SOCIETY

Al Jazeera English journalists were lock in a cage for 23 hours a day; even during court trials

John Hinckley, Jr. who shot former President Ronald Reagan in 1981 was found to be insane and has spent majority of his years in a mental facility after conviction.

The 2013 Communicator of the Year award winner Kelly Blazek had to return her award with an apology after her harsh email rejecting a LinkedIn invitation went viral. The unusually strong worded email was received by a 25 year old job seeker.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) currently plans to launch a probe that will orbit planet Jupiter’s icy moon Europa by 2025 after the released 2015 White House federal budget allocated $15 million for developing the mission. NASA researchers, who have been working on the Europa Clipper plan for years, will be able to observe the moon’s ice shell and subsurface ocean with the use of different science instruments when the probe makes several flybys on Europa.

Sky gazers are currently given a celestial treat with planet Jupiter brightly visible in the night sky even outshining the stars. The planet is currently located in the Gemini constellation, close to the twin bright stars Castor and Pollux, making it easy for the viewers to study its movement against the sparkling background.

We all have heard of China's boyfriend-for-hire business for women who need a man to introduce to their family so the clan would stop bugging her during holiday gatherings about getting married. In Australia, a Friends for Hire enterprise will officially open on March 22. The Web site is the result of a three-month development effort by Wildside Group, a communications agency in Queensland.

A Northern Territory man has called for help after he got lost in his own garden. Eventually, he was rescued by police merely 300 meters away from his home.

A drone has captured footage of thousands of dolphins stampeding their way to the Pacific Ocean. Captain Dave Anderson tested his DJI Phantom 2 drone off the coast of San Clemente, California, and was amazed to see the video when it returned. Not only did the drone record the stampede of dolphins, it also found humpback whales including a calf.

Worsening dry spells, fiercer heat waves and frequent bushfire seasons should be worrying for Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Coalition government after CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology released the State of the Climate report. The two-year study has prompted calls for curbing carbon emissions from human activities. Greenhouse emissions are already at record levels. Climate scientists predict that the world will be 5 degrees hotter by 2070.

A 17-year veteran Canadian pilot received a note from one of the passengers flying in WestJet. The note read that the passenger would have booked another flight if he knew that the pilot of the flight was a woman.

The bad weather in New Zealand’s Christchurch caused floods and massive power outages as the city council called it a “once-in-a-century” event. Roads and schools were ordered closed due to flooding brought by the storm. The city council said more than 4000 homes and businesses are still without electricity.

Schapelle Corby tried to kills herself, Indonesian officials claimed. The 36-year-old Australian convict, apparently attempted to take her own life twice with a knife during a meeting with parole officers.

Richard Hudgins is one of those people who refuse to take things for granted and move a step further to influence change, no matter how small.

Schapelle Corby’s parole is in danger of being revoked after the Indonesia’s Justice Minister has watched a documentary about her release. Minister Amir Syamsuddin said that the convicted Australian’s family appeared to be ungrateful in the Seven Network’s TV documentary special.

Australia is expected to be hit by more fire danger days as extreme weather continues to heat up the country. Extreme weather trends may accelerate in the face of global warming, according to the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology in the recent State of the Climate report. The two agencies warned that by 2050, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at the same rate as the past 10 years, average temperatures will soar between 2.2 and 5 degrees which will be more than the average betwee...

Canberra has climbed to the top of Australia's list of most livable cities. According to Property Council of Australia's annual survey, Canberra scored high in education, safety and outdoor recreation. The capital city was ranked second in cleanliness, healthcare services, roads, design, economic opportunities and employment.

Canada's homeless are feeling more the brunt of the country's record-breaking cold weather and may have to cramp it out with others at local shelters at least until May.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao witnessed UFOs during a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station (ISS) back in 2005. The pioneering astronaut, who served as commander of the ISS nine years ago, finally speaks up on the UFO sighting that he experienced.

Graeme Hart, New Zealand's wealthiest man, has moved up the Forbes list of the world's richest people after adding $2 billion to his net worth in 2013. According to the Herald, Forbes announced the new ranking of the Kiwi billionaire overnight. Mr Hart's new net worth is estimated to be US$7 billion or NZ$8.36 billion after his global packaging company, Reynolds Group Holdings, has amassed several acquisitions.

A crocodile was no match for a snake in Australia. Apparently, size does not matter as the snake emerged the winner in a lengthy battle against the larger reptile in Northern Queensland. The snake overpowered the croc after tackling and constricting its body

Sea Shepherd, an Australian-based anti-whaling organization, has released a new footage of Japan's whaling practices.

Broome's Cable Beach in Australia was closed on the first day of March after a huge 4-metre crocodile was spotted "surfing" for approximately seven hours. Swimmers realised that sharks are not the only creatures lurking in the ocean.

Almost a month before the first shark was killed due to Western Australia’s controversial cull and the recent reports of shark attack statistics, the catch-and-kill policy still appears drastic to the rest of the world. The shark cull policy in Western Australia has attracted global opposition from conservationists, scientists and even victims of shark attacks. Thousands of shark cull protesters have shown up with hand-painted posters, shark hats and other shark-related paraphernalia on Manly B...

Bus driver Ricky Wagoner got a second shot in life when he was saved by the most unexpected thing he can ever think of from two bullets: the Bible inside his pocket.

Despite the Climate Change Authority (CCA)'s recommendation for Australia to triple its carbon emissions reduction target, Prime Minister Tony Abbott may be less likely to take the report seriously. The CCA has recently released a report that the current carbon emissions reduction goal of 5 per cent is no longer enough for Australia. The climate agency said Australia should be aiming for at least 15 per cent by 2020. The target rate will increase to 19 per cent once the carry over credits are...

Canadian teacher Chelsea Crawford got slapped by a whale while she was in Mexico

Queen Elizabeth's household finances were reportedly at a "historic low" with only GBP 1 million left in reserves. Rumors are saying the Royal family is like common people who have dysfunctional family members and subject to fighting.

The United Nations has described the asylum seeker processing facility in Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, as Australia's very own "Guantanamo Bay." According to UN's assessment, it finds the Australian government guilty of nearly 150 international law violations for the indefinite detention of asylum seekers. The recent violent riot in Manus Island has overshadowed another group of asylum seekers who are currently facing a bleak future since they have been detailed in Australia. Arou...

The number of children living in poverty in New Zealand has increased by 60,000 which is twice the previously reported figure. New Zealand's poverty line covers children living in homes earning 60 per cent of the median income after housing. The Child Poverty Monitor also found that one out of six children is surviving without access to basic necessities. The report said the children may be missing out on meals and doctor's visits, and could be sleeping on the floor.