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‘s Congress party brings back trusted slogan to woo masses
NEW DELHI, Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – It was the slogan that propelled India’s then premier Indira Gandhi to her first re-election victory in 1971 by a landslide. Thirty-five years on, the Congress Party government has brought back “Garibi Hatao” — “Eradicate Poverty”. The government, elected in 2004 on an anti-poverty programme, is hoping the […]
Japanese peace envoy in bid to save Sri Lankan ceasefire
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi was expected in Sri Lanka Sunday for talks with government and rebel leaders amid fears that the island is veering dangerously close to all-out war.His arrival follows reports of overnight shelling and other bloodshed that capped off one of Sri Lanka’s most violent weeks since […]
Outgunned but not out-foxed, Tigers go to talks seeking upper hand: analysts
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – The Tamil Tigers’ pummeling of Sri Lankan troops has proved that, despite apparent battlefield setbacks, they are still a force to be reckoned with ahead of peace talks later this month, analysts say. In just six hours last Wednesday, the Tigers turned back a government push into their territory, deftly […]
Sri Lanka navy sinks suspected Tiger trawler
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy sank a suspected Tamil Tiger trawler Sunday along the island’s northwest coast, killing at least four people, after the ship opened fire on patrol craft, military sources said.Naval patrols had ordered the trawler to stop before it fired on the government boats, a source said, adding that […]
‘s Budget 2007 to focus on infrastructure, generate more savings; Treasury
October 14, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse is due to present the 2007 budget on Nov. 14, which will focus on infrastructure and measures to generate more savings, the finance ministry said Saturday. “The importance of tax payer contributions towards country’s development efforts, suggestions to improve the tax system and taxpayer concerns […]
Microcredit gives hope to Bangladesh rural poor
DHAKA, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – A tiny Grameen bank loan to buy a cow was a lifeline for 32-year-old Margina who now runs a successful rice business but was once so poor she could not afford to eat.Like millions of others, Margina saw her life transformed through a 3,000 taka (42 dollar) loan from […]
Champagne now the tipple of choice for hip-hop royalty
LOS ANGELES, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – For centuries regarded as a sparkling symbol of decadence sipped by kings and queens, Champagne has today become the tipple of choice for hip-hop royalty.But while rap stars have kept the bubbly flowing from magnums, Methuselahs and jereboams in fashionable nightclubs from New York to Los Angeles, not […]
EU urges end to fighting in Sri Lanka
HELSINKI, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union on Saturday urged Sri Lanka’s leaders and the Tamil Tiger rebels to end fierce fighting which threatens peace talks due this month, after a week of raging violence there.“The presidency urges the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to ensure that humanitarian aid deliveries be […]
‘ bodies to be exhumed in Sri Lanka
Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – The bodies of 15 aid workers massacred in Sri Lanka will be exhumed next week in a fresh bid to determine who killed them, their French employer said Saturday as sporadic fighting continued in the troubled north of the island.The aid victims were among 17 mostly Tamil workers with the […]
Sri Lankan jets drop 48 bombs on Tamil Tiger village: website
Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan army jets dropped 48 bombs on a village in Tamil Tiger-controlled territory on Friday, a pro-rebel website said, amid ongoing violence in the troubled northeast.Japan, Sri Lanka’s main financial backer, was also sending special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi to the island on Sunday to meet with the government […]