CHINA OFFERS INDIA A 'HANDSHAKE ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS
India and China will study new ways to ease tensions on their ill-defined border after an army standoff in the Himalayas, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday on his first official foreign trip. more...

GOSSIP IS LIKE SLAPPING JESUS, POPE ASSERTS
Pope Francis spoke today about how gossip by Christians is a “slap” to Jesus “in the person of his children.” “All three - disinformation, defamation and slander - are sins! This is sin! It is to slap Jesus in the person of his children, his brothers,” the Pope said May 18 in the chapel of St. Martha’s House. more...

EU TO SHRINK FURTHER INTO RECESSION
Recession in the crisis-hit eurozone will be deeper than expected for the rest of the year, with even some of Europe's biggest economies suffering from hardships. The EU warned on Friday that unemployment would reach record levels as four of the eurozone's biggest economies, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, continue to see negative growth. more...

THE SCANDALOUS EROSION OF US CIVIL LIBERTIES
While the US media is focused on the latest political scandal, civil rights in the United States continue to be eroded. more...

FIRST CASE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS CONTRACTING NEW SARS FROM PATIENTS IN SAUDI HOSPITAL
The World Health Organisation issues report. Since the new form of SARS was identified in September of 2012, the organisation has recorded 40 cases of infection worldwide, 20 of them fatal. Saudi Arabia is the most affected country, with 30 cases, half of them fatal. more...

ALCOHOLICS WHO SMOKE RISK FASTER BRAIN AGING
Alcoholics who smoke develop more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who don’t smoke, a first-of-its-kind study has found. The study looked at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neuro-cognition in treatment-seeking alcohol dependent (AD) individuals. more...

Tearful David Beckham bids farewell to Paris and career
The 38-year-old former England captain, one of the most high-profile players to shuffle between football and celebrity, made his final home appearance for the Ligue 1 champions on Saturday before heading into retirement. With the Beatles ringing in his ears and tears in his eyes, David Beckham admitted that his starring role in Paris Saint-Germain's French title party was the last chapter of his colourful career. more...

India women win bronze in Archery World Cup in Shanghai
India won a first-ever archery World Cup medal in the compound women section when Trisha Deb, Gagandeep Kaur and Lily Chanu P beat their Italian opponents in the bronze medal play-off in Shanghai on Saturday. more...

VIJAY SINGH ADMITS USING BANNED SUBSTANCE
Former world number one Vijay Singh has admitted using deer antler spray, but says he was unaware the extract contained an insulin-like growth factor that is banned by the PGA Tour. more...

INDIA IN WORLD TEAM SQUASH PRE-QUARTERS
After upsetting seventh seeds Ireland 2-1 in the first qualifying round of the Women’s Squash World Team Championship, 10th seeds India clinched pole position in Pool G by dispatching Argentina 3-0 to enter the pre-quarterfinals in Nimes. more...

SANIA WAS A GREAT SINGLES TALENT, SAYS SHARAPOVA
Women’s tennis icon Maria Sharapova on Sunday said Sania Mirza was a great singles talent but it was right for the Indian to focus on doubles due to the demanding nature of the game. “It takes so much both mentally and physically to play in two formats. It becomes difficult to give equal attention to singles and doubles,” said Sharapova on her first visit to India. more...

IPL 2013 AUCTION: MICHAEL CLARKE, RICKY PONTING FETCH TOP BASE PRICE
It will be Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting, the current Australia cricket in-charge and the former leader, who will also lead the 2013 IPL auctions in terms of the base price. With $400,000 as their reserve price, the Australian duo are joined by South Africa's Johan Botha at $300,000 and India's RP Singh at $100,000 as marquee players during the auction, an IPL media release said. more...