Washington, Nov 25 : The Los Alamos National Laboratory cosmic-ray observatory in New Mexico, US, has seen for the first time two distinct hot spots in space that appear to be bombarding Earth with an excess of cosmic rays.

Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that move through our galaxy from sources far away.

No one knows exactly where cosmic rays come from, but scientists theorize they might originate from supernovae—massive stars that explode— from quasars or perhaps from other exotic, less-understood or yet-to-be-discovered sources within the universe.

Researchers used Los Alamos’ Milagro cosmic-ray observatory to peer into the sky above the northern hemisphere for nearly seven years starting in July 2000.

London, Nov. 25 : All-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes that playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition will make all England players perform better in one-day cricket.

“India have developed new skills with bat and ball. We’ve been found wanting in this series. They have moved on their one-day game by playing a lot of Twenty20 cricket. The positions they get in to hit the ball and their scoring rate have changed,” The Sun quoted Flintoff as saying after his team lost the one-day series against India four games to nil.

“A few of us are keen on the IPL. The financial reward was mentioned but it will help our development. With the Twenty20 World Cup in England next year, it would be good if we got the chance to play,” he added.

London, November 25 : Amy Winehouse has again landed in hospital after a drink and drug spree set off by a screaming row with hubby Blake Fielder-Civil, according to sources.

The ‘Rehab’ singer, who has made frequent trips to hospitals following her drink and drug addictions, had reportedly collapsed with a seizure and hurried to a London clinic following a heated argument with her hubby over the phone.

Tokyo - Asian stock markets rebounded Tuesday after gains on Wall Street spurred by the US government's bailout plan to save the banking giant Citigroup Inc.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged more than 5 per cent on Wall Street's overnight rally and a weaker yen, which increases exporters' overseas earnings.

The Nikkei index soared 413.14 points, or 5.22 per cent, to close at 8,323.93.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 3.6 per cent at 831.58.

Taipei - The Taipei county government, to reduce the digital gap between the countryside and cities, will dispatch a mobile computer classroom to teach people how to use computers, the county government said Tuesday.

Under the programme, the Taipei county government in North Taiwan will dispatch six coaches carrying teachers, computers, desks and chairs to give computer classes free of charge.

"The only requirement is that there must be 18 participants for our class. Applications can be made by individuals or an institution," Chen Shu-hui, from the Taipei county government's Computer Centre, said.

Beijing- The World Bank lowered its 2009 economic growth forecast for China from 9.2 per cent to 7.5 per cent Tuesday while welcoming the government's stimulus package but urging more rebalancing of the economy.

China's efforts to expand its domestic demand and stimulate the economy through infrastructure spending would be crucial to how it fares against the growing impact of the global financial crisis, the World Bank said in a quarterly report.