New Left Front Shaking Up India’s General Election Race : Political campaigning is in full swing in India. The 5 phases of polling is scheduled to begin on April 16 and more than 700 million voters are expected to cast a ballot. Besides two grand alliances headed by the ruling National Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, a newly formed third front, spearheaded by the Left is also in the fray. Could this 9-party alliance be a serious challenger to the status quo? In New Delhi Bismillah Geelani gives his assessment of the race so far.

Thai Sex Workers Feel the Squeeze as Global Recession Hits Tourism : In Thailand, tourism is a major industry, worth billions of dollars. One of the many services traded is sex. Without social support or education to pursue other means, poor men and women are forced to work in this potentially dangerous occupation. But the slowing economic climate means that fewer tourists are visiting Thailand and it’s sex workers.
Michael Leung travels to Thailand and brings us their stories.

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