A pair of US fighter jets has escorted an Air France airliner bound for New York City after the flight was the subject of an anonymous threat. US officials said they had received a call claiming that there was a “chemical weapons threat” aboard the plane. Air France Flight 22, from Paris, was searched after landing in a secure area ...

China is to focus on projecting its military presence beyond its borders at sea, according to a strategy document. The navy will shift its focus to “open seas protection”, rather than “offshore waters defence” alone. It will also speed up developing its cyber force to tackle “grave security threats”, the State Council said. China has been accused of aggressively pursuing ...

The smallest and rarest marine dolphin in the world could be extinct within 15 years if protection is not stepped up, new research suggests. Conservationists say the remaining population of Maui’s dolphins has dropped below 50. The critically endangered species is found only in waters off New Zealand. Measures to prevent dolphins dying in fishing nets must be extended, according ...

Greece intends to keep repaying its debt, a government spokesman said, days after Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis warned it had run out of funds. Gabriel Sakellaridis said Greece would maintain repayments to its EU-IMF creditors for as long as possible. He also rejected the idea of possible capital controls that would restrict money transfers and access to savings. Greece and ...

Russia’s military forces have begun a large exercise involving around 250 aircraft and 12,000 service personnel, according to its defence ministry. The ministry described the four-day drill as a “massive surprise inspection”, to check combat readiness. The tests began on the same day as Nato and some of its partners started an Arctic training exercise. Russia’s actions in Ukraine and ...

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey is to ask state and territory governments to remove the consumption tax on tampons and other sanitary products. Earlier this month, an online petition asking the government to stop taxing a “bodily function” attracted about 90,000 signatures. Unlike products such as condoms and sunscreen, pads and tampons attract the 10% Goods and Services tax (GST). Mr ...

An extract from a plant traditionally used in Chinese medicine may help suppress appetite and lose weight, new research says. The findings suggest that the compound extracted from the “Thunder God” vine could be developed into a drug for treatment of obesity. In the study, the compound was found to reduce food intake significantly and cause up to a 45 ...

The arrival of spring and summer means days at the pool, family picnics and other outdoor activities. Here are some tips from the American Heart Association to keep your family physically active in the warmer months. Hydrate! Drink plenty of water before, during and after physical activity to avoid dehydration. For low-calorie flavor, add slices of your favorite fruits such ...

Specialists have noticed a rise in eye infections among contact-lens wearers and are warning users to take extra care. Bacteria, fungi and micro-organisms can stick to contact lenses and cause pain, irritation and serious harm. So here are some of the risks, and the dos and don’ts: Don’t sleep with your lenses in Unless your optician has said you can, ...

In a trial, scientists tested a drink based on a green tea ingredient, L-Theanine, and found that it significantly reduces stress and cortisol levels in healthy and young adults. During a symposium at the Association for Psychological Sciences Conference, world-renowned researchers from Swinburne University in Australia announced the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in which a beverage ...