Washington, Apr 4: Older men who were big during their 20s are at an increased risk of suffering from atrial fibrillation, or abnormal heart rhythm, says a new study.

According to the new research from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, being big includes height and weight.

The study, which has been published in the latest issue of the European Heart Journal, was initiated in 1970.

Washington, April 4: University of Florida researchers say that it is possible to predict a person’s risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by looking at his/her partner’s behaviour.

The researchers have even charted five specific characteristics that can help gauge how risky certain partners are.

The characteristics include whether the partner has a problem with marijuana or alcohol, was at least five years older or younger, had been in jail, had sex with other people in the past year, or had an STD in the past year.

Washington - Ice in the summertime could be a thing of the past in the Arctic in as soon as 30 years time due to global warming, a new US study found as world governments prepare to open a summit Monday on the state of the poles.

The joint study by the US government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington is much more dire than previous forecasts, which warned that the Arctic ice might vanish only at the turn of the century.

Washington - A number of people wer

Washington - The United States is making last-minute efforts to convince North Korea to stop a missile or satellite launch that could come as early as Saturday, according to the US envoy to the region, and he warned the North Koreans should expect consequences if the launch goes ahead as planned.

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, the State Department's special representative for North Korea, said the United States was pressing its case against the Stalinist regime through a variety of diplomatic avenues.

Washington  - The midwest state of Iowa be