development
Tehelka Chronicles Lalgarh Violence, Offering Preview of What's To Come
Tehelka offers an in depth look with multiple perspectives on the state violence in Lalgarh, West Bengal, and its implications. Among the most disturbing aspects of what they write about is how the release of anyone remotely accused of Maoism, whether or not there is any truth to the notion, is increasingly politically verboten. Coming on the heels of the much belated release of Binayak Sen and the announcement of a very large escalation of the Indian government's attempts to eliminate 'Maoism', it seems to me that the silent war on the poor and disempowered has shifte
Britain, US, others pledge billions to Pakistan
According to British conservative newspaper The Telegraph, the United Kingdom and the United States are leading a group of countries that have pledged $5 billion to Pakistan:
More than $5 billion (£3 billion) has already been pledged, $2.5 billion of which has been earmarked to help rebuild homes, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals decimated in the Pakistan Army's operation to break the Taliban's control over the the Swat valley....
Sonia asks state units to collect relief material for Lankan Tamils
The hardening of global opinion against terror — a welcome development from India's point of view -- and the loss of whatever sympathy the Tigers once had in international capitals have eliminated leeway for New Delhi to do anything more than express sympathy for the distressed Tamilians.
Sending relief material seems to be the party's way of making a gesture to Tamil sentiments, without resiling from its stand against terrorism and redrawing of boundaries of sovereign nations.
Experts Urge US to Help Agriculture Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia
A group of specialists committed to foreign assistance is proposing a renewed U.S. commitment to agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The recommendations were presented Tuesday by the Chicago Council of Global Affairs.
The 13-member panel making the recommendations is co-chaired by Catherine Bertini, a Syracuse University professor and former head of the United Nations World Food Program. She says an increased commitment to food production in Africa and South Asia would help bring 270 million people out of poverty by 2020.
