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Space Crunch
Nov 26, 2007 (LBO) – Colombo port, Sri Lanka’s main harbour, plans to build a dedicated cargo village to cater to rapidly increasing volumes of containers, a senior port official said. “We’re running short of space,” declared Nihal Keppetipola, a master mariner who is now the additional managing director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority […]
Australian republicans eye break with British monarchy
SYDNEY, Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) – Australian republicans Monday said prime minister John Howard’s removal from office opened the way for a bipartisan push for the country to break its ties with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.When the referendum failed to get the votes required to pass, Malcolm Turnbull, who was then chairman of the Australian […]
Commonwealth summit wraps up, without Pakistan
KAMPALA, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Commonwealth leaders called on Pakistan on Sunday to remain engaged with the group as they wrapped up a summit here that saw the suspension of President Pervez Musharraf’s country. Leaders from the 53-nation federation “called on the government of Pakistan to respond positively to the Commonwealth’s desire to remain […]
Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger chief to rally for war: observers
Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) – The leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers will give his annual policy speech from a jungle hideout this week, with observers predicting a rallying call to arms as the island slides back into all-out war.The reclusive Velupillai Prabhakaran will be speaking at the end of a difficult year for his […]
Sri Lanka a treasure trove of unexplored maritime history: archaeologists
Nov 25, 2007 (LBO) – Archaeologists working on a Dutch colonial era shipwreck in Sri Lanka’s southern Galle port say 12 more wrecks lie submerged, awaiting excavation and cataloging as historical treasure. In 1999, the team had also uncovered a human skull. “There are 27 sites which contain 12 shipwrecks in the Galle port,” Rasika […]
‘s new leader set to win over big business
SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – By revamping itself behind a fiscal conservative, Australia’s Labor Party has overcome big business fears that its election victory could set back the country’s economic boom, analysts say.Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said Labor leader Kevin Rudd brought energy, a sense of social justice and an understanding […]
Germans getting jittery as euro continues to climb
FRANKFURT, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Until recently, Germany has maintained an air of serenity as the euro spiked higher against other major currencies, even though exports are the motor of growth for the eurozone’s biggest economy. That has begun to change however, as seen in particular through comments by Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told […]
Sacred Aztec drink losing out to beer in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – It was a sacred liquid to the Aztecs and consumed for centuries in Mexico, but the traditional pulque drink seems to be fading in popularity despite its historic roots.“At first, I didn’t like the texture,” said 21-year-old Saria Fuentes, “then I got used to the taste and now, […]
‘s Tharanga gives England a headache
Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s young batsman Upul Tharanga staked a strong claim for the first Test against England with another powerful display against the tourists here on Sunday.The left-hander, who made 112 in the tour opener last week, smashed 86 as the Sri Lanka Cricket XI made 298-9 by stumps on the […]
Sri Lankan rebel Atapattu slams selectors
Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Marvan Atapattu made his final goodbye to Sri Lankan cricket on Sunday with another scathing attack on the selectors he had earlier described as “muppets headed by a joker.” The 37-year-old, who retired from international cricket earlier this month during the Australian tour, left Colombo to play in the rebel […]