Six races, six world records and six gold medals: there really is no stopping Michael Phelps at these Games.

Fascinating places with bad reputations: These places may have a bad rap -- but we think you'll have a great (and safe) vacation!

A look at the goods, from wheat to chicken, that are driving a global crisis--and raising food prices in your neighborhood.

The study, titled 'Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme', published in the British Medical Journal said: 'War causes more deaths than previously estimated, and there is no evidence to support a recent decline in war deaths'.

In a report to be published this year, human rights lawyers claim the United States is indefinitely holding suspected terrorists onboard a fleet of as many as 17 'floating prisons'. They further assert that there has been an attempt to obfuscate the situation, particularly the number and location of detainees.

As a rule, broad governance reform is neither necessary nor sufficient for growth.

Wheat is among the planet's most important food crops, but it has a natural enemy that can turn the crop into a black tangle of broken stems. Cornell University hopes a new $26.8 million grant can help them combat the emergence of deadly new strains of rust disease and help avert a pandemic that could produce catastrophic wheat crop losses worldwide.

If the world wants to tide over the present crisis, the farmers must shift their agriculture methods to confront soaring food prices that threaten to drive millions of poor people around the world into even deeper poverty. Basic foodstuff prices have all risen sharply in recent months, sparking violent protests in many countries. Unesco attributed the trend to increased demand in emerging market powerhouses China and India and alternative use of corn and soybeans for biofuels

The proposed bill would suspend all pending visa petitions from countries refusing to take back illegal immigrants until they agree to repatriate our deportees. The legislation would also direct the State Department to withhold funds under the Foreign Assistance Act to countries that persist in this refusal. India is amongst eight countries to have refused to repatriate illegal migrants.

Hotlines between New Delhi and Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, are working overtime to make next month's India-Africa summit as big a success as a similar event organised by China last year. New Delhi's intention to give a new thrust to its relations with Africa was evident when it announced a hike of 60 per cent in its aid to the continent for the next financial year. The 2008-09 Budget presented in Parliament last week, enhanced aid to Africa.

Rajkot-based diesel engine maker, Fieldmarshal Group, will make a small electric car with foreign collaboration that is likely to be priced at Rs 99,000.

Defending champion John Kelai of Kenya and twice winner Mulu Seboka won the men's and women's titles respectively in the Mumbai Marathon, while Ramsingh Yadav emerged the fastest Indian runner.

The Kenyan elite runners said they faced a lot of problems in their preparation for the run due to the ongoing crisis in their country.

Global oil shortage is looming large. While the tug-of-war over oil is waging across the world, Hydrogen Regeneration can be a viable option.

Lucas Sang, who had competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was amongst victims of the country's post-poll violence.

An elite athlete field of 40 of the world's top 100 long distance runners for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

In its first ever list of World's Top 50 Microfinance Institutions, the US business magazine has named Bangalore-based Bandhan at the second position.

A global meet on federalism, beginning in New Delhi, will discuss case studies and potential areas of consensus building in the wake of rising terrorist activities.

Bajaj plans to double his share in the global market in three years.

South African Army Chief Lt Gen Solly Zacharia Shoke, arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday after visiting the Indian Army's premier jungle warfare training school at Vairengte in Mizoram.

Tyson Gay tore up the track to complete a rare sprint treble at the world championships on Saturday and help the United States to the 4x100m relay crown.

The 23-year-old was left as the ovewhelming favourite for the race after team mate Tirunesh Dibaba decided to skip the 5,000 metres because of illness following her 10,000 metres triumph.

In a giant move, the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations company has decided to invest Rs 375 crore (Rs 3.75 billion) in Ethiopia to develop 10,000 hectares of tea plantation.

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell won the 100 metres title following a blanket finish to the final and chaotic scenes at the world championships on Monday.

Kenenisa Bekele won his third straight 10,000 metres world title on Monday with teammate Sileshi Sihine pacing him and finishing second in a dramatic victory for Ethiopia

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba had contemplated pulling out of the race after complaining of crippling stomach pains before taking her place on the starting line.

ISRO is developing a 100-kg "satellite bus" as demand has picked up for launching nano-satellites, chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

'I cannot think of being a writer in any other city in India!' says poet Sampurna Chattarji.

A Nigerian woman weightlifter and an Angolan male swimmer have tested positive for banned substances at the All Africa Games.

A decline in cereal production in several low-income food-deficit countries this year could lead to a tighter food supply situation with 28 countries facing serious food scracity, according to a new United Nations report.

The world record holder made an impressive comeback from injury by winning the 100 metres in 9.90 secs a Golden League meeting.

A brainchild of President A P J Abdul Kalam, the pilot project for tele-education and tele-medicine under the Rs 542.9 crore (Rs 5.42 billion) pan-African programme was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The decision to extend visa on arrival facility to Indians was taken during discussions between visiting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Ethiopian counterpart Seyoum Mesfin in the picturesque capital city of Addis Ababa.

Both are being questioned in the probe.

A 47-nation survey by Pew Research Center found worldwide lack of confidence in United States President George W Bush, increasing anti-Americanism, slippage in the image of China and mixed opinion about Russia.

Ethiopia's Meseret Defar smashed her own 5,000 metres world record by nearly eight seconds and Jamaica's Asafa Powell cruised to a sub-10-second victory in the men's 100 at a Golden League meeting on Friday.

Elected along with India on the board of UNAID were the US, Russia, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Guatemala and Monaco.

African countries too are embracing new technologies and evolving ways of tackling old problems.

Till recently considered a niche area, organic foods and drinks have come a long way.

When US coffee chain giant Starbucks forays in India later this year, it might offer more than just a cuppa -- an annual ritual of free coffee, a new mineral water brand and grants for clean water projects could be part of the package.