Sonia flies economy

NEW DELHI: The Congress’s austerity drive received a giant push on Monday. Sonia Gandhi flew on an economy-class ticket from Delhi to Mumbai. Gandhi was assigned seat F-3. A K Antony was seated next to her. Over the weekend, ministers like Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar flew economy class in keeping with the government’s request for an austerity drive. The campaign began among the Congress, reportedly at Sonia Gandhi’s behest, after media reports that two union ministers were staying, at their own expense, in 5-star hotels. The ministers, SM Krishna and Shashi Tharoor, pointed out that their government houses were not ready. — Agencies

Unity govt in crisis

HARARE: When Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe signed a power-sharing deal with his archrival Morgan Tsvangirai, one year ago Tuesday, the pact was hailed as a breakthrough to stem political unrest and an economic meltdown. Twelve months later, the economy’s seemingly endless atrophy has halted. Abandoning the local currency, left worthless after years of hyperinflation, has brought a semblance of normality to once-bare store shelves, easing chronic food shortages. But ongoing feuding over key government posts has exposed the deal’s fragility.— AFP

Somalia unrest

MOGADISHU: Foreign military forces onboard four helicopters staged a raid on a village in southern Somalia on Monday, opening fire on a vehicle and killing some people inside, elders and witnesses said. The attack occurred in the small village of Erile, around 200 kilometres south of the capital Mogadishu, shortly after 1030 GMT. “There was a military operation carried out by four foreign choppers in Erile village. A car was destroyed, we are also hearing that some of the vehicle’s passengers were taken on the choppers,” said Abdinasir Mohamed Adan, an elder from the nearby village of Barawe. — AFP