offered a job to become a brand ambassador of a personalised baby gift company.

My1stYears.com has written a letter to the nine-month-old daughter, inviting her to become the face of the the brand, reported Contactmusic.

“Both your parents are fashion icons, and we can see no reason why you shouldn`t start your own career in the fashion industry even at your young age,” the letter read.

Case files against Pooja Misrra

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Pooja ‘spare me’ Misrra is back in news again. The model who made headlines during her stint in reality show ‘Bigg Boss 5’ has always been in news for her hysterics and allegation on fellow contestants.

While the show is long over and the contestants have moved on to other things in life, Pooja seems to be still stuck on the show and how everyone has been gravely wrong with her.

Ms. Misrra recently gate crashed an event where her ‘arch enemies’ Pooja Bedi and her rumoured boyfriend Sky were present.

Bangaru Laxman gets 4 yrs jail, fined Rs 1 lakh

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A court here on Saturday sentenced former BJP president Bangaru Laxman to four years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him for taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in a fictitious arms deal case 11 years ago.

72-year-old Laxman, also a former Union minister, was yesterday convicted by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora at Dwarka.

The court held Laxman guilty of taking the bribe from fake arms dealers to recommend to the Defence Ministry to award them a contract to supply thermal binoculars to the Army.

UP govt mulling law on Wakf properties: Khan

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Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh government is mulling “a strong legislation” whereby all Wakf properties, which have been denotified, would be converted into Wakf land again,” Urban Development Minister Azam Khan said today.

“The government is mooting “a strong legislation whereby all Wakf properties, which have been denotified under some pretext or the other, would be converted into Wakf land again.

“Moreover, under the proposed legislation, any construction on such land shall be deemed to be belonging to the Wakf Board”, he told reporters here.

Prostitution scandal: US Secret Service tries image repair

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The US Secret Service, disgraced by a prostitution scandal, Friday promulgated a set of new conduct guidelines for its agents, as it emerged that agents had in 2000 visited a Moscow nightclub known for raucous parties.

The Wall Street Journal reported that US Secret Service agents had visited a downtown Moscow nightclub known for raucous parties in 2000, ahead of a state visit to Russia by then president Bill Clinton.

Tendulkar deserves more than RS nomination: Harbhajans

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Hailing the Indian government’s decision to nominate Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said the senior batsman deserves
much more than that.

“Proud that Sachin is getting the honour. He deserves much more than that. May God bless him always,” Harbhajan said.

Tendulkar was on Thursday nominated to the Upper House of the country’s Parliament after President Pratibha Patil approved the government’s proposal.

The move was met with mixed reactions from his fans and public figures from all walks of life.

Gilani still Pak PM, will continue to work with him: US

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The US has said it continues to work with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as it believes that he remains leader of the democratic government there.

“There was a court decision. He was given a 30-second sentence, I believe, and he remains the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.

“And as such, we continue to work with him, and (Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan) Ambassador (Marc) Grossman did meet with him in Pakistan,” Nuland said in response to a question.

Betrayed in love, undertrial hangs himself in jail

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In yet another case of suicide in Gurgaon, an undertrial prisoner at Bhondsi prison in the district allegedly hung himself to death in the early hours of Friday, police said.

According to police sources, Praveen Sharma of Deoria in Uttar Pradesh was being tried in a rape and abduction case.

However, according to the family members of the deceased, Praveen was in love with a Gurgaon-based girl.

“The girl had eloped with him. But after returning home, she lodged a complaint of rape and abduction against Praveen due to pressure from her family,” they maintained.

Court rejects senior Rajasthan police officer’s bail plea

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Rajasthan High Court Friday rejected the bail application of suspended Indian Police Service (IPS) officer A. Ponnuchami who was arrested for his alleged involvement in killing of criminal Dara Singh in a staged shoot-out, a lawyer said.

“Ponnuchami had been arrested May 16 last year after he turned up before the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) for questioning. We had moved a bail application in the court, however, it was rejected,” said IPS officer’s lawyer Ajay Kumar Jain.

Ponnuchami is currently lodged in the Jaipur Central Jail.

Rajesh Khanna back home, nothing to worry: Manager

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Bollywood’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna, who was hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital, is back home and doing fine, says his manager. His estranged wife, actress Dimple Kapadia, is constantly by his side.

He was hospitalised following uneasiness and was discharged Thursday.

“Rajeshji was admitted two days back. He had gone for a normal checkup, nothing serious. He is back home. He was discharged yesterday afternoon,” the 69-year-old’s manager Ashwin told IANS.

Stewart tops best dressed list

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Actress Kristen Stewart has been named the world’s best dressed woman in an annual poll by Glamour magazine.

The actress also topped the best-dressed couple list with her “Twilight” co-star and boyfriend Robert Pattinson, reports contactmusic.com.

Emma Watson, who won the 2011 best dressed woman title, came second this time, while former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was third on the list.

Matured by pregnancy, says Snooki

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Reality TV star Nicole Snooki Polizzi says pregnancy has changed her.

Snooki, recently confirmed that she and fiance Jionni LaValle are expecting their first child.

“I guess pregnancy just made me more mature. It’s different because now I’m not drinking. I’m usually partying and going to clubs but pregnancy made me grow up a lot,” showbizspy.com quoted Snooki as saying

China’s search engine market reaches $877 mn

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The size of China’s search engine market hit 5.53 billion yuan ($877 million) in the first quarter of 2012, according to new statistics.

The figure represents a 70.4 percent year-on-year increase, but a 4.7 percent decline compared to the last quarter of 2011, showed the statistics from Analysys International, a Beijing-based tech and internet information provider.

Dong Xu, an analyst with the firm, attributed the quarter-on-quarter decline to the traditional seasonality of Internet use.

Srinagar’s tulip garden is a huge draw

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A record of nearly a lakh and a half tourists visited the tulip garden in Srinagar city this spring, an official said.

A brainchild of former state chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Srinagar tulip garden has become a major tourist attraction during the spring season.

“I have been associated with the development of the tulip garden for the last five years. This year a record number of 1.40 lakh people visited the garden. It remained opened for nearly a month this season,” said Javaid Ahmad Shah, garden in-charge.

Foreigner couple freed after being locked in Goa store

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Goa Police have freed a foreigner couple who were locked overnight in a departmental store in Margao, 30 kms from state capital Panaji.

Police said that the duo were accidentally locked up in the store Friday night. When they were discovered the next day, the owner suspecting attempted theft, took them to police for verification.

“We interrogated them. It seems that they had gone in to buy toiletries, but were trapped inside,” police inspector Margao, Sudesh Naik told IANS.

ISI now claims it helped US locate Osama bin Laden

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Nearly a year after Osama bin Laden was killed in his Abbottabad home, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) claims it helped US locate the Al Qaeda chief’s high-walled hideout.

Osama was shot dead May 2 last year at his Abbottabad house by US commandos, straining ties between Washington and Islamabad.

“The lead and the information actually came from us,” a senior ISI official told the Washington Post.

Washington is sceptical about the ISI claim.