The Government has been requested by Mr. Vijay Mallya, chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, to permit the foreign airlines to pick up a minority stake in domestic airlines.

Mr. Mallya reported, "I have requested the Government to allow foreign airlines to acquire a stake of up to 25 per cent in Indian airlines. I believe aviation should be treated at par with international norms and other industry sectors where strategic investors can invest. This will be a wealth creator and secure the future of Indian aviation."

With Yang out, Microsoft may come back

On Monday many sources reveled that the resignation of Jerry Yang as chief executive of Yahoo might invite another offer from Microsoft.

Eric Jackson, an activist Yahoo shareholder who was among the investors angry with Yahoo's management for not accepting Microsoft's previous bid, reported, "I would expect Microsoft to come back within the next three or four months. I think Microsoft will come back because Microsoft needs Yahoo, despite what they've been saying publicly, and I think they know that."

Chicago, Nov. 18: Losing Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain has revealed that he is ready to help President-elect Barack Obama fix America up.

McCain is said to have conveyed this message to Obama when the two of them met here on Monday afternoon to discuss ways to work together in the future.

Both met in Obama''s transition headquarters in Chicago and were assisted by Rahm Emanuel, Obama''s incoming White House chief of staff, and South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, McCain''s close friend, Fox News reports.

Melbourne, Nov 18 : Kangaroos are genetically similar to humans, Australian researchers have said.

Scientists at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Kangaroo Genomics (KanGO) have released the first detailed map of the kangaroo genome.

Genomes are the full set of genes and DNA in a species.

According to KanGO director Professor Jenny Graves, the historic research could help scientists understand how the genes worked and how humans evolved.

"Kangaroos are hugely informative about what we were like 150 million years ago,'''' News. com. au quoted Professor Graves, as saying.

Washington, Nov. 18: Former Democratic presidential contender and New York’s junior Senator Hillary Clinton is reportedly planning to accept the job of US Secretary of State offered by Presidential-elect Barack Obama, the Guardian has learned.

Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton''s foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats believe the vetting will be straightforward.