
Sri Lanka's war widows pin hopes on new president
Shunned, destitute and pushed into prostitution in some cases, Sri Lanka's Tamil widows have returned to northern Jaffna since the end of the separatist war only to discover they are not welcome even in their homeland. ... more
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Sri Lankan soldier handed death sentence for civilian massacre
A Sri Lankan court on Thursday handed the death sentence to a soldier convicted of slitting the throats of eight Tamil civilians, including four children, during the island's separatist war. ... more
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Fossil discoveries in southern Africa reveal life before catastrophic Permian extinction
Liverwort gene discovery reveals ancient mechanism behind plant reproductive growth
Potato traces its ancient roots to tomato hybridization
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Floods kill 41 in western India
Flash flooding triggered by torrential rains has killed 41 people in India's western Gujarat state, as the annual monsoon season hits the country, a disaster management official said Thursday. ... more
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Donors pledge $4.4bn in aid to quake-hit Nepal
Quake-devastated Nepal Thursday hailed international donors, led by India and China, for surpassing expectations and pledging $4.4 billion for reconstruction, as the country's premier vowed "zero tolerance" of corruption and said all aid would go to victims. ... more
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Quake-hit Nepal appeals for aid to rebuild country
Nepal is to host a major meeting of donors Thursday to raise funds to rebuild the quake-devastated country, hoping to dispel doubts that money will be lost to corruption and reconstruction hamstrung by red tape. ... more
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Tibetans pray for Dalai Lama at 80th birthday celebration
The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on Sunday, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying seeking greater Tibetan autonomy. ... more
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Frustration as tourists stay away from quake-hit Nepal
Boatman Hem Gurung waits listlessly on the deserted banks of Lake Phewa in the shadow of Nepal's spectacular Annapurna mountain range for tourists that do not come. ... more
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