COLOMBO (Reuters) – He was pardoned by the president and released from jail, but Sri Lankan former army chief Sarath Fonseka had nothing but scorn for the government on his first day of freedom and vowed to fight for its downfall.

The ex-general said it could take 5 to 10 years to change the political culture of the island nation but he was determined to join forces with opposition parties even if the terms of his release prevented him from standing for office.

COLOMBO, May 22 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s central bank expects
recent measures it has taken to boost the rupee will help
the currency recover to below 125 to the U.S. dollar, but it is
not targeting a particular level, Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal
told Reuters on Tuesday.

The rupee is hovering around 129-130 despite a warning from
the Treasury Secretary last month that the authorities would
intervene in the market if it did not appreciate to 125.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s military, which has dominated the country for much of its turbulent history, has less sway over foreign policy, and a new power equation is emerging within America’s strategic ally, said the foreign minister.

Pakistan has been directly ruled by generals for more than half of its 64-year history and indirectly for much of the rest.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – For India to reach its target for cutting the budget deficit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would almost certainly have to raise prices for subsidised fuel products.

For Singh, it is an unhappy choice between sound economics and political survival. Since the former risks bringing down the government, he is likely to sacrifice budget discipline to hang on to power.

NEW DELHI, March 19 (Reuters) – For India to reach its
target for cutting the budget deficit, Prime Minister Manmoham
Singh would almost certainly have to raise prices for subsidised
fuel products.

For Singh, it is an unhappy choice between sound economics
and political survival. Since the former risks bringing down the
government, he is likely to sacrifice budget discipline to hang
on to power.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Rahul Gandhi slept under the stars in rural India, he shared simple meals of lentil curry and bread with poor villagers, and he was even arrested for joining farmers in a land protest.

The scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty tried over the past year to project himself as a man of the people. He dressed down and grew a beard to look more rugged as he campaigned tirelessly for the ruling Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, a vast state straddling the River Ganges that with 200 million people is more populous than Brazil.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Rahul Gandhi slept under the stars in rural India, he shared simple meals of lentil curry and bread with poor villagers, and he was even arrested for joining farmers in a land protest.

The scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty tried over the past year to project himself as a man of the people. He dressed down and grew a beard to look more rugged as he campaigned tirelessly for the ruling Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, a vast state straddling the River Ganges that with 200 million people is more populous than Brazil.

NEW DELHI, March 6 (Reuters) – India’s Rahul Gandhi
failed spectacularly to deliver a promised comeback for his
Congress party in crucial state elections, casting fresh doubt
on his capacity to become the next member of a storied dynasty
to lead the country.

The Congress party flop in India’s most politically vital
state was also a blow to the already-tottering government of
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reducing his scope to re-launch
reforms and reverse a slowdown in economic growth.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Rahul Gandhi failed spectacularly to deliver a promised comeback for his Congress party in crucial state elections, casting fresh doubt on his capacity to become the next member of a storied dynasty to lead the country.

The Congress party flop in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India’s most politically vital state, was also a blow to the already-tottering government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reducing his scope to re-launch reforms and reverse a slowdown in economic growth.