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.

Its almost a Satvik meal for rich leaders

LONDON - Whats cooking is the buzz….What is going to be served at the banquet hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the world’s 20 most powerful leaders? The menu is a secret but some leaks are out. One is that it is going to be comparably frugal and two that pork is off the menu. That is certain. The Saudi Arabian, Turkish and Indonesian delegations wouldn’t want that.

Britain to train 60,000 strong army of shop, hotel staff to counter terrorists

LONDON - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has confirmed that Britain has been placed on terror alert, and warned that an attack on the country is “highly likely.”

Foreign Policy magazine ranks Zardari fifth biggest loser in World

WASHINGTON - The famous Foreign Policy magazine has ranked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari as the fifth biggest loser in the world.

Hated and admired, Goody was reality TV’s shooting star (Obituary)

LONDON - Jade Goody was the ultimate reality television star. From shooting to villainy for her racial barbs against a Bollywood actress to becoming an icon of courage in her last moments, the 27-year-old Briton chose a life that would put small screen dramas to shame.

Ashley Cole tops ‘Britain’s Most Hated Celebrities’ list

WASHINGTON - Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole has been named ‘Britain’s Most Hated Celebrity’ in a new poll.

Proud of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and Kate Winslet, says Gordon Brown

LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Monday congratulated the makers of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, which won eight Academy Awards, including for Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle.

Britain names new envoy for Pakistan, Afghanistan

LONDON - Britain has named Sherard Cowper-Coles as its new envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

China, Britain in trade talks amid rights protests

LONDON - The British government was braced Monday for more protests against China’s human rights record even as Prime Minister Gordon Brown told visiting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao he wanted to double British exports to China.

Thousands of Tamils in London protest Sri Lankan army action

LONDON - Tens of thousands of Tamils held a mass demonstration in central London Saturday to protest the anti-insurgency army action in Sri Lanka, which they say has left ordinary civilians facing a humanitarian disaster.

India disagrees with Miliband, says it’s closed chapter

NEW DELHI - India Wednesday said it has conveyed through ‘proper diplomatic channels’ its ‘differences’ with Britain over British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s remarks about Kashmir and terrorism even as it asked other countries to act against states which sponsor terrorism.

Thousands demonstrate in Britain against Israeli raids on Gaza

LONDON - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets here and in other British cities Saturday to protest the Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip.

Brown hails end of ‘free market dogma’ ahead of G20 meeting

LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Thursday hailed with apparent relief the end of ‘free market dogma,’ saying he would now work to build a ‘progressive era’ around the world.