From an average of about 18 days in the lab, the longevity of C. elegans, the popular model organism for ageing research, increased 40–60% when researchers used a mutant that lacked the function of a particular gene (flr-4) and fed them a specific bacterial diet — E. coli strain H. …

The United States has warned that it will have a “fundamentally different set of rules” to deal with the countries continuing to have economic activities with Iran after its sanctions against Tehran become fully operational on November 4. “Make no mistake about it, come November 4 (and) there will be …

What difference can a newspaper Editor make? Britain’s tabloids have often been credited — either by themselves or others — with having an extraordinary sway over public opinion. The Sun ’s claim that it had swung the 1992 general election towards a surprise victory for the Conservatives continues to be …

Radical change can sometimes come without revolution. In Uzbekistan, journalist Abu Ali Niyazmatov said that the changes are so dramatic every day that it is sometimes hard to keep up with reforms introduced by the new President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power just two years ago. “Changes are going …

Samim Faramarz, 28, and his cameraperson, Ramiz Ahmadi, 23, were among the first few journalists at the scene of the suicide attack in Kabul on September 5. As they finished the first broadcast about the explosion at a local sports club, Faramarz described the grim situation to his viewers. “I …

In March 2015, barely two months into his presidency, Maithripala Sirisena pledged a fresh probe into war-time crimes. While firmly ruling out the UN’s direct participation, he said that the views of international experts would be considered, and that domestic investigators would work “efficiently and impartially”. His promise came as …

Later in September, Hong Kong’s first high-speed train will head for Guangzhou, a port city and industrial power house. Its 200-km-an-hour sprint will finally end in nearby Shenzhen, the crucible of China’s reforms. The high-speed train will cover a short span of 141 km between Hong Kong’s West Kowloon station …

The two countries have signed an MoU to establish a 1,700 km corridor, connecting key areas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) got a high-octane boost last week, when Myanmar — facing the heat from the West because of the Rohingya refugee crisis — inked an agreement with Beijing to …

Governor denies referring matter to Home Ministry Clarifying that no reference had been made to the Union Home Ministry in connection with the release of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday said a decision would be taken in a just and …

The Border Security Force has prevented the influx of Rohingya into India after they fled Myanmar, Director General of the force K.K. Sharma said on Saturday. “About eight to 10 lakh Rohingya have entered Bangladesh. We have prevented their illegal influx in the country [India],” he said. The BSF guards …

At least six districts in Assam have been hit by floods as incessant rains in Arunachal Pradesh raised the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries downstream on Saturday, affecting more than one lakh people, official sources said. An Assam State Disaster Management Authority report said Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, …

Four ‘child friendly courts’ were inaugurated in West Bengal on Saturday to help juvenile victims and offenders. Justice Madan B. Lokur of the Supreme Court inaugurated the State’s first such court at Bankshall court here. He called for all-out efforts to give the affected children a good life. Source : …

Nearly 37 lakh women have received cash incentives under the Centre’s maternity benefits programme since the launch of Matru Vandana Saptah last year, a release from the Ministry of Women and Child Development said. The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) offers pregnant women and lactating mothers Rs. 5,000 as …

A PSLV launch on Sunday night will put two earth observation satellites from the U.K. to space. There is no Indian satellite on this flight. PSLV-C42 will be the first fully commercial trip of the year, breaking a five-month-long lull for the Indian Space Research Organisation. ISRO did not make …

This week Election Commission officials assessed the poll preparedness of Telangana after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the Assembly and sought a fresh election months ahead of schedule. Riding on populist measures — the government has announced more than 450 schemes in four years — Mr. Rao decided to …

A Durga Puja in south Kolkata has become significant as it has taken up the marginalisation of homosexuals as its theme, in wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict decriminalising homosexuality. The plight of homosexuals and the transgender community will be highlighted with the use of medical instruments such as saline …

The prices of petrol and diesel on Saturday touched a new high, with Mumbai recording the highest among the four big metros. Petrol cost Rs. 89.01 a litre in Mumbai and diesel Rs. 78.07, according to the daily price notification issued by state-owned oil marketing companies. In Delhi, the price …

The Navy’s mega-deal for procuring six advanced conventional submarines under Project-75I and processed through the Strategic Partnership (SP) model is moving forward after being held up due to policy clarity. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated the process to finalise specific guidelines for the project, estimated to cost over …

The recently-released Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 has shown that the prevalence of diabetes has increased more rapidly in the less-developed States of the country. The report has also highlighted the need for policy and health system action commensurate with the disease burden in each State to ensure more …

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India, an NDA ally, recently announced that he would move the Supreme Court against the Union government’s directive to the media discouraging the use of the word “Dalit” for the Scheduled Castes. He says there is no popular sentiment against the …