Its official now. Putting to rest all the speculations surrounding the appointment of Satyam's new chief executive officer (CEO), the six-member government-installed board today inducted A S Murty -- a Satyam veteran -- for the top job at the company with immediate effect.

Reporting from Washington -- President Obama abruptly changed tactics Wednesday in his bid to revive the economy, setting aside his bipartisan stance and pointedly blaming Republicans for demanding what he cast as discredited "piecemeal measures.

Sri Lanka's military says more than 700 civilians have fled to a government-controlled safe zone to escape fighting in the north.

A brief statement from the army said the civilians escaped Thursday from Tamil Tiger rebel-held territory around Mullaittivu, which has seen intense battles for several weeks.