Former Miss Russia jailed in US, faces deportation

Image courtesy: New York Post

New York:  Miss Russia 1998 and former Miss Universe semifinalist Anna Malova, charged in the US with forging drug prescriptions, will spend Christmas holidays in jail, the New York Post reported.

Zardari to be released from hospital tomorrow

Islamabad:  A statement from Pakistan's president says he will be discharged from hospital in Dubai on Thursday, and that all tests carried out on him returned results "within normal range."

The statement on Wednesday said that Asif Ali Zardari was to "rest at home", once he has left the hospital.

China's human rights record getting worse: US ambassador

Beijing:  China's deteriorating human rights record is a growing concern for the United States, even as overall ties between the countries become more entwined, US Ambassador Gary Locke said on Wednesday.

New giant plane to launch people, cargo into orbit

Seattle:  Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan are building the world's biggest plane to help launch cargo and astronauts into space, in the latest of several ventures fuelled by technology tycoons clamouring to write America's next chapter in spaceflight.

Islamists poised to consolidate in Egyptian polls

Cairo:  Islamists are poised to further consolidate their overwhelming lead in the second phase of Egyptian parliamentary polls, as millions headed to polling booths on Wednesday to decide the future of nine governorates, in the first landmark elections since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

Time names 'The Protester' as 'Person of Year'

New York:  Time magazine named the collective "protester" around the world as its person of the year Wednesday, citing the change brought by street demonstrations from Arab countries to New York.

End of Iraq war: Welcome home, Obama tells US troops

Fort Bragg:  President Barack Obama saluted returning troops returning from Iraq Wednesday, declaring that the nearly nine-year conflict is ending honorably, "not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home."

Zardari discharged from hospital, says aide

Dubai/Islamabad:  Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was on Wednesday discharged from a Dubai hospital where he was being treated for a heart condition and moved to his private residence in the emirate to recuperate, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

100 years of Antarctica discovery

Oslo, Norway:  Polar adventurers, scientists and the Prime Minister of Norway gathered at the bottom of the world on Wednesday to mark the 100th anniversary of explorer Roald Amundsen becoming the first to reach the South Pole.

US House passes legislation to freeze aid to Pakistan

Washington:  The US House of Representatives approved a billion dollar defence bill, which, among other things, freezes the $700 million in aid to Pakistan until the country offers greater assurances to Washington to contain the spread of Improvised Explosive Devices.

No cut in $700 million civilian aid to Pakistan: US

Washington:  A day after a key Congress panel agreed to freeze $700 million in aid to Pakistan, the US has said that it was just a proposal under a defence bill and made it clear that it has not cut any civilian assistance to the country, with which its ties have plunged to a new low following a deadly NATO raid.

US relationship with Pak has been a difficult one: Clinton

Washington:  As ties between the two countries hit a new low, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US's  relationship with Pakistan has been a "difficult" one and the latter was gripped by a "weak economic leadership".

Florida cop 'parks' his car up a light pole

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Mumbai:  A Miami police officer was surprisingly able to walk away from the scene uninjured despite running his police vehicle up a light utility pole on a residential street in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Jet Airways flight makes emergency landing at Kolkata airport after smoke alarm goes off

Kolkata:  There was a minor scare today at the Kolkata airport after a Jet Airways flight made an emergency landing less than an hour after take-off following a smoke alarm in the aircraft.