Last Top Stories: Police appeal for information on missing Launceston man

Police appeal for information on missing Launceston man

Police are appealing again for any information about 20-year-old man Ben Plowright who disappeared on Saturday night. Mr Plowright was last seen in the northern Tasmania town of Perth which is about 20 kilometres south of his hometown of Launceston. >> view original

'Big, bright' meteor seen over Launceston amid perfect conditions for sightings

A meteor sighting over Launceston this morning has prompted a reminder that cold, clear winter conditions provide a perfect platform for sightings. As northern Tasmania shivers through sub-zero overnight temperatures, the clear skies helped the region ... >> view original

Launceston alderman Andrea Dawkins set to replace Greens' Kim Booth in ...

Launceston alderman Andrea Dawkins is set to take former Greens leader Kim Booth's place in State Parliament despite a surprise contender emerging. Mr Booth announced his shock retirement last month, prompting a countback to elect his replacement in ... >> view original

US Says Russia Failed to Correct Violation of Landmark 1987 Arms Control Deal

WASHINGTON — The State Department reported on Friday that Russia had failed to correct a violation of a landmark arms control accord between Washington and Moscow that prohibits intermediate-range ground-launched missiles. At issue is the 1987 ... >> view original

Islamic State 'moron' brags on social media, helps US Air Force to track militants

Washington: The Islamic State strategy of using social media to recruit more people backfired when the US Air Force Intelligence tracked down a building after a post by a “moron” gave clues about the whereabouts of a terror group's facility. Commander of Air ... >> view original

Massive cybersecurity breach raises concerns about what hackers stole

A massive hack of government personnel files is being treated as the work of foreign spies who could possibly use the information to sneak their way into more-secure computers and plunder U.S. secrets. Dan Payne, a senior counterintelligence official for the ... >> view original

Silk Road Mastermind Appeals US Life Sentence

The American jailed for life for masterminding the online criminal enterprise Silk Road, which sold $200 million in drugs across the world, has appealed his sentence, court papers showed Friday. It was the maximum possible punishment for Ross Ulbricht, ... >> view original

China ship disaster death toll jumps, company says sorry

JIANLI, China The death toll from a Chinese cruise ship which capsized during a storm in the Yangtze River jumped to 396 on Saturday, leaving fewer than 50 still missing, as the boat operator apologized and said it would cooperate with investigations. >> view original

Casualties confirmed as earthquake-stranded climbers rescued from atop ...

The strong earthquake that jolted Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu killed 11 people and another eight are missing on South-East Asia's highest peak. Sabah state's tourism minister Masidi Manjun said rescuers brought 137 hikers down to safety after an earthquake ... >> view original

Romanian President Urges PM to Resign Over Allegations

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania's president on Friday urged Prime Minister Victor Ponta to resign over corruption allegations including tax evasion and money laundering. Ponta refused, saying that only Parliament could dismiss him. President Klaus ... >> view original