Washington, March 22 : A new study has determined that almost a quarter of the world''s land area is degrading, often in very productive areas.

Land degradation, which is the decline in the quality of soil, water and vegetation, is of profound importance, but until now, there have been no consistent global data by which to assess its extent and severity.

Now, a new study published in the journal Soil Use and Management attempts for the first time to measure the extent and severity of land degradation across the globe and concludes that 24 percent of the land area is degrading - often in very productive areas.

It measures global land degradation based on a clearly defined and consistent method using remotely sensed imagery.

Washington, Mar 22 : Harrison Ford and lo

Washington, March 22 : Newborn infants, born either at term or prematurely, lack a DNA net, called a neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), cast by mature white blood cells to fight severe infection,

Washington, Mar 22 : President Barack Obama has criticized former Vice President Dick Cheney over claims that plans to close the prison at Guantanamo will make America less safe, and said holding detainees for years on end with no trials is "unsustainable."

President Obama fired back at Cheney over the former vice president's claim in a CBS News interview for "60 Minutes."

Brussels, Mar. 22 : Raising serious concerns over the terror safe havens in Pakistan, which are being utilized by different terror outfits to carry out their activities across the world, the US's Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has said that Pakistan it self should act to tackle this menace.

Holbrooke denied that the US or NATO forces would march-in to Pakistani territory from the Afghan side to take-up the issue.

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems' (IMS) iLane is the first in-car gadget that reads out e-mails and answers to the voice to draft a reply.

iLane, a portable smartphone-compatible device, features a synthesised female voice that aware users when they receive a new email, and reads out the message.

The compact device, which can be mounted on a dashboard, sun visor or air vent, gives drivers the ability to manage their smartphones without using their hands.