London, Dec 9 : A hot drink can ease the symptoms of a cold and cough, according to a new study.

The study found that drinking the traditional remedy of hot fruit cordial can ease a runny nose, sneezing and even the feeling of tiredness that can come with being unwell.

"It is surprising that this is the first scientific research on the benefit of a hot drink for treating cold and flu symptoms," the Telegraph quoted Professor Ron Eccles, the director of Cardiff University''''s Common Cold Centre, where the study was carried out, as saying.

"With temperatures falling and Christmas just round the corner, cold viruses love this time of year.

London, Dec 9: In a new study, researchers show that it is possible to genetically rewire bacteria to produce “non-natural” alcohols that would make ideal biofuel.

According to a report in New Scientist, James Liao’s team at the University of California, Los Angeles, has now engineered bacteria to convert standard sugars into unusually long-chained alcohols.

Bacteria such as Escherichia coli – a bug commonly linked to food poisoning outbreaks – naturally convert sugar into alcohol, but those alcohols tend to be short-chain molecules.

Long-chain alcohols, each containing more than six carbon atoms, are more energy dense – packing more power into a smaller space – and hence make better fuels.

Sydney  - An Australian fire brigade Tuesday told a Swiss woman who paid for a new fire engine her generosity had failed to save her beachfront home in the Queensland town of Deepwater.

Annemarie Geckeler, 75, bought the Deepwater fire brigade a new fire engine in 2001.

But the fire brigade arrived too late to save her multi-million-dollar home at the weekend.

Geckeler was not home when the fire started.

London, Dec 9 : Scientists have identified a gene that may help identify people who are more susceptible to alcohol abuse later in life.

Dr Raymond White, who led the team at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center in California, looked at how strongly people were affected by drinking in terms of body sway, co-ordination problems and feeling "high", and pinpointed the stretch of DNA that appeared to determine it.

The researchers found that people who show little response to alcohol have a higher likelihood of alcohol dependence and abuse and this is influenced by genetics.

Athens  - The Greek capital Athens and dozens of other cities were left crippled Tuesday after several days of arson and looting, triggered by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police.

Described as the worst riots in decades, thick black smoke, flames and tear gas had engulfed central Athens for hours as students set fire to cars, banks, shops and several buildings including the offices of state airline Olympic Airways, the Foreign Ministry, a luxury department store and Greece's main law school.

While calm had returned to Athens at dawn Tuesday, new protests were expected later in the day following the boy's funeral, which was scheduled to take place Tuesday afternoon in the seaside district of Paleo Falio.

Taipei  - Three Taiwan groups, angry that President Ma Ying-jeou said it was not a good time for the Dalai Lama to visit, plan to invite the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader to come to Taiwan for religious purposes, reports said Tuesday.

Kaohsiung County Magistrate Ynag Chiu-hsing on Monday joined Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in welcoming the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan.