Some world leaders dominated the headlines in 2012. For good reasons and bad these leaders were the focus of 2012. Our list includes Barack Obama who was elected as President for the second time, Vladmir Putin who held on as the President of Russia, Syria's Bashar Assad resisting any attempt to remove him, North Korea's Kim Jong-un who showed off his softer, sexier side and China's new leader Xi Jinping for his taking charge of China.
This clearly was Obama’s year. The American President was re-elected this year in November. He tweeted out this image when he won the election and this instantly became one of the most re-tweeted tweets of all time. Image from Obama’s Twitter account
Vladimir Putin wipes tears as he addresses supporters during a rally in Manezhnaya Square near the Kremlin in central Moscow. He might be crying in this image but Putin’s re-election is likely to have brought a rare smile to the Russian President’s face. However, not all in Russia were pleased with his victory and protests followed. Reuters
Syrian president Bashar Assad, performs Eid prayers in the Hamad Mosque in Damascus, Syria. Assad was under fire this year as Syria was rocked with internal strife. The regime’s response to crush opposition sparked international outrage with many saying that Assad has no authority left to rule. AP/SANA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and wife Ri Sol-Ju attend the opening ceremony of the Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground on Rungna Islet along the Taedong River in Pyongyang in this July photo. For North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, this year was a landmark. Apart from launching a rocket in space much to the consternation of the US and South Korea, the fact that he had a wife was something that left almost everyone intrigued. Oh and the fact that the Onion’s spoof saying he was the sexiest man in the world made news headlines in China, ensured the spotlight stayed firmly on him. Reuters
Xi Jinping listens while meeting with Vuk Jeremic, president of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.China’s new leader Xi Jinping managed to grab the headlines when he disappeared from the public in September sparking rumours that he was critically ill or worse, dead. His public appearance though put an end to those rumours . AP
The average IPL fan isn’t outraged by the spot-fixing scandal. It merely confirms what we already suspected about the junk food of sports.
Not burdened by the baggage of caste or dogma, Sonia Gandhi has the opportunity and capacity to make a real difference to Indian society.
If the three can’t thrash out an out of court settlement, the sexual harassment case is likely to result in long litigation in the full glare of the media.
Preity Zinta embodies a lot of what is wrong with the IPL – irresponsibility and compromising the dignity of cricket as a sport.
Given the huge legal, moral and ethical stakes, Srinvasan and Meiyappan should have voluntarily clarified their position and should have offered to face an investigation.
For Muslims in Britain, there comes one thing after another to get defensive about, and at quite short intervals. The Muslim community will be cornered into paying a price for the brutality of these two killers.
Chidambaram ‘s soothsaying may not work when the markets are driven largely by foreign institutional investors (FIIs)
Rejecting the talk about two power centres and differences between them, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said there is “collective leadership” between her and Manmohan Singh and “we all stand by” the Prime Minister who will complete his term.
From across the Hindu Kush, a plea for Indian help. Hamid Karzai wants New Delhi to provide artillery and military transport aircraft. It won’t cost India much—but New Delhi is worried about upsetting Pakistan, and wary of making commitments before it becomes clear which way the political wind is blowing in Kabul.
With the glut of information regarding the IPL spot fixing scandal and the three cricketers how much of it can we really trust?
This is the second time the IT industry veteran has been involved in a sex scandal.
Opinion polls show the BJP and the NDA ahead of the Congress and UPA. But it is the regional parties that are likely to make the biggest gains. NDA and UPA are post-poll creatures
India’s discourse with China has traditionally been trapped in the Mao-ist maze that defines how “friends” ought to conduct themselves. But Chinese statecraft has evolved, and India too must up its diplomatic game.
In that sense the poverty line of India is cruel. It is merciless and doesn’t allow the majority of Indians any money for shelter or access to education or healthcare or sanitation or anything else that civilised nations would consider as essential as food.
Can the party resolve internal discord and take a call on Modi’s PM candidature?
Try following a game on twitter or with friends or at the ground. At every step of the way, the spot-fixing question raises itself.
If you forget the politics and just look at the film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist doesn’t fare much better. It’s a thriller that lacks tension and suspense.
After monitoring a phone call, the investigation had virtually turned pan-India with some of the bookies based in Gujarat and Mumbai.
JM Financial will nominate Pandit as the non-executive chairman of the proposed bank. Pandit and Aiyar will have the right to purchase shares up to the amount prescribed by the RBI in this entity.
The great American dream is an integral part of America. It’s ‘great’ in that it symbolises not truth, but hope when the truth is disillusioning; it symbolises not facts, but ideals when facts are unnerving; it symbolises not likelihood, but promise when likelihood is all but bleak.
We’re tracking the Google I/O conference 2013 live – what will be unveiled?
The summary of the response in his Sreesanth’s home turf is that of incredulity. They are unwilling to believe that the pacer is guilty.
The original promise of the Dreamliner has failed to materiallise due to limitations in its flying range. Will Air India continue to pay a price for this?
The UPA ads eulogising MGNREGA as a a huge success needs to be taken with bags of salt. The scheme did make a difference, but not as is claimed.
