Gates supports govt in Apple case

Bill Gates is supportive of investigators' efforts to force Apple to help them crack into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters, saying a balance needs to be struck between government access and the need to preserve data security.

Scientists narrow search for ninth planet

US astronomers announced last month they may have found a ninth planet beyond Neptune, but conceded they had no idea where on an estimated 10,000-20,000-year orbit it might be.

Plastic found in Snickers bar prompts recall

Mars Inc has recalled chocolate bars and other products in 55 countries, mainly in Europe, due to a choking risk after a piece of plastic was found in a Snickers bar in Germany.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Oral history lost with survivor's death

The death of 93-year-old Samuel Willenberg marks the passing of the last known survivor of the daring revolt at Treblinka, the notorious death camp in occupied Poland that is perhaps the most vivid example of Nazi Germany's attempt to destroy European Jewry.

Seas rising faster than over last 28 centuries

Sea levels on Earth are rising several times faster than they have in the past 2,800 years and are accelerating because of man-made global warming, according to new studies.

Kabul calls for date to be set for Taliban talks

Afghanistan expects a date for direct talks with the Taliban to be set by the end of February, the foreign minister told an international group seeking to relaunch the peace process at a meeting in Kabul on Tuesday.

Arab-Israeli tech professor breaks barriers

Hossam Haick, whose breakthrough work in nanotechnology has garnered global accolades, says his success as an Arab citizen of Israel proves that education knows no boundaries and is key to improving his community's lot.

Cyclone-struck islands fear illnesses

Fiji sent boats on Tuesday carrying desperately needed aid to remote islands and coastal villages devastated by a powerful cyclone which killed at least 29 people, as aid workers warned of possible outbreaks of Zika and Dengue viruses.

New Delhi cautions water crisis to continue

A water crisis in India's capital will take up to two weeks to fix, authorities warned on Tuesday, as taps ran dry, days after protesters sabotaged a crucial waterway to press a demand for better treatment for their caste.

Government moves to tighten unemployment rules

The Australian government is tired of unemployed people declining a job because it may interfere with their golf plans or dreams of becoming an actor.

Govt says it accepts proposed truce deal

The Syrian government said on Tuesday it accepted a halt to "combat operations" that does not include the Islamic State group, the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, or groups connected to it, in line with a US-Russian plan.