New NASA instrument to accurately measure Earth's soil

NASA is all set to launch an instrument that will measure the moisture lodged in Earth`s soils with unprecedented accuracy and resolution.

Simulation of universe with realistic galaxies created

An international team of astronomers has developed a simulation of the universe in which realistic galaxies are created.

China launches meteorological satellite

China today successfully launched a meteorological satellite from a launchpad in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Scientists create 'repulsive' material

Japanese scientists have developed a new material - Cartilage -whose properties are dominated by electrostatic repulsion - the same force that makes our hair stand on end when we touch a van generator - rather than attractive interaction.

Saudi King undergoing medical tests in Riyadh hospital - state TV

Saudi Arabia's elderly King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was admitted to a hospital in the capital Riyadh on Wednesday for medical tests, state media reported on Wednesday, citing a royal court statement.

Neonatal HBV vaccine reduces liver cancer risk

Neonatal hepatitis B vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of liver cancer and other liver diseases in young adults, says a study.

AirAsia victim with life jacket raises new questions about plane's last moments

A body recovered on Wednesday from the crashed AirAsia (AIRA.KL) plane was wearing a life jacket, an Indonesian search and rescue official said, raising new questions about how the disaster unfolded.

At least 33 killed in suicide bombing in central Yemen - medics

A suicide bomber killed at least 33 people in central Yemen on Wednesday when he blew himself up at a cultural centre where students were celebrating Prophet Mohammad's birthday, medical sources and a resident said.

Philippines: 53 dead as flash floods and mudslides strike

Flash floods and mudslides have killed at least 53 people in the central and southern Philippines, the national disaster agency said on Wednesday, after days of heavy rains that have also hit neighbouring countries.

Eight killed in Canada 'senseless mass murder'

Montreal: Police investigated Tuesday the "senseless mass murder" of six adults and two children in western Canada who were apparently slain by a depressed man who then killed himself.

Death toll in China summer explosion climbs to 146: state media

The death toll from an August factory explosion in China has risen to 146 in the months since the blast and dozens of officials will be punished over the case, state media reported Tuesday.

Brazilian with knife in skull drives two hours to hospital

A Brazilian motorcycle taxi driver with a knife protruding from his head drove for more than two hours to the nearest hospital to have it removed, media reported Tuesday.

Russian police arrest Kremlin critic Navalny at protest

Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was detained by police on Tuesday after he violated his house arrest to join a protest in Moscow over a guilty verdict against him and his brother in a controversial fraud case.

Hong Kong to cull 15,000 chickens after H7N9 virus found

Hong Kong authorities said Wednesday they will cull 15,000 chickens after the deadly H7N9 virus was discovered in poultry imported from mainland China.

China to give parents of wrongfully executed man $330,000

A Chinese court will give the parents of a teenager wrongfully executed for murder and rape 18 years ago more than two million yuan ($330,000) compensation, it said on Wednesday.

88-year-old Essebsi sworn in as Tunisia president

Tunisia’s 88-year-old anti-Islamist Beji Caid Essebsi was sworn in as the country’s first freely elected president at a ceremony in parliament on Wednesday.

Woman killed by toddler who found gun in her purse in Idaho Walmart

A woman who took four children on a post-Christmas shopping trip to an Idaho Walmart was killed when a toddler found a loaded gun in her purse.

'World's largest mall' in Ohio turned into rubble

Once billed as the world's largest mall, Randall Park Mall was turned into perhaps the world's biggest pile of rock and rubble.

Dubai International on track to be world's busiest airport

Dubai International Airport is set to overtake London Heathrow as the world's busiest airport with some 70 million passengers passing through the airport in 2014.

Secret document reveals Margaret Thatcher considered rearming UK with chemical weapons

Top confidential documents have revealed that former Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher considered reequipping the country with chemical weapons at a cost of 200 million pounds after she heard reports saying that the Soviet Union was developing a poison that could overpower Nato forces.

Obama says Russia's economic crisis proves Putin 'not so smart' to annex Crimea

US President Barack Obama has said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin's "not so smart" move to annex Crimea is a "strategic mistake".

Bats may have caused Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Scientists are blaming bats as the possible reason behind the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease occurring in West Africa.

Russia says new U.S. sanctions may hamper dialogue on Iran, Syria

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that a widening of U.S. sanctions against Moscow this week may hamper bilateral cooperation on issues such as Iran's nuclear programme and the Syrian crisis.

At least 4 killed, 40 injured in bus crash on German highway

BERLIN –  At least four people have died and about 40 have been injured in a bus crash on a highway in central Germany.

China launches cyber claim to islands in Japan dispute

Beijing on Tuesday launched a website for an uninhabited island chain in the East China Sea, in its latest bid to assert sovereignty over an archipelago controlled by Japan.

AirAsia jets in fresh incidents in Thailand and Philippines

An AirAsia flight bound for northeast Thailand turned back to the capital Bangkok shortly after takeoff Tuesday when pilots detected an "irregularity" in the storage compartment, airline officials said.

Rival China trainmakers merge to boost high-speed rail push abroad

China's top two trainmakers said on Tuesday that they will merge, creating a $26 billion (17 billion pounds) company able to compete with the likes of Germany's Siemens and Canada's Bombardier for global rail deals.

Hong Kong protest teen sent to children's home

HONG KONG: A 14-year-old girl in Hong Kong arrested for scribbling graffiti on a wall famous for pro-democracy messages placed on it has been put into a children's home, her lawyer said Tuesday.

Russia is sending drones to the Arctic in the beginning of 2015

Russia's military press service has confirmed the country will be sending drones to the Arctic in early 2015.
"Before the end of the current year specialists with several Orlan-10 sets will arrive at the permanent service base," the press service told Russian news agency Tass. Test flight will begin in the next few months.

Malaysia flood response denounced anew as nearly quarter million flee

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's worst flooding in a decade has forced nearly a quarter of a million people from their homes, officials said on Tuesday, with the government coming under renewed fire for its perceived slow response.

Jenners, Kardashians and Miley Cyrus topped Entertainment talk in 2014

From Miley Cyrus' tongue and twerking to the debut season of True Detective, there was plenty to talk about in music, film and television in 2014.

Australian teen dead in shark attack

An Australian teenager died Monday after he was attacked by what is thought to be a great white shark up to 16.5 feet long, officials said.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni retires from Tests to focus on ODI, T20 formats

New Delhi: India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement on Tuesday from Test cricket shortly after his team lost a series against Australia.

Philippine storm death toll jumps to 30

Manila: At least 30 people were killed in landslides and flash floods as tropical storm Jangmi slowly crossed the southern and central Philippines, dumping heavy rain for a second day on Tuesday, officials said.

Despite plane crashes, 2014 one of the 'safest years' in aviation history

However, fatalities were up sharply to 762 -- the highest in four years -- and could rise to 924 if all the AirAsia passengers are declared dead.

Hollow tree was Ebola’s Ground Zero: scientists

The finger of suspicion points at insectivorous free-tailed bats — Mops condylurus in Latin — that lived in a hollow tree 50 metres (yards) from the boy’s home.

AirAsia plane with 159 aboard overshoots Philippine runway

Philippine officials say an AirAsia Zest plane with 159 passengers and crew members overshot a runway in the central province of Kalibo, Aklan after landing in windy weather from Manila.

Female bishop sent on leave after US bicycle fatality

he first female Episcopal bishop in Maryland has been put on leave after she was involved in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist, her diocese said Monday.

Arabs endorse UN draft to end Israeli occupation

United Nations: Arab UN delegations on Monday endorsed a Palestinian proposal to forge a peace deal with Israel within a year and end Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by late 2017, despite fierce Israeli and US opposition.

China businessman jailed for 13 years over tiger feast

Beijing: A Chinese businessman who bought and ate three tigers has been sentenced to 13 years in prison, state media reported on Tuesday.

AirAsia plane to Thailand forced to turn back due to 'irregularity'

Bangkok: An AirAsia flight bound for northeast Thailand was forced to turn back to the capital Bangkok soon after take off on Tuesday after pilots detected an "irregularity" in the luggage compartment.

Autopsy shows US police shot black man in back

An unarmed black man killed by Los Angeles police officers was shot three times, including once in the back at close range, according to his autopsy report.

U.S. strike targets top al-Shabaab militant

U.S. war planes carried out a strike in southern Somalia on Monday targeting a senior leader of the al-Shabaab militia, the Pentagon said, without giving any details of casualties.

More than 40 bodies, debris found from AirAsia flight QZ8501

More than 40 bodies have been recovered from the sea along with the debris from the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, confirmed authorities.

Kiwi recounts shark attack in California

A New Zealander surfing in California has recounted how his friend was attacked by a juvenile great white shark.

Philippine storm death toll rises to 11

Two days of heavy flooding and landslides killed 11 people as tropical storm Jangmi crossed the central Philippines on Tuesday, with water in some areas "neck deep", officials said.

'Hong Kong's first spy' dies in China

A former police officer accused of spying for communist China in one of the former British colony's highest-profile espionage cases has died, according to reports Tuesday.

As oil falls, Russia choked by military, social spending

Russian authorities are facing some unpalatable options as they try to keep the economy afloat - unless they can persuade President Vladimir Putin to curb massive military spending.

Top Bangladesh Jamaat leader sentenced to hang for war crimes

Bangladesh’s war crimes court Tuesday sentenced a Jamaat leader to death for rape, mass murder and genocide during the country’s 1971 independence conflict.

Iran Navy successfully tests latest torpedo, cruise missiles

The Iranian navy has successfully tested its latest torpedo and cruise missiles on the sixth day of massive military exercises code-named Mohammad Rasoulollah (Mohammad, the Messenger of God) south of the country.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama still 'top most admired' people in US

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been named as most admired people in the US again.

Suspected body, luggage spotted in AirAsia jet search - Indonesian media

Objects resembling a body, luggage, a life vest and debris suspected to be part of an AirAsia jet that disappeared over the Java Sea were spotted by a pilot involved in the search operation, domestic media reported on Tuesday.

AirAsia plane search: Objects, smoke spotted

The search for AirAsia plane QZ8501, which went missing on Sunday, expanded on Tuesday and smoke and debris have been spotted in Java Sea.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian teen in West Bank

 Israeli troops on Monday shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, witnesses said.

Iraq’s army liberates village in Salahuddin Province

Units of Iraqi government troops, backed by volunteer forces, have managed to retake full control of a village in the central province of Salahuddin. (PressTV)

Bomb blast in northern Baghdad kills at least 22 Iraqis

The death toll from a bomb blast in a northern district in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has risen to 22 with at least 30 others injured

Obama sees Afghanistan "dangerous place" after 13-year war

President Barack Obama acknowledged on Sunday that Afghanistan is still a "dangerous place" as U.S.-led coalition forces formally ended their 13-year- long combat mission in the Asian country.

China offers help in search for missing AirAsia flight

China announced Monday that it will send an aircraft and a vessel to assist in the search and rescue operations for the AirAsia flight QZ8501, which disappeared Sunday while flying from Indonesia to Singapore.

AirAsia missing plane: Indonesia seeks US help

Indonesia has asked the United States for help in locating the AirAsia jet that went missing on Sunday carrying 162 people, the US State Department said on Monday.

Market fire kills 11 in Pakistan

A fire erupted in a busy market in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore Monday, killing at least 11 people and injuring four others, officials said.

No trace of AirAsia plane, second day's search futile

No significant sign has been found after the second day's search for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 Monday, a senior official of Indonesia's seacrh and rescue agency said while another official dismally said the plane might well be at the bottom of the sea.

AirAsia flight QZ8501: Indonesian helicopter finds two oily spots in sea, link to lost plane being probed

SURABAYA, Indonesia: An Indonesian helicopter searching for the missing AirAsia jetliner saw two oily spots in the water on Monday, and an Australian search plane spotted objects elsewhere in the Java Sea, but it was too early to know whether either was connected to the aircraft and its 162 passengers and crew.

S. Korea offers talks with N. Korea over unification

South Korea on Monday proposed talks with North Korea to discuss what it calls a range of issues needed to prepare for the unification of the divided countries.

'Intelligence boosting' brain games may not prevent dementia after all

A new study has revealed that computerized brain games that are said to help boost intelligence and prevent dementia may not actually do so.

Iran fires rockets into Pakistan's Balochistan

QUETTA – Iranian border guards fired dozens of rockets in Balochistan's Kech district on Sunday night, officials said.

Iran holds funeral for general killed in Iraq

Iran held a funeral ceremony Monday honouring a senior commander killed in Iraq, media reported.

Italy ferry fire: Over 160 still awaiting rescue

Though 316 passengers were rescued from an Italian-flagged ferry carrying 478 people that Sunday caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu, more than 160 people are still awaiting rescue.

Sony’s ‘The Interview’ rakes in $15 million via web streaming

Sony Pictures said on Sunday that the "The Interview" had been purchased or rented online more than 2 million times, generating more than $15 million in the first four days after the controversial comedy's wide theatrical release was shelved.

Taliban claim NATO 'defeat' in 13-year Afghan war

The Taliban responded scornfully Monday to the formal end of NATO's war in Afghanistan, describing the US-led mission as a "fire of barbarism and cruelty" that had drowned the country "in a pool of blood".

Key developments in disappearance of AirAsia jet

An AirAsia jet with 162 people on board disappeared Sunday while flying from western Indonesia to Singapore on a scheduled two-hour flight. Here's a look at the key developments:

Object Spotted in Sea Not from AirAsia Plane: Indonesian Vice President

JAKARTA:  An object spotted during a sea search for an AirAsia plane was not from the aircraft, Indonesia's vice president said Monday, after reports that an Australian surveillance aircraft had found something.

China's largest inland oil field depleting

The decline in crude oil prices means output from China's inland Daqing oil field will start to drop off beginning next year, an official at PetroChina said.

Iran's supreme leader takes to Twitter and talks Ferguson

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took to Twitter Sunday to attack the U.S. and said #BlackLivesMatter.

AirAsia flight QZ8501: Indonesian helicopter finds two oily spots in sea, link to lost plane being probed

An Indonesian helicopter searching for the missing AirAsia jetliner saw two oily spots in the water on Monday, and an Australian search plane spotted objects elsewhere in the Java Sea, but it was too early to know whether either was connected to the aircraft and its 162 passengers and crew.

Earthquake shakes southern Philippines

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook parts of the southern Philippines on Monday but was too far offshore to cause serious damage, Philippine and US agencies said.

Japan culls 42,000 chickens after second bird flu outbreak

Japan on Monday ordered the slaughter of some 42,000 chickens as officials announced the country's second bird flu outbreak in less than a month.

Five killed in Bangladesh lorry-train collision

At least five people were killed and 25 injured Monday when a freight lorry rammed into a passenger train in Bangladesh.

Twitter back online after limited blackout

Twitter was back online Monday following a partial outage which the company said was due to a bug.

China blocks access to Gmail in 'internet sovereignty' drive

Beijing: China has blocked the last remaining way to access Google’s popular e-mail service, experts said on Monday, as authorities work to establish “Internet sovereignty” by controlling what enters the country via the web.

Russian economy shrinks for first time since 2009

Russia's economy shrank in November for the first time in five years, the government said on Monday, as sliding oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine take their toll.

AirAsia shares slump 8% in Malaysia after jet disappears

Shares in AirAsia, Southeast Asia's biggest budget airline, lost almost nine percent in Kuala Lumpur Monday after one of its jets disappeared with 162 people on board.

No impact of missing flight on India operations: AirAsia

Bengaluru: The disappearance of Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia's flight from Indonesia's Surabaya to Singapore early Sunday has not affected its Indian operations, an airline spokesperson said.

Australian plane spots object in sea while hunting for AirAsia flight QZ8501debris

An Indonesian official has said that an Australian plane spotted some objects in the sea while searching for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.

Twitter working to fix bug dating tweets as one year old and log-in issues

Twitter has said that its engineers are working to fix the problems users are facing to sign into the social networking site and issues that are causing the tweets to be backdated by one year.

'Fanciful' hyperloop transportation system comes closer to reality

Elon Musk's super-fast travel option, named the Hyperloop, could soon be available, it has been reported.

South Korea, US, Japan to share information on North Korea

South Korea, US and Japan have signed a military pact on sharing sensitive information on North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, Seoul's defence ministry said Monday.

'Smart' computer network matches primate brain qualities

Washington: A team of neuroscientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that one of the latest generation of computer networks - called "deep neural networks" - matches the primate brain.

Facebook Adopts Worker-Friendly Management Techniques: Report

To effectively shape its overwhelmingly young workforce into future leaders, the social networking site Facebook has adopted a set of somewhat unconventional management techniques.

Twitter goes down for some Android users

If you are facing a problem logging into your Twitter account from an Android device, you are not alone.

Many North Korean websites still inaccessible

Some major North Korean websites remained inaccessible Monday with the country's internet outage continuing for a week now.

Russian scientists develop Ebola vaccine

A group of Russian scientists has developed a vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus and its trials are due to be completed in February, officials said Monday.(IANS/TASS)

Malaysia deploys more assets in AirAsia flight search

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Monday that six more assets had been deployed to assist the search operations for the AirAsia flight QZ8501 which vanished Sunday with 162 people onboard on its way from Indonesia to Singapore.

Indonesia to review AirAsia operations

Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan Monday said that the ministry will review the operations of AirAsia Indonesia after flight QZ8501, carrying 162 people vanished Sunday.

Missing AirAsia plane no mystery or atrocity: Tony Abbott

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott does not believe the disappearance of AirAsia flight QZ8501 is a mystery or an atrocity.

AirAsia QZ8501 flight attendant always carried memories of MH370, MH17 tragedies

A flight attendant aboard the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 had reportedly posted a series of tweets about the ill-fated Malaysia Airline flights MH370 and MH17 earlier this year.

Missing AirAsia plane likely at bottom of sea bed, says expert

The AirAsia plane that went missing with 162 passengers on board en-route to Singapore is likely at the bottom of the sea, media reports said.

Missing AirAsia plane may have crashed: Indonesia

The AirAsia plane that went missing Sunday morning with 162 people aboard might have crashed, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said.

Missing flight is 3rd Malaysia-linked incident

The disappearance Sunday of AirAsia Flight 8501 was the third air incident this year involving Malaysia, where budget carrier AirAsia in based.

Missing AirAsia jet Indonesia's latest air woe

The disappearance of an AirAsia jet en route from Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday is the latest of many recent air incidents for Indonesia.

U.S. NTSB says ready to assist with missing AirAsia flight

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is monitoring the situation with missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 and is prepared to assist Indonesian authorities if needed, a spokesman for the agency, which investigates major transportation accidents, said on Sunday.

Missing AirAsia flight had asked to fly higher to avoid cloud: official

An Indonesia AirAsia flight went missing on Sunday about half way between its origin of Surabaya in Indonesia and its destination of Singapore, an Indonesian transport official said.

Airbus says missing AirAsia plane was delivered in 2008

The AirAsia aircraft that went missing on Sunday on its way to Singapore from Surabaya in Indonesia was delivered to its operator in 2008 and had recorded 23,000 flight hours on 13,600 flights, manufacturer Airbus said in a statement.

AirAsia faces biggest crisis as jet goes missing

AirAsia was built up from two planes in 2001 to an airline industry titan that operates more than 180 jets in just over a decade but now faces its biggest ever challenge.

Australia offers help to find missing AirAsia flight

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop offered to help Indonesia in the search and rescue mission for the Malaysian plane missing since early morning.

AirAsia plane crash reports not true: Malaysia

Malaysia's Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai dismissed claims that wreckage of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 was found, media reported Sunday.

Indonesia suspends search for missing plane

Rescuers Sunday evening suspended for the day their search for an AirAsia plane with 162 aboard that went missing early in the morning, Indonesia's transport ministry said. The search will resume Monday.

Indonesia halts search for missing AirAsia plane as night falls

Indonesia called off until first light a search for an AirAsia plane with 162 people on board that went missing on Sunday after pilots asked to change course to avoid bad weather during a flight from Indonesia's Surabaya city to Singapore.

Indian Navy on standby for AirAsia flight search

An AirAsia plane with 162 people aboard went missing en route from Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday after pilots requested a change of flight plan due to bad weather, triggering a massive search in the third major incident this year involving a Malaysian carrier.

Iran test fires air defence system

 Iran successfully tested its Skyguard Air Defence System Saturday to shoot down hypothetical enemy drones in the massive drills in the southern parts of the country, media reported.

White House silent on North Korea's accusations against Obama

The US government remained silent about North Korea`s accusations against President Barack Obama, whom a spokesman of the North Korean National Defense Commission compared to a "monkey" and said he forced Sony to premiere the movie "The Interview" on Christmas Day.

North Korea internet suffers second outage

Internet and 3G mobile network of North Korea were paralysed again amid bickering between the United States and the former over an earlier cyber attack on Sony Pictures.

Neuron transmission observed live for the first time

Using a new approach that combines genetics with the physics of light, researchers have observed and measured neuronal transmission in a live animal for the first time.

Facebook sorry after app stirred up sad memories

Facebook has apologised for the grief its "Year in Review" app caused some of its users while dishing out good memories along with the bad ones.

Novel DNA test could identify risk of frailty

New research from the Johns Hopkins University suggests that the quantity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) found in peoples' blood directly relates to how frail they are.

NASA app unravels space station working for layman

NASA has launched an app that tells you pretty much everything you need to know about what the International Space Station (ISS) is up to.

Japan plans law to speed up overseas deployment of troops

Japan plans to draw up a law to speed the deployment of troops overseas for peacekeeping operations and to support allies, reports said Sunday, in a move that could strain relations with neighbours wary about Japan's wartime history.

NATO ends its Afghan war, but insurgency on the rise

NATO will hold a ceremony in Kabul later Sunday formally ending its war in Afghanistan, officials said, after 13 years of conflict that have left the country in the grip of worsening insurgent violence.

Wasim Akram welcomes baby girl with wife Shaniera

Former cricketer Wasim Akram recently became a father for the third time, as he welcomed a baby girl with his Shaniera Akram.

Ronaldo eyes 'even better' 2015 after trophy laden 2014 campaign

Portugal football team captain Cristiano Ronaldo is not content with his haul of four tiles in 2014, which included his second Champions League for Real Madrid, and wants 2015 to be like this year or 'even better'.

Now, hackers may eye your cars' safety features to steal information, extort money

Motoring experts have warned that hackers can exploit one's car by attacking the safety features to steal information, extort money or even control vehicles.

Sony exec confirms Playstation plagued by cyberattack

A Sony executive has confirmed that PlayStation has been plagued by a cyberattack that has been resulting in the network woes since Christmas Day.

Air Asia flight QZ8501 from Indonesia to Singapore missing with 162 on board

Air Asia flight QZ8501 travelling from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore with 162 people on board has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs, said the company.

More New Madonna Tracks Leaked Online

Another 14 tracks from Madonna's new album Rebel Heart have been leaked, ruining the pop superstar's Christmas.

Sony's PlayStation offline, Microsoft's Xbox restored

 Microsoft's online network for its Xbox gaming console was restored to nearly full service after an allegedly coordinated Christmas Day hack brought it and Sony's PlayStation network down.

Jennifer Lawrence named highest grossing Hollywood star

Actress Jennifer Lawrence has topped the list of highest grossing actors in Hollywood by Forbes magazine, thanks to her films "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

52 killed in Syria raids

Syrian regime air strikes killed at least 52 civilians, including seven children, in strongholds of the Islamic State jihadist group, a monitoring group said Friday in a new toll.

Nato airstrike kills five Afghan civilians

Afghan officials said that a Nato airstrike on Friday killed five civilians and wounded six others. Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) did not immediately confirm the strike, but always stresses that it tries to avoid civilian casualties.

Shahryar Kahn says suspended Ajmal needs to decide himself over official ICC test

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan has said that suspended off-spinner Saeed Ajmal needs to decide for himself whether he can pass the official International Cricket Council (ICC) test or not.

Van Gaal heaps praise on midfielder Rooney post stellar win over Newcastle

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has praised Wayne Rooney for his new role as an attacking midfielder following a 3-1 triumph over rivals Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Border admits has become Shane Watson's 'extremely frustrated fan'

Former Australian cricket Test captain Allan Border admitted that he has become an extremely frustrated fan of swashbuckling all-rounder Shane Watson following an inconsistent batting display over the span of 10 years.

Ronaldo's agent claims Portuguese star will retire at Real

Ruling out a return for Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, the forward's agent has claimed that the star footballer would retire at Real Madrid.

Dhoni creates new record

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni broke the world record for most number of stumpings in international cricket after he effected his 134th dismissals on day two of the third cricket Test against Australia here Saturday.

US military drops weapons in areas held by IS in Iraq

Volunteer forces in Iraq fighting against the Islamic State (IS) terrorists said US military aircraft dropped weapons in areas held by the terrorist group, Press TV reported Saturday.

Wishes pour in for Salman Khan as he turns 49

Celebrities like Preity Zinta, Sonakshi Sinha and Jacqueline Fernandez wished Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as he turned 49 Saturday.

PK Zooms Past Dhoom: 3 to Record Highest Ever Opening Week Collections

Christmas has proved to be a lucky time for Aamir Khan. Last year, he struck gold at the box office with Dhoom: 3, and this time the superstar's latest offering PK has zoomed past the action adventure's first week collections.

Big Boss 8: Vikram to promote 'I' on the show

Actor Vikram, who is currently in the city, will be promoting his upcoming Tamil magnum opus 'I' on the sets of reality TV show "Big Boss". He will shoot a special episode with host Salman Khan.

Barrel bombs kill 40 in IS territories in Syria

Almost 40 people have died in the Islamic State (IS)-held areas in northeastern Syria as the country's planes and helicopters dropped barrel bombs, said activists.

Adults with HIV+ have poor lower, higher-frequency hearing

A new study has recently revealed that adults with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) have worse lower, higher-frequency hearing than their counterparts.

Terrorists planning new attacks in Pakistan

A top Pakistani official said the government has fast-tracked the execution of terrorists following reports that the convicts are in contact with their accomplices across the country and planning new attacks. (IANS)

Obama says Afghanistan will no longer 'be a source of terrorist attacks'

United States President Barack Obama has said that Afghanistan will no longer "be a source of terrorist attacks", a week before the U.S. is set to withdraw its troops and ends its combat mission in the country.

Four new polio cases found in Pakistan

The number of children affected by polio in Pakistan has risen to 295 with the confirmation of four new cases, Dawn reported Saturday.

U.S., South Korea, Japan to sign trilateral pact to tackle North Korea's nuclear threats

The United States, South Korea and Japan will sign a trilateral pact next week to deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, said Seoul officials.

Russia says NATO's military buildup poses biggest threat to country

According to Russia's new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin, the country believes that NATO's military buildup near the border poses the biggest threat to the country.

D-Day got new secret name amid fears Hitler had cracked it

Barack Obama recently posed with a tiara on, for a group picture with girls scout troop from Tulsa.

Kate Middleton named most 'stylish' woman of 2014

Kate Middleton has been recently named the most stylish woman of 2014, it has been reported.

N. Korea Calls Obama 'Monkey' in Hacking Row

North Korea called President Barack Obama "a monkey" and blamed the U.S. on Saturday for shutting down its Internet amid the hacking row over the comedy "The Interview."

China to list legal places of worship, 'root out' illegal - Xinhua

China is to publish online details of legal religious venues, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, apparently in an effort to identify unsanctioned groups as part of an effort to "root out illegal religious activities".

Hippo jumps from moving truck in Taiwan, startling locals

A hippo that panicked while being transported by truck in Taiwan jumped from the vehicle, breaking a leg and causing confused residents to report spotting a dinosaur on the loose.

Chinese official under scanner for wearing designer belt

An official in China's Hunan province was placed under judicial investigation after a photo of him wearing a Louis Vuitton belt went viral on social media, authorities said Saturday. (IANS)

Probiotics supplements may ease anxiety and depression

Supplements to boost probiotics -- the helpful micro-organisms that reside in our bodies -- can alter the way people process emotional information and ease anxiety and depression, new research suggests. (IANS)

Brain variations may help treat OCD

Researchers have discovered that identifying brain variations may help physicians predict who would respond positively to surgeries to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). (IANS)

Gut bacteria helped humans to be resilient

A new study has found that microbes residing within the guts of our ancestors helped them thrive and evolve into more stable and resilient populations. (IANS)

US drone completes sea-based test flight

The US Navy successfully flew its new unmanned helicopter MQ-8C Fire Scout system for the first time from the guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham off the Virginia coast recently. (IANS)

NASA's giant leaps to space in 2014

Apart from Orion's test flight towards Mars, cutting-edge scientific discoveries while studying the Earth and space and preparing for the next generation of air travel were some of the highlights for US space agency NASA in 2014. (IANS)

iPhone to help you track your tweets

A new feature in Twitter's iPhone app can find how many people are reading your tweets, retweeting or clicking on a link you posted. (IANS)

North Korea rejects US accusation of Sony cyber attack

North Korea Saturday rejected the US accusation that Pyongyang was involved in a cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. (IANS)

Author claims MH370 will never be found

An author has claimed that the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will never be found.

Nigel Cawthorne, author of Flight MH370: The Mystery, said that there was no sensible theory as to where the plane was.

He said that the most likely theory was that the plane's wreckage was somewhere in the Southern Indian Ocean and even if it was there it would never be found, Daily Express reported. (ANI)

NSA releases report of times it illegally spied on US citizens

The National Security Agency, on the eve of Christmas, released reports of the times when they illegally spied on US citizens.

According to The Verge, the heavily-redacted documents were released in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act. (ANI)

NSA releases report of times it illegally spied on US citizens

The National Security Agency, on the eve of Christmas, released reports of the times when they illegally spied on US citizens.

According to The Verge, the heavily-redacted documents were released in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act. (ANI)

Russia offers support to North Korea amid Sony hack

Russia on Thursday offered sympathy to North Korea amid the Sony hacking scandal, saying the movie that sparked the dispute was so scandalous that Pyongyang's anger was "quite understandable." (AP)

Google and Microsoft stand with Sony against hackers

Google and Microsoft joined forces with Sony on Wednesday, using their online might to release "The Interview" film to online audiences despite threats from hackers.(AFP)

China's antitrust regulator says Qualcomm case to be settled soon

The Chinese government said on Friday that it will soon settle its antitrust investigation of U.S. mobile chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. (Reuters)

Microsoft Xbox Live back up, Sony PlayStation Network still down

Microsoft Corp's Xbox Live was back up on Friday while Sony Corp's PlayStation Network remained offline for a second day after a hacker group claimed responsibility for attacking the two Internet gaming services. (Reuters)

South Korea extends cyberattack emergency system for nuclear plants

South Korea's nuclear operator and the energy ministry will keep emergency teams on stand-by to the end of this year in case of any cyberattacks on nuclear plants as threatened by a hacker. (Reuters)

U.S. police struggle to uncover threats on social media

U.S. law enforcement agencies are a long way from being able to effectively track threats of the kind a gunman posted on Instagram before his execution-style murder of two New York City policemen last weekend. (Reuters)

Syrian air force kills 45 civilians in stepped-up raids - monitor

At least 45 civilians were killed and some 175 wounded when aircraft bombed a northern Syrian city controlled by Islamic State, as Bashar al-Assad's government stepped up air raids. (Reuters)

Sri Lanka floods, mudslides kill 14

Floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rain have killed at least 14 people in Sri Lanka and driven 80,000 from their homes, police and officials said Friday, as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the tsunami. (AFP)

India urges neighbours to help hunt down rebels after massacre

India urged Bhutan and other neighbours Friday to help track down separatist rebels who killed 69 villagers in Assam as it stepped up its military offensive in the restive northeastern state. (AFP)

Iran expands 'smart' Internet censorship

Iran is to expand what it calls "smart filtering" of the Internet, a policy of censoring undesirable content on websites without banning them completely, as it used to, the government said on Friday. (Reuters)

Russia's new military doctrine names NATO as key risk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new military doctrine, naming NATO expansion among key external risks, the Kremlin said on Friday, days after Ukraine made fresh steps to join the Atlantic military alliance. (Reuters)

Japan says close to deal with South Korea and U.S. on North Korea defense

Japan, the United States and South Korea are close to reaching a deal on sharing and safeguarding sensitive information on North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, Japan's Defence Ministry said on Friday. (Reuters)

Afghan officials say NATO air strike kills five civilians

Afghan officials said that a NATO air strike on Friday killed five civilians and wounded six others, just days before the US-led military coalition ends combat operations in the country. (AFP)

Myanmar migrants face July trial for Brit deaths in Thailand

Two Myanmar migrant workers accused of murdering a pair of British holidaymakers at a Thai diving resort will be held in custody until their full trial begins in July next year, their lawyer said Friday. (AFP)

Prayers and tears as Asia mourns tsunami dead 10 years on

Tearful mourners lit candles on Friday to remember the 220,000 people who died a decade ago when tsunami waves devastated coastal areas along the Indian Ocean, in one of the worst natural disasters in human history. (AFP)

Gas leak kills three at South Korea nuclear plant

Three people were killed in a gas leak Friday at an under-construction atomic reactor in South Korea, but the national nuclear operator ruled out any connection to a cyber-attack that targeted the plant last week. (AFP)

China a likely factor in North Korea cyber prowess: experts

North Korea may be facing explosive hacking accusations, but analysts are questioning how an isolated, impoverished country with limited Internet access could wage cyber sabotage -- and many experts believe China plays a role. (AFP)