It was December, the start of a dreary Russian winter, and Barack Obama’s face was staring down at pedestrians walking along Moscow’s gray streets.
Obama, Russia and the Question of Color
Tag Archives: race
Sailor gunned down on sentry duty, Navy says
A sailor found dead earlier this week at California’s Camp Pendleton was shot while standing sentry, and a fire was set in an attempt to cover up evidence, the U.S. Navy said. The death of Seaman August Provost of Houston, Texas, is being investigated as a homicide, Capt
Swedish team celebrates Volvo victory
After nine grueling months, the Volvo Ocean Race has finally come to an end following the 10th and final leg from Stockholm to St Petersburg.
Number of best picture nominees doubling
The number of movies nominated for the best picture Oscar will double next year, a move apparently aimed at bolstering sagging ratings for the Academy Awards broadcast. “Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” Sid Ganis, president of the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said. Doubling the nominations would make it more likely a viewer’s favorite movie is in the running for the top honor, which may make them want to watch the show, said Steve Pond, author of “The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards.” “This clearly is a reaction to declining ratings,” Pond said.
Guardian Council rules out nullifying election
Iran’s Guardian Council has ruled out the possibility of nullifying the results of the country’s disputed presidential election, saying irregularities were reported before the balloting — not during or after. The announcement, reported by Iran’s government-funded Press TV on Tuesday, was another in a series of inconsistent stances by the council on how to handle the unrest stemming from the disputed June 12 race. “If a major breach occurs in an election, the Guardian Council may annul the votes that come out of a particular affected ballot box, polling station, district or city, like how it was done in the parliamentary elections,” council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei was quoted as saying late Monday
English flanker Croft named in Lions side
The British and Irish Lions will face world champions South Africa in Saturday’s opening rugby Test — and they enter the Durban clash full of confidence after winning all their six tour games so far. The Lions — a touring representative side featuring the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales — only come together every four years and they tour New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in strict rotation
10 Days in Tehran: What I Saw At the Iranian Revolution
A few days before the Iranian election, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a big rally at the Mosallah Mosque — said to be the world’s largest, if it is ever completed — in central Tehran. It was not very well organized. About 20,000 supporters of the President were inside the building, being entertained by a series of TV stars, athletes and religious singers
Review: ‘Pelham 123’ doesn’t measure up
In the new "The Taking of Pelham 123," a minor ’70s classic gets a big-ticket upgrade in Tony Scott’s subway thriller.
Vettel claims pole position for Turkish GP
Sebastian Vettel grabbed pole for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul to deny Jenson Button a hat-trick of starts from top spot on the grid. The German Red Bull driver left it until the final hot lap of the closing 10-minute qualifying session to demote championship leader Button down to second, with Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello back in third position. It is the third pole of the 21-year-old’s career, with both his victories to date coming from the front of the grid, in Italy last year and China this season
Iran’s Election: Rallies Reveal a Stark Contrast
Tehran’s main squares and streets have been crowded until the wee hours over this past week, as supporters of the upcoming election’s two leading contestants roam the streets on foot and in cars, chanting, honking their horns, waving posters. On Tuesday night, a group of about 100 young men gathered on one side of Parkway Square, waving pictures of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and shouting slogans like, “Ahmadi, you’re my life! You’re my future president!” Facing them — separated by a line of police and plainclothes security officials — stood a crowd of young men at least twice the size