THEY trade in everything from stolen art to nuclear technology and leave rivals riddled with bullets in the streets of Moscow.
Now the worst thugs in the Russian Mafia have blasted their way to the top of the global organised crime league.
Moscow’s Solntsevskaya Bratva, known as the Brotherhood, have just been named the worst criminal gang [...]

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America is losing its lead in the space race as other countries challenge its dominance on the “final frontier”, the head of Nasa has warned.
The more obvious rivals such as Russia and Europe have been joined by countries as diverse as Brazil, Israel and India, which are all launching their own space programmes.
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Today the two leaders, often partners but sometimes rivals, offer starkly different paths toward development, and it is Brazil’s milder and more pragmatic approach that appears ascendant. Amid the decline of American influence in the region, the Brazilian president is discreetly outflanking Chávez at almost every turn in the struggle for leadership in South America.
Chávez [...]

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Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Friday the long journey to better ties with Taiwan was off to a good start, after the rivals signed historic agreements to set up direct flights and boost tourism.
Seeking to put aside decades of hostility that made the China-Taiwan relationship one of the world’s most dangerous potential military [...]

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Beijing and Washington are geopolitical rivals and Beijing has used the gains from trade and investment to strengthen its capabilities. It has been foolish to allow China to amass its dollar hoard through an inattentive trade policy. It would be even more irresponsible to allow Beijing to use its money any way it pleases to [...]

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Arab and Israeli rivals are preparing for the possibility of an imminent major war while simultaneously trying to talk down the rising tensions.
Israeli officials on Thursday attempted to ease the speculation of a new military confrontation prompted by reports of military preparations, deployments and drills, with assurances that Israel has no plans to attack Syria.
“Israel [...]

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In Russia a “hostile takeover” isn’t just a turn of phrase. Ruthless businessmen are employing armed thugs to intimidate their rivals and force them to hand over their companies — backed by corrupt policemen and courts. By Uwe Klussmann more…

Progress in Slain Journalist Case: Ten Arrested over Politkovskaya Murder
Money Laundering: Germany Puts Suspected Russian Mafia [...]

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