Russia’s Obama: Is he the change Moscow wants to see?

Joaquim Crima, 37, waves greetings to people in a local bus in Srednyaya Akhtuba, 900 km south-east of Moscow, Russia, July 30

An African-born farmer is making an improbable run for office in Russia, inspired by President Barack Obama and undaunted by…

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Thai plane skids off runaway into control tower, pilot dies

A Bangkok Airways plane is seen after it skidded off the runway while attempting to land on Samui island, Thailand, Tuesday

A plane skidded off the runway and crashed into an air traffic control tower after landing on the Thai resort island of Samui on Tuesday, killing the chief pilot and injuring 34 people on board, an official said.

The co-pilot and six others were severely injured after the Bangkok Airways flight landed in…

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Now, Obama emerges as ‘The Joker’

US President Barack Obama and actor Heath Ledger as 'The Joker' from 'The Dark Knight'

A slew of posters has been spotted throughout Los Angeles portraying Obama as ‘The Joker’ from the movie ‘The Dark Knight’, with the word…

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Pakistan Supreme Court lets 26/11 ‘mastermind’ off the hook?

Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed

Pakistan’s Supreme Court Monday indefinitely adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging the release of Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, who India claims…

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Sex selling for less in recession times

In this picture taken May 8, 2009, Eva (left) and Dana (full names not given) pose inside the Artemis brothel in Berlin

It’s past midnight in downtown Berlin, and the prostitutes pace in front of the Hackescher Markt’s stores. Signs of a slow economy are everywhere _ a sportswear store offers 40 percent markdowns, and bars advertise discounted drinks.

Like so many other businesses, Europe’s largest legalized prostitution industry is having to…

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Taj, Oberoi hotels were warned of 26/11 terror attack: Maharashtra government

In this November 27, 2008 file photo, pigeons fly as the Taj Hotel burns during the terror attacks in Mumbai

The Taj and Oberoi hotels in south Mumbai had been warned of a terrorist attack three months before the Nov 26 strike but they failed to act on the repeated warnings, the Maharashtra government has said in a report.

The observations are made in the action taken report (ATR) on the report of the Ram Pradhan Committee that enquired into the lapses leading to the Nov 26-29, 2008 terrorist attacks that claimed more than 170 lives.

The state government said the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, the Hotel Trident-Oberoi and the World Trade Centre were first warned of…

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Manmohan to Zardari: Won’t tolerate anti-India acts from your soil

Pakistan President Zardari and PM Manmohan Singh pose for a photo during the SCO summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, June 16, 2009

The territory of Pakistan ‘should not be used for acts of terrorism against India’, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday in their first meeting since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The 40-minute meeting of the two leaders began here with Manmohan Singh telling Zardari that he was pleased to meet him but stressing in his opening remark that…         read more…

Look who’s filling up India’s BPO sector?

Hewlett-Packard employees work at the company's Business Process Outsourcing centre in Bangalore

Economic meltdown and the US financial crisis have triggered a new trend: while many Western firms are selling off back office operations in India, a clutch of others are…     read more…

Osama bin Laden still in Pakistan: CIA chief

Osama bin Laden

US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta said Thursday that Osama bin Laden, head of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, was still in Pakistan and his capture remained the CIA’s priority.

“I guess one of our hopes is…

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Air France jet may have ‘disintegrated in mid-air’

A Brazilian Air Force plane lands during search operations for the missing Air France jet off the north-east coast of Brazil June 8

Two pieces of new evidence have suggested that the Air France jet broke up mid-air in minutes, rather than in one catastrophic incident.

Searchers in the Atlantic fear…            

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