MUHAMMAD YUNUS, THE ''BANKER TO THE POOR,'' WINS THE NOBEL PRIZE: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social development from below ... Full Article

KIRAN DESAI WINS PRESTIGIOUS MAN BOOKER LITERARY PRIZE: "The Inheritance of Loss” tells the story of an embittered judge who wants to retire in peace in his crumbling house in the Himalayas and whose life is turned upside down with the arrival of his granddaughter. This work, which took Desai eight years to complete, has been widely praised by critics throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. It has been described by reviewers as the best, sweetest, most delightful novel ... Full Article

Akbar Ahmed
Pakistani anthropologist, author and scholar on contemporary Islam.

AT Ariyaratne
Sri Lankan self-help pioneer and founder of SARVODYA.

Kuldip Nayyar

Farzana Panhwar
Pakistani biochemist, researcher and writer on agriculture and fertilizers, also President of Sindh Rural Women's Uplift Group.

Devinder Sharma
Indian journalist and writer respected for his views on food and trade policy.

Prativa Subedi
Nepali human rights activist, economist and founder of The Women's Awareness Center (WACN) in Kathmandu.