Category: Mumbai, India

Study identifies common gene variants associated with gallbladder cancer

By comparing the genetic code of gallbladder cancer patients with those of healthy volunteers at nearly 700,000 different locations in the genome, researchers say they have found several gene variants which may predispose individuals to develop the disease. The findings, published March 5 in The Lancet Oncology , could lead to a better understanding of the causes of this highly fatal condition, which could in turn lead to better treatments for the disease.

Poor Man’s Gold Is Spurned in India as Farmers Strapped for Cash

Silver imports by India, one of the world’s top buyers, will probably shrink this year to the lowest since 2012 as the government cracks down on black money, farmers struggle for cash and stockpiles remain ample. Purchases from overseas plunged 60 percent to about 3,000 metric tons last year and will contract further in 2017, according to Chirag Sheth, an analyst at Metals Focus Ltd., an independent precious-metals research firm, in Mumbai.

LinkedIn will help people in India train for semi-skilled jobs

Microsoft has launched Project Sangam, a cloud service integrated with LinkedIn that will help train and generate employment for middle and low-skilled workers. The professional network that was acquired by Microsoft in December has been generally associated with educated urban professionals but the company is now planning to extend its reach to semi-skilled people in India.

Rays of hope for Meherpur family

For Tofazzel Hossain it was a make or break call to save his three terminally ill family members as he could no longer afford their treatment for the rare disease they have long been suffering from. But his emotional appeal to save his two sons and one grandson has not fallen on deaf ears, as an Indian hospital has now come forward to treat them free of cost.

Sounds from the Silk Route

Later this month, the dome-shaped ceiling of the restored, 574-seater Royal Opera House will reverberate with music from a four-stringed Chinese lute called pipa, the Afghan rubab, qanun , saxophone and tabla. Playing the instruments, which represent the Eastern and Western ends of the historical Silk Route, will be six artistes from China, Afghanistan, Syria and Italy.

Billionaire’s new project: Easing India’s poverty

Ronnie Screwvala sat crossed-legged on the floor of a three-room schoolhouse in early November in Nate, a village about 100 miles from Mumbai, formerly Bombay, the city of his birt,where he built a billion-dollar media conglomerate. Watching a group of children playing with colorful educational games, Screwvala, a boyish-looking 54-year-old, appeared as wide-eyed and engaged as the students.