Advanced Russian spy plane now in Syria

Washington (CNN)For the first time, Russia has deployed to Syria what the U.S. believes is one of its most advanced reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft.

China: North Korea will 'pay a price' for its recent behavior

BEIJING (Reuters) — China's foreign ministry on Monday urged the United States and North Korea to sit down with each other face-to-face and resolve their problems, as tension continues to climb on the Korean peninsula after North Korea's latest rocket test.

Girl falls victim to rare Australian case of deadly snakebite

Australia's venomous brown snakes are known as nervous reptiles that strike with little hesitation (AFP Photo/William West)

A young girl has died in Australia after being bitten by a feared brown snake, officials said on Monday, a rare fatality even though the country is home to some of the planet's deadliest species.

The death of the six-year-old prompted emergency services to warn people to be on their guard against brown snakes, whose bite is often painless. They are known as nervous reptiles that strike with little hesitation.

Police in New South Wales state said the girl was bitten on Friday on a rural property near Walgett, some 660 kilometres (409 miles) northwest of Sydney.

She was taken to a local hospital and given anti-venom before being flown to Sydney Children's Hospital on life support. But her condition worsened and she died on Saturday.

According to official estimates there are about 3,000 snakebite cases in Australia every year, with 300-500 needing anti-venom treatment. Only an average of two a year prove fatal.

Australia is home to 20 of the world's 25 most venomous snakes. The Eastern Brown Snake causes more deaths than any other species, according to the Australian Museum.

The Middle East's Nightmare: Iran Is Buying Russia's Lethal Su-30

Iran looks set to sign a deal to purchase Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker fighters as it upgrades its military forces following the nuclear deal, which cleared the way for sanctions to be lifted on Tehran. Iranian defense minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan is set to visit Moscow on February 16 to discuss the potential fighter buy, as well as to discuss deliveries of the Almaz-Antey S-300 air and missile defense system.

NATO Admiral: We're seeing more Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic than 'since the days of the Cold War'

(Wiki Commons) 

A Russian submarine. 

Russia has quietly but significantly increased its submarine presence throughout the North Atlantic, leading to a return of Cold War levels of tension. 

Pay Attention, America: Russia Is Upgrading Its Military

The Kremlin's forces are in the midst of a historic overhaul.

Russia is in the midst of a major modernization of its armed forces. This has been driven by Vladimir Putin’s ambition to restore Russia’s hard power and supported by the revenues that flowed into the Kremlin’s coffers between 2004 and 2014, when the price of oil was high. The modernization programs encompass all parts of the Russian military, including strategic nuclear, nonstrategic nuclear and conventional forces.

'The Russians are going to have a cow': The US's latest message to Putin 'is a really big deal'

(REUTERS/Jason Reed, Thomson Reuters) 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. 

The US will devote a substantial portion of its defense spending to building up its military presence in Eastern Europe in an effort to deter Russian aggression in the region, Obama administration officialstold The New York Times.

No-Fly Zone: Russia's Next-Gen S-500 to Start Tests This Year

Russia is gearing up to test the first prototypes of its next-generation Almaz Antey S-500 air and missile defense system.

This is how much India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is worth

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have been ranked as one of the world's most powerfulpeople, but he only keeps a measly Rs 4,700 ($70) as cash in hand. On the other hand, his total assets are worth Rs 14 million ($20,605), thanks to a residential property in the city of Gandhinagar, whose value has increased by more than 25 times since it was purchased 13 years ago.

February 01, 2016 Russia using Generation 4.5 Su-35s fighter in Syria

The advanced supermaneuverable russian Su-35S multirole fighters have began combat missions in Syria.

All Russian warplanes have recently been conducting operations with an obligatory cover provided by Russian and Syrian fighter jets as wells as modern air defense systems including the S-400 Triumf.

Meet the richest man in Africa — the only black billionaire among the world's 50 richest people

(REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye)

Founder and CEO of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote commands a fortune of $14.3 billion. 

There's only one person in all of Africa who makes the list of the 50 richest people on earth: Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote. When our ranking was released, Dangote's net worth stood at $14.3 billion, equal to 2.5% of Nigeria's GDP.