They seem to have a reverse-Midas touch: every initiative, however promising, turns to trash.

Though some of these programs have been around for years, the Senate bill greatly strengthens their financing while adding several promising new initiatives.

Gorbachev took the lead in promising new initiatives in Asia, but the substance of Soviet policy changed more slowly.

By taking unilateral United States action, they wrecked the promising initiative of the three Latin leaders.

Some act like foundation program officers, giving seed money to promising local initiatives.

One of the most promising initiatives is perhaps one of the most puzzling.

Why did these seemingly promising initiatives fall by the wayside - as they seem to have done elsewhere?

They have led to well thought-through and promising initiatives and projects at national level, but these absorb a huge amount of funding.

This could in the long term prove to be the undoing of this promising initiative.

Admittedly, some African countries have already embarked on some promising initiatives with the help of the international community.