NEW YORK, March 18 (Bernama) -- Internet search engine giant Google has teamed with Intel and Sony to develop Google TV, a platform for bringing the web into the living room via televisions and set-top boxes, Press trust of India (PTI) cited The New York Times as saying here.

WASHINGTON, March 18 (AFP) - An Al-Qaeda figure who helped plan a deadly attack on the CIA in Afghanistan is believed to have been killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan, a US counterterrorism official said.

BEIJING, March 18 (AFP) - China on Thursday lashed out at a US House of Representatives resolution that urged Beijing to end its "persecution" of the outlawed Falungong spiritual group.

BANGKOK, March 18 (AFP) - Thailand's rural underclass, vying to revive flagging momentum after a week of colourful protests, appealed Thursday for a popular uprising against the well-entrenched political and aristocratic elite.

BAGHDAD, March 18 (AFP) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and main rival Iyad Allawi were neck-and-neck Thursday, with updated results showing their blocs in a tight race to be the largest faction in the Iraqi parliament.

TAIPEI, March 18 (AFP) - Taiwan has asked for US police protection for the daughters of President Ma Ying-jeou after a death threat was made against them on the Internet, a report said Thursday.

MELBOURNE, March 18 (AFP) - A Filipina wedding planner holidaying in Australia was released from detention Thursday after being wrongly held for five days on drugs charges following a mix-up involving iced tea powder.

TAIPEI, March 18 (AFP) - Taiwan aims to engage in international carbon trading despite its diplomatic isolation by helping its allies in Africa and the Asia Pacific develop clean energy projects, an official said Thursday.

SINGAPORE, March 18 (AFP) - Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park, featuring rides and attractions from box-office hits such as "Shrek" and "Madagascar", opened to enthusiastic crowds Thursday in Singapore.

SUVA, March 18 (AFP) - The full extent of devastation on Fiji's cyclone-devastated islands became clearer Thursday as aerial surveys revealed destroyed houses and crops and dying vegetation, officials said.