Caterpillar Fungus Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

In the Tibetan mountains, a fungus attaches itself to a moth larva burrowed in the soil. It infects and slowly consumes its host from within, taking over its brain and making the young caterpillar move to a position from which the fungus can grow and spore again. Sounds like something out of science fiction, right? But for ailing Chinese consumers and nomadic Tibetan harvesters, the parasite...

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Two Winners in Record Powerball Jackpot

Winning tickets for the record Powerball jackpot worth more than $587 million were purchased in Arizona and Missouri.Missouri Lottery official Susan Goedde confirmed to ABC News this morning that one of the winning tickets was purchased in the state, but they would not announce which town until later this morning.Arizona lottery officials said they had no information on that...

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US 'welcomes' China participation in naval drills

BEIJING: The United States welcomes China's participation in US-led joint naval exercises next year, navy secretary Ray Mabus said Wednesday during an official visit to the country."We welcome China's participation in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in 2014," Mabus said in a statement distributed by the US embassy in Beijing.The embassy could not confirm if China had formally accepted...

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Youth detained for posting 'abusive' comments against Raj Thackeray on Facebook

MUMBAI: While the Bal Thackery Facebook controversy that led to the arrest of two girls is still going on, another incident of detention of a 20-year-old computer student over his alleged abusive comments against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS ) leader Raj Thackeray surfaced in Palghar city on Wednesday. The "abusive" comment came at a time when the Palghar taluka unit of the Shiv Sena had called...

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Pictures: Falcon Massacre Uncovered in India

Photograph courtesy Conservation IndiaA young boy can sell bundles of fresh Amur falcons (pictured) for less than five dollars. Still, when multiplied by the thousands of falcons hunters can catch in a day, the practice can be a considerable financial boon to these groups.Since discovering the extent of Amur hunting in Nagaland this fall, Conservation India has taken the issue to the local Indian...

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Powerball Fever Sweeps the Nation, Fuels Jackpot

The allure of the record $500 million Powerball jackpot has led to long lines across the nation at local mini-marts and gas stations, with Americans hoping their champagne and caviar dreams become a reality when the numbers are drawn tonight.The jackpot was boosted Tuesday from $425 million to the now historic $500 million sum, which is expected to get sweeter as millions of...

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Keeping the financial regulators on their toes

When members of Congress need factual information and insights into the effectiveness of the financial laws put in place after the 2008 economic crisis, they regularly turn to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Orice Williams Brown. Initially as director and now as managing director of the GAO’s financial markets and community investment section, Brown and her staff have issued...

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PM Lee sends condolences to Bangladesh PM over factory fire

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has extended his condolences to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the lives lost in the Ashulia garment factory fire and the Chittagong flyover collapse. Prime Minister Lee said he is confident that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh will pull together and recover from the tragedies.The factory fire...

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Alok Joshi to be new RAW chief

NEW DELHI: Alok Joshi, a 1976 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre, has been appointed chief of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Joshi has been appointed for a period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier by the Appointments Committee of the cabinet. He will replace S K Tripathi, who completes his tenure on Dec 29, according to an official...

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Space Pictures This Week: Space "Horse," Mars Rover, More

High Horse Photograph by Greg Parker, Your Shot The Horsehead Nebula rears its pretty head in a November 17 photograph submitted to National Geographic's Your Shot photo community.Taken...

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