Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire's child star Azharuddin Ismail poses outside his newly allocated apartment, while his mother is seen in the background, in central Mumbai yesterday.
The Jai Ho Trust, established by the film's British director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson, has bought a new apartment for the child star, allowing him and his family to leave their corrugated iron hut in the Gareeb Nagar slum for the first time and move into the 23-square-metre apartment tomorrow after a Muslim ceremony is performed. (AFP)
Palin resigns as Alaska governor
Sarah Palin, who sought the US vice presidency last year, has announced she is stepping down as Alaska governor, fuelling speculation yesterday of a possible 2012 White House bid.
Palin, who was Republican John McCain's running mate in last year's failed presidential campaign, said she would step aside as governor and be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell at the end of this month.
Palin, 45, told a press conference at her lakefront home in Wasilla, Alaska, that she wanted to "take a stand and effect change, not just hit our head against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain."
In leaving her post before the end of her first term, Palin will be able to travel across the country more freely and build up a national political team, clearing the way for a potential presidential bid of her own. (AFP)
Soul for a loan
Ready to give your soul for a loan in these difficult economic times? In Latvia, where the crisis has raged more than in the rest of the European Union, you can.
Such a deal is being offered by the Kontora loan company, whose public face is Viktor Mirosiichenko, 34.
Clients have to sign a contract, with the words "Agreement" in bold letters at the top. The client agrees to the collateral, "that is, my immortal soul".
Mirosiichenko said his company would not employ debt collectors to get its money back if people refused to repay, and promised no physical violence. (Reuters)
US, Russia are 'equals,' says Obama
The United States wants to forge new relations on an equal footing with Russia, President Barack Obama said in a television interview broadcast yesterday to the Russian-language audience.
"America respects Russia, we want to build relations where we deal as equals," he told the international Russian-language news channel Vesti ahead of his landmark visit tomorrow to Moscow.
Obama said relations had "left a lot to be desired in recent years" under predecessor George W. Bush and reminded his audience that he wanted to hit the "reset" button from day one in the White House.
Obama is due to meet both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, which would allow him to "better understand the concerns and politics" of both men. (AFP)
Game show looks to convert atheists
What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?
Turkish television station Kanal T hopes the answer is a ratings success as it prepares to launch a game show where spiritual guides from the four faiths will seek to convert a group of non-believers.
The prize for converts will be a pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen religion.
But religious authorities in Muslim but secular Turkey are not amused by the show and the Religious Affairs Directorate is refusing to provide an imam for it. (Reuters)
Iran hangs 20 drug traffickers
Iran hanged 20 drug traffickers yesterday, official media reported, days after putting to death 12 other convicted criminals.
The traffickers were executed in a prison in the city of Karaj west of Tehran after being convicted for buying, selling and possessing various drugs, IRNA news agency said.
A total of 700 kg of heroin, cocaine and opium had been seized from the convicted traffickers, who were between 35 and 48 years old..
Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, apostasy and drug trafficking are all punishable by death in the Islamic Republic.
The human rights group Amnesty International has listed Iran as the world's second most prolific executioner in 2008 after China, and says Iran executed at least 346 people last year. (Reuters)