United States

Urge for sex almost always fatal for small male spiders

Washington, Sept 11 : Researchers from Miami University in Ohio have found that how small male spiders are relative to females has a large effect on the frequency of sexual cannibalism.

Female spiders are voracious predators and consume a wide range of prey, which sometimes includes their mates.

Now, researchers Shawn Wilder and Ann Rypstra from Miami University in Ohio have found that males are more likely to be eaten if they are much smaller than females, which likely affects how easy they are to catch.

During their research, they found that in one species of spider, Hogna helluo, large males were never consumed while small males were consumed 80 percent of the time.

India’s nuclear trade talks with US companies underway

United States, India, NSGNew Delhi, Sept 11 : With the Indo-US nuclear deal text being sent to the American Congress for a final nod, India on Thursday began preliminary discussions with U. S. companies for nuclear trade.

In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said: "Following the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) statement which enables civil nuclear cooperation by NSG members with India, The Government is taking steps to realise commercial cooperation with foreign partners in the field."

Bush approves ground operations in Pakistan: Report

US President George W. BushWashington, Sept. 11 : U. S. President George W Bush has secretly approved orders allowing US forces to conduct ground operations in Pakistan without that government''s prior approval, media reports say.

The New York Times has reported Special Operations forces will be allowed to carry out assaults within the borders of a key ally in the so-called "war on terror".

The move marks a turn for the Bush administration, which has struggled with Islamabad over how to combat Al Qaeda and a resurgent Taliban.

Obama is Jesus and Palin is Pontius Pilate, says US politician

WObama’s NASA Plans ashington, Sept. 11 : An American politician has compared Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to Jesus and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea (from 26 CE to 36 CE), who was responsible for the execution of Jesus.

Fox News quoted Tennessee Democrat Representative Steve Cohen as riling Republicans on Wednesday.

New warning system will make graffiti history

London, September 11 : Researchers at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, have developed a computerised system that can prevent unnecessary graffiti, the removal of which involves huge costs.

Project leader Seng Chu Tan has revealed that the new system is particularly aimed at curbing graffiti that is scratched into surfaces, such as Perspex, which is much more difficult to cope with and usually requires the entire surface to be replaced at great cost.

The researcher says that the new device can hear when graffiti is being carved into surfaces, reports New Scientist magazine.

9/11 Indian American doctor victim’s reputation to be redeemed

World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001New York, Sept. 10 : When Dr. Sneha Philip''s name is read out on Thursday at Ground Zero, her heartbroken family''s long fight for justice and to redeem her besmirched reputation will be achieved.

Sneha Anne Philip, 32, 2001) was an Indian American physician who was last seen on September 10, 2001 by a department store surveillance camera near her Lower Manhattan apartment.

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