Washington, Feb 16 : A team of chemists in the US has offered a new hydrogen purification method, by developing a class of new porous materials, structured like honeycomb, that is very effective at separating hydrogen from complex gas mixtures.

The materials, developed by Northwestern University chemist Mercouri G. Kanatzidis, together with postdoctoral research associate Gerasimos S. Armatas, exhibit the best selectivity in separating hydrogen from carbon dioxide and methane, to the best of the researchers' knowledge.

The materials are a new family of germanium-rich chalcogenides.

Washington  - US intelligence officials helped India and Pakistan swap top secret intelligence in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November, the Washington Post reported Monday.

The intelligence sharing between the two countries, whose relationship is often shaky at best, was facilitated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) beginning just days after the attacks that killed 170 people over three days.

The Washington Post quoted US and foreign government sources in the story, who acknowledged that those efforts helped clear the way for Islamabad last week to admit that the attacks were partly planned on its soil.

Phoenix, Arizona  - They argue and snub each other, and for years, there has been no love lost between the former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. But one thing is certain: When the two play together, good things happen.

The occasional friends and adversaries shared the most valuable player trophy Sunday night after their West squad clobbered the East 146-119 to win the National Basketball Association's annual All-Star Game at the US Airways Center.

Islamabad, Feb. 16 : In yet another US drone attack, 10 persons were reportedly killed, and several others injured in lower Kurram Agency on Monday.

Chicago, Feb. 16: There is some truth to the oft-repeated saying that there is no place like home. Such is the case, it seems , with the First Family of the United States - the Obamas.

New York, Feb. 16: A federal transportation safety official has said that before the Continental Connection commuter flight crashed near Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing 50, last Thursday, it was flying on autopilot.

The Washington Post quoted National Transportation Safety Board member Steven R. Chealander as saying that in the wake of the crash and the determination of its cause, the agency has sought tighter federal regulations to require pilots to disengage automatic flying systems in icy weather.