Manmohan, Obama have their first encounter

LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama had their first close encounter here Wednesday - at the reception hosted by British premier Gordon Brown a day ahead of the G20 summit.

Roll over Beast, the Russian Hippo is here for G20… or is it?

LONDON - In the end, it was the curtains that gave it away.

As G20 leaders began arriving at the summit venue in London Thursday, much breathless media attention focused on US President Barack Obama’s $300,000 armoured-plated black limousine, dubbed The Beast.

Police arrest 87, warn of violent protests at G20 summit

LONDON - Police guarding world leaders at the G20 summit in London Thursday were braced for more anti-capitalist protests after making 87 arrests overnight.

President, vice-president, PM greet nation on Ramnavami

NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday greeted the nation on the occasion of Ramnavami, which is celebrated as the birth of Hindu god Ram.

Manmohan Singh demands $500 bn more for developing world

LONDON - Drawing lessons from history, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned rich nations against protectionism and called for $500 billion fresh funds from the Internmational Monetary Fund (IMF) to help developing countries cope with the worst financial crisis in six decades.

Manmohan Singh to meet Obama Thursday

LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets with US President Barack Obama later Thursday in the first engagement between the two leaders.

Here’s what G20 leaders had for dinner at 10 Downing Street

LONDON - The G20 leaders gathered at 10 Downing Street on the eve of crunch talks at the global summit enjoyed a dinner menu chosen by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, which featured the best of seasonal produce from around the UK.

US and Russia to reopen negotiations after a decade

LONDON - The United States and Russia will reopen negotiations to reduce their nuclear warheads, a BBC report mentioned President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev as saying on Wednesday here, ahead of the G-20 economic summit which begins on Thursday.

Manmohan Singh meets Brown ahead of G20 summit

LONDON - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today met his British counterpart Gordon Brown in London at 10 Downing Street ahead of G20 summit.

France, Brazil to propose system of world governance

PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that their countries were preparing a proposal for a new world governance to prevent future economic crises caused by a lack of regulation.

Most terror attacks originate in Pakistan: Brown tells Manmohan

LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh Wednesday that most of the terrorist attacks in Britain have their origins in Pakistan.

US, Russia agree to reduce nuclear arsenal

LONDON - US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev agreed Wednesday to draw up a new deal on nuclear disarmament, when they met in London ahead of Thursday’s summit of Group of 20 (G20) leading world economies.

A.Q. Khan network must be dismantled, stresses India

LONDON - India Wednesday called for the world’s most powerful countries to work together in order to dismantle the nuclear smuggling network run by A.Q. Khan, the so-called father of the Pakistani bomb.

India, Britain see progress at G20 in tackling tax havens

LONDON - India and Britain see progress at the G20 in addressing the lack of transparency among tax havens that hide behind strict secrecy laws in their banking system to protect people who park their funds with them.

G20 overshadows G8

LONDON - It is no longer a grouping of just the rich and famous. Yes Obamamania has gripped London, but the fact is that developing economies like Brazil, India, China and Indonesia are ready to challenge Washington’s hegemony.

Obama denies G20 split, sets new foreign policy aims

LONDON - US President Barack Obama rejected Wednesday talk of deep divisions between the world’s big economic powers gathering in London for a summit on the global economic crisis, while he also laid out new foreign policy directions for his administration.

US, Russia announce nuclear disarmament plans

LONDON - US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev agreed Wednesday to draw up a new deal on nuclear disarmament.

Manmohan Singh will be in much demand at G20: Financial Times

LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be sought after at the G20 summit, says the Financial Times that has a full-page interview with him ahead of the crucial meeting here Thursday to find a way out of the worst global economic crisis in several decades.

Protesters scuffle with police in London

LONDON - Angry protesters shouting ‘Shame on you’ and ‘Storm the banks’ were involved in scuffles with police outside the Bank of England during anti-globalisation demonstrations in London Wednesday.

No curry in ‘Best of British’ G20 dinner

LONDON - The chicken tikka masala may have been crowned Britain’s official dish, but the famous curry won’t find a place on the plates of the world’s dignitaries at their official dinner Wednesday night.

India-China cooperation sought at G20 summit

LONDON - The shadow of tough-talking Chinese looms over the Group of 20 (G20) summit of world leaders, but an informed Indian source dismissed suggestions Beijing was being confrontational.

Manmohan Singh calls for G20 ‘umpire’

LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there is a need for an international ‘umpire’ to ensure that rich nations are fulfilling their pledges.

All eyes on Manmohan Singh at G20 summit

LONDON - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the soft-spoken economist who leads the world’s loudest and largest democracy, will be much in demand at a gathering of the world leaders here Thursday.

‘G20 stimulus package key to 2010 recovery’

LONDON - The Group of 20 (G20) summit in London needs to agree to a fiscal stimulus package if the world is to make a 2010 recovery from the current economic downturn, an informed source said Wednesday.

G20 stimulus package key to 2010 recovery: source

LONDON - The Group of 20 (G20) summit in London needs to agree to a fiscal stimulus package if the world is to make a 2010 recovery from the current economic crisis, an informed source said Wednesday.

India will emerge more economically powerful than China: PM

LONDON - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has said that India would emerge a more successful country from an economic perspective in the long run in comparison to China.

Gurinder Chadha, J.K. Rowling to dine with Michelle Obama in UK

LONDON - Film director Gurinder Chadha and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will attend the G20 summit dinner in London, an event for the spouses of those attending, including Michelle Obama.

Obama to meet Manmohan with high-profile team

LONDON - The much awaited meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama here Thursday will include a high-profile team from Washington, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

India hopes reality will override differences at G20 summit

LONDON - Acknowledging some serious differences among G20 members on how the world should tackle the worst economic crisis in decades, India hopes the urgent need to address the issue will force that elusive consensus.

India concerned at Pakistan’s ’soft touch’ on Mumbai attack

LONDON - India is ‘anguished’ by Pakistan’s ’soft touch’ in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to book and is concerned at the possibility of the recent Lahore-style attacks on its own soil.