London, July 24 : Scientists have used tiny fossils to refine the timing of the climate shift that gave rise to Antarctica’s remarkable Dry Valleys, a landscape akin to Mars, estimating it to date back to 14 million years.

According to a report by BBC News, the famously ice-free terrain enjoyed more benign, tundra-like conditions 14 million years ago - but then flipped to the intensely cold setting seen today.

Scientists determined that ancient lake-living shrimp-like creatures can pinpoint the big switch, as the ostracods would not have coped with a harsh, dry environment.

London, July 24 : The British Government has decided to impose visa curbs on foreign brides and bridegrooms to prevent forced marriages in the country.

The measures introduced on Wednesday will hit 17,000 spouses and fiancé (e)s from the sub-continent the hardest.

According to a report in The Times, teenage foreign brides and bridegrooms will have to be at least 21 years of age to enter the country as a spouse.

London - Britain's leading aid charity Oxfam has warned that 13 million people in East Africa are at risk of hunger and destitution as food prices spiral out of control.

A situation already marked by droughts, war and poverty was made worse by rising food prices which had increased by 350 per cent in some regions between 2007 and 2008, Oxfam said in a report issued in London Thursday.

Oxfam joined calls on donors from other international aid groups to increase aid levels to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Its call followed a warning from the UN World Food Programme which said that more than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa needed food aid because of drought and rising food and fuel prices.

Lahore, July 24: Following intelligence reports that a female terrorist might enter the UK from Pakistan, security forces in Pakistan and Britain, have been put on high alert and are on the look out for the suspect female terrorist who may even travel to Britain along with her children.

The British authorities had declared “red alert” at Heathrow Airport on Monday and Tuesday, the sources said, adding that Pakistani security personnel checked a UK-bound flight at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport following the reports.

The security forces also searched passengers on-board the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-757, the Daily Times quoted the sources as saying.

London, July 24 : It was a few days back that British socialite Peaches Geldof was saved by a friend from death, and now she has spoken out about what matters in her life.

The errant daughter of Irish singer Sir Bob Geldof, claimed that all that matters in her life is “love, art and music” and that the three are the only “pure things in life”.

Peaches, who is also a TV presenter, revealed in an interview what she intends to do with her life.

“Where do I see myself in five years time? Hopefully married. I want to get married young,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“The things that drive me are love, art and music — those are the only pure things in life,” she stated.

London, July 24 : Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg have pledged half a billion dollars to fight tobacco use in developing countries.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is going to invest 125 million dollars in the course of five years, on the other hand Bloomberg intends to boost his commitment to his Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use from 125 million dollars to 375 million dollars in four years.

Global estimates suggest that the ‘tobacco epidemic’ kills 5.4 million people a year and that by 2010, smoking will cause about 930,000 adult deaths each year in India.