The two decades of our "spectacular economic progress" has side-stepped vast swath of our underprivileged that oscillates between twenty per cent and one-fifth of our population!

Companies such as Karuturi Global have acquired land as cheap as Rs 59 a hectare.

Air India and Jet Airways flew tonnes of fresh flowers to Europe in the last 10-12 days, though their uplift is much less compared to rival carriers.

Burkina Faso sprung a major surprise at the African Nations Cup when they drew 0-0 with holders Zambia on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals along with Nigeria who beat Ethiopia 2-0.

The UK-based group, run by billionaire Hinduja brothers, is already present across various countries including India in sectors like banking, auto, energy, technology and healthcare and has a turnover of over $25 billion (about Rs 1.4 lakh crore or Rs 1.4 trillion).

Holders Zambia and Nigeria go head-to-head on Friday in the first heavyweight clash of the African Nations Cup as they seek to break the stalemate in Group C.

Zambia's chances of emulating Egypt, Ghana and Cameroon as the only nations to retain the African Nations Cup did not look promising when they began their campaign with a stuttering 1-1 draw against Ethiopia on Monday.

Realty, IT shares among losers.

Uganda's Jackson Kiprop won the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday, setting a new course record of 2 hours, 09 minutes, 54 seconds. Running his first marathon, the 26-year-old eclipsed the course record of 2:09:54 seconds, set by Girma Assefa of Ethiopia two years ago.

Photos of the Mumbai Marathon.

Lowering the course record is not on defending men's champion Laban Moiben mind as he goes into the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. He is focusing on only retaining the crown in the US $350,000 event.

Defending men's champion Laban Moiben of Kenya, last year's runner-up Raji Assefa of Ethiopia and third-placed John Kyui of Kenya have all confirmed to run in the US $3,50,000 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, on January 20.

Luka Kipkemoi Chelimo of Kenya won the gruelling 42.195 kilometres men's race in the 27th edition of Pune International Marathon which ended at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

Kenya's Edwin Kipyego survived stiff competition from fellow athletes before claiming the men's title, while Ethiopia's Yimer Wude emerged victorious in the women's elite category as around 32,000 Delhiites braved hot and humid conditions to run at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, in New Delhi on Sunday.

Rediff.com presents some amazing pictures of the rock churches in Lalibela, which will take you back to medieval times.

A look at the gold medalists in track and field at the London Olympics.

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia pulled away with 600 meters to go and won the 10,000 meters at the London Games on Friday to defend her Olympic title.

Are the political parties in India fooling us on the issue of illicit wealth parked abroad by winking at the obvious.

Africa is emerging as an investment hub for many Indian companies across sectors due to its friendly government polices, business and investment environment and favourable climatic conditions, said Susan Sikaneta, high commissioner of the Republic of Zambia.

While Indian Non-Governmental Organisations are by no means as well networked as they were at the original Earth Summit in this coastal Atlantic city, despite the boom in electronic communications, Kalpavriksh, based in Pune and New Delhi, has fired a strong missive at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shortly before his arrival at Rio+ 20.

The defence on Monday presented in Manhattan federal court character witnesses, who testified about Gupta's honesty and integrity, before it prepares to wrap its case by Wednesday.

Nigeria and South Africa both left it late on Sunday to salvage points at the start of their bids to qualify for the World Cup on a day that emphasised the increasing vagaries of the qualifying competition on the African continent.

India holds the key to the deportation of Kairi Abha Shepherd, who is facing the prospect of forcibly being sent back to her country of birth, where she was adopted by an American woman 30 years ago.

Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie beat Britain's Paula Radcliffe in their half marathon head-to-head in Vienna on Sunday.

Justin Gatlin won his first title since returning from a four-year doping ban with victory in the 60 metres at the world indoor championships on Saturday as the red-hot Americans grabbed four gold medals and a world record in Istanbul.

Kenya's Michael Kipyego tore up the script to win the Tokyo Marathon with former World record holder Haile Gebrselassie left floundering in fourth on Sunday.

Get your lowdown on what's going on in the world of Hollywood, right here!

Ethiopia has indefinitely banned 35 athletes - including Olympic men's 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion Kenenisa Bekele -- from competition in a row over training, the technical director of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation said on Friday.

Kenya's Laban Moiben and Ethiopian Netsanet Abeyo bagged the top honours in contrasting fashion in the men's and women's categories at the 9th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday even as India's Ram Singh Yadav qualified for the London Olympics.

African athletes are expected to continue their dominance with runners from Kenya and Ethiopia likely to battle it out for top honours from among 2475 participants at the 9th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.

Completing a marathon below two hours and 10 minutes is considered an arduous task, but Kenyan athlete William Kipsang is determined to do just that at the ninth Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.

October 27 is a historic day, not only for the Infantry but for the entire Indian Army. It was on this day, 64 years ago, that the first infantryman landed at Badgam in the Kashmir Valley to chase away Pakistani invaders. The enemy was thrown back and the valley was saved. It was the first glorious action undertaken by the Indian Army in the post-Independence era. Therefore, October 27 is celebrated as 'Infantry Day' throughout India.

UN member states elected 18 countries to serve three-year terms starting next year and three other nations through by-elections held as some countries were stepping down from the 54-member Council before the formal end of their terms.

The Art of Living Ashram in Bangalore is witness to a wealth of a different kind, as it hosts thousands of people from across 65 countries as meditation, silence, pujas and satsang mark the nine auspicious nights of Navratri.

The drought in the Horn of Africa, which comprises Somalia, Eriteria, Djibouti and Ethiopia, is arguably the worst in recent history. More than 13 million people are in need of emergency assistance, as well as agriculture and livelihood interventions.

Ethiopian double world record holder and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele will not defend his 5,000 metres world title due to injury, his management company said on Wednesday.

Bernard Lagat has grown into the job of role model for the next generation of American distance runners. He has also grown a beard to remind them how old he is.

After cautioning Indian markets about possible money laundering and terror-funding risks from Iran and North Korea, market regulator Sebi has issued a warning for funds from eight more countries, including Turkey and Ethiopia.

The report was jointly prepared by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Trade Organisation.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday left for home after a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania during which he announced a financial package of $6.6 billion to the African nations.