From the US perspective, the immediate political advantage of the Saudi involvement will be two-fold: its impact on Pakistani public opinion and, secondly, in countering the expanding Iranian influence within Afghanistan. The Saudi role would hopefully temper the stridency of 'anti-Americanism' in Pakistan, given their influence on the Islamic parties in Pakistan, especially the Jamaat-i-Islami
Dempo are looking to maintain their good run when they take on their West Asian rivals in the first leg of the AFC Cup semi-final at the Sports City Stadium in Lebanon on Tuesday.
With their eye on the AFC Cup, defending champion Dempo have removed focus from the I-League for the time being.
Voicing concern over the plight of civilians caught in the Sri Lankan Army offensive against the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam in rebel-held areas, India has asked Colombo to ensure their safety and security.
The Telluride festival -- held a week before the much larger event in Toronto, heralds the beginning of the fall film season in North America, showing a small selection of films -- Hollywood and international -- a number of which end up creating the buzz for the Oscar season.
It is not clear, however, whether the two players are considering a majority stake or would be content as investors with 26 per cent.
Move to skirt public offer for S African telco.
India were clubbed in a tough group, along with higher-ranked Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates, in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup final qualifying round draw, held at the Aspire dome in Doha. Malaysia is the fourth team in the group.
India has said any unilateral armed action against Iran is totally 'unacceptable and undesirable' and should be disapproved of by the international community. "In respect of Iran, I entirely agree with the Egyptian Foreign Minister that there should be no armed engagement. In fact we are against any coercive engagement," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit in Cairo on Thursday night.
India's English football coach Bob Houghton says state associations will have to be brought into the fold if India wants to finally achieve the aim of playing in the 2018 World Cup.
India football captain Baichung Bhutia believes the Englishman is the best coach the team has had for a long time and he should be given a second tenure. Houghton's three-year contract expires in May 2009 but Baichung wants the widely respected former Fulham midfielder to be given another tenure as his continuation will only "help Indian football."
Anil Ambani, whose flagship company Reliance Communications is in talks with South Africa-based MTN, is looking to buy more than 40 per cent stake in the telecom major, a media report said on Tuesday.
America turned out to be the most popular in India, with its ratings rising up to 71 per cent, up from 54 per cent in the summer of 2002, in the survey conducted by an independent body - the Pew Research Centre - over 16 nations to assess favourabilty ratings of five major countries. Besides, India is the only country outside the US where a majority of people sounded soft on President George W Bush, who fared poorly in the popularity contest.
Anil Ambani has won Lebanon-based M1 Chief Executive Officer Azmi Mikati's approval for a possible merger of Reliance Communications and South Africa's MTN Group following a meeting between the two.
UN officials marked the International Day of UN Peacekeepers by voicing gratitude for the work that Blue Helmets do every day in dangerous missions worldwide and mourning those who have fallen in service during the last six decades.
Dempo Sports Club have been pitted against Singapore League runners-up Home United in the AFC Cup quarterfinals.
Indian firms, including Tata Steel, in the past have formed SPVs to acquire foreign companies to protect local operations and also to avoid legal hindrances. The SPV may be registered in a tax-haven country, like Mauritius or Bahamas, the sources said. The move to float an SPV will help Bharti Airtel to continue being listed on Indian stock exchanges, while MTN's promoters will be given a stake in the SPV.
As many analysts have pointed out, by excessively identifying with Israeli policies, Bush has actually worked against Israel's long-term interests. Indeed, the Jewish State has become more unsure now than in it was in January 2001 when Bush became president.
Banking sources said with the MTN shareholders asking for a higher price than what Bharti had initially offered, the Indian telecom company might now pay 50 per cent of the money in cash and the rest through shares in Bharti Airtel. The sources added that MTN is also believed not to favour signing an 'exclusivity' contract with Bharti Airtel under which it would be bound not to talk to any other competing bidder till the negotiations with them have been concluded.
Ranti Martins and Chidi Edeh struck a brace each to outplay Sur Club of Oman 5-2 in their final Group A match and take their side to their maiden AFC Cup quarter-finals in Margao on Wednesday.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal's bid for telecom major MTN Group has to contend with some tough negotiations with Lebanon's former prime minister Najib Mikati, one of the wealthiest men in his country, as well as stiff black economic empowerment policies in South Africa that provide for a major share in the management of companies located in the country to blacks.
India's INS Mumbai and INS Karmukh will take part in the event, which includes the very basic to the most advanced, and involving submarines and aircraft. South Africa, India and Brazil, who form part of the new forum IBSA, will sport their biggest frigates and test the latest electronic systems against each other in a simulated war situation.
East Bengal and Lebanon's Safa FC played out a goalless draw in a dull and drab AFC Cup Group B encounter in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Wishful thinking often masquerades as assessment. Iran should not be different. Driven by short term gains, India is rolling out red carpet welcome to Ahmadinejad.
"We are ready with our money but it's so difficult to get a business visa to India,'' said Dr Abdul Rahman A Al Rabiah, managing director of Alrabiah, a consulting and engineering services company. Quoting instances, Rehman said, "Business leaders who have five-year multi-entry visa into the UK and Europe are merely given a three-month visa for India.''
Dempo revived their chances of making it to the knockout phase of the AFC Cup with a 2-1 victory over Bahrain league champions Al Muharraq in their Group A match at the National Stadium near Manama on Wednesday. It was sweet revenge for the I-League champions, who lost 0-4 at home to the same opponents on April 2. They now have six points from four matches.
A single armed sentry post and a strand of barbed wire atop the boundary walls are all that hint at an ultra high-security installation -- the Directorate General of Naval Design -- that has fathered battleships like the INS Mumbai, which turned heads across the globe when it sailed into war-torn Beirut in 2006 to evacuate hundreds of Indians stranded by Israel's attack on Lebanon.
West Asia is again boiling up. That is what Stratfor, a US-based think tank says after observing some of the recent developments in the trouble-torn region. Terming the situation ominous, its leading expert says the Arab-Israeli region is filled with rumours of a war.
Ghosh, who led the ramping up of German insurer Allianz's Indian insurance ventures, has assumed charge as Reliance Capital CEO from today, the company said. He would report to Reliance Capital Vice Chairman Amitabh Jhunjhunwala. Reliance Capital has also crossed the 14 million customer-mark across all its businesses, according to industry sources.
East Bengal started their AFC Cup campaign with a 0-1 loss to Lebanon's Safa Sporting Club.
Dempo Sports Club exploited the shaky rival defence scoring a 3-1 win over Lebanon's Al Ansar in the opening group match of the AFC Cup at the Nehru Stadium in Margao on Tuesday.
Alcatel-Lucent has bagged the contract to build undersea cable linking Mumbai and France.
Bharti will set up another high-capacity undersea cable, which will connect India to France through the Middle East.
The text of US President George W Bush's final State of the Union address delivered to Congress on Monday.
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.
Sunil Chettri pipped Dempo duo of Mahesh Gawli and Climax Lawrence to emerge as the AIFF Player of the Year for his excellent performances for his club and country.
India climbed two places to 143 in the latest FIFA rankings and is placed 26th in Asia. Argentina are ranked No 1, ahead of South American rivals Brazil and world champions Italy.
India is seeded No 23 in the draw, which will take place on December 17 in Kuala Lumpur.
India went down to Iran by a solitary goal in their last group match of Asian Football Confederation qualifier in Tehran on Saturday night. Following the defeat, India finished fourth in Group B with four points.
India thrashed Bhutan 4-0 in their last Group C match to finish second behind Iraq and qualify for the AFC Under-16 Football Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
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