All Blogs
Suicide bombing kills over 100 in Sri Lanka
Oct 16, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka suffered its worst ever suicide attack on Monday when suspected Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a truck packed with explosives next to a convoy of sailors, killing at least 102 people and wounding 150 more.More than 60,000 people have been killed in the three-decades-old conflict for a Tamil homeland […]
Japan envoy in talks with Sri Lanka govt amid more violence
Oct 16, 2006 (AFP) – A Japanese peace envoy opened talks with Sri Lankan leaders Monday as the international community stepped up pressure to salvage peace talks many fear have been doomed by an upsurge in violence.More than 60,000 people have been killed in the three-decades-old conflict for a Tamil homeland on the Sinhalese-majority island.Yasushi […]
’s central bank governor recruits more assistants
October 16, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has promoted four senior staff officers to the post of Assistant Governor from Oct. 11, the bank said Monday. Those promoted are: • H N Thenuwara • Uthum Herath • Anila Dias Bandaranaike • D S Wijesinghe The bank is in the process of selecting candidates […]
Sri Lanka central bank talks up rupee, as the currency comes under renewed pressure
October 15, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is talking up the rupee ahead of market opening on Monday, as the currency came under heavy pressure, despite falling oil prices. Analysts estimate that the central bank has spent close to 150 million dollars in the past few weeks defending the rupee. The rupee floated […]
Latin soap operas winning TV hearts around the globe
CANNES, France, Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – True love is making a comeback on the television screen, winning the hearts of audiences around the globe.It’s also making big bucks for some of the world’s leading programme makers, contradicting playwright William Shakespeare’s famous observation that “the course of true love never did run smooth”. The staple […]
” deals: analysts
HARARE, Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Zimbabwe, shunned by the West, is trawling ever wider for alternative business partners, but analysts say much-trumpeted deals with its new friends are unlikely to yield meaningful benefits to the country.The state-run Zimbabwe Central Bank summoned reporters to a press conference last week to attend the signing of a […]
‘s Congress party brings back trusted slogan to woo masses
NEW DELHI, Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – It was the slogan that propelled India’s then premier Indira Gandhi to her first re-election victory in 1971 by a landslide. Thirty-five years on, the Congress Party government has brought back “Garibi Hatao” — “Eradicate Poverty”. The government, elected in 2004 on an anti-poverty programme, is hoping the […]
Japanese peace envoy in bid to save Sri Lankan ceasefire
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi was expected in Sri Lanka Sunday for talks with government and rebel leaders amid fears that the island is veering dangerously close to all-out war.His arrival follows reports of overnight shelling and other bloodshed that capped off one of Sri Lanka’s most violent weeks since […]
Outgunned but not out-foxed, Tigers go to talks seeking upper hand: analysts
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – The Tamil Tigers’ pummeling of Sri Lankan troops has proved that, despite apparent battlefield setbacks, they are still a force to be reckoned with ahead of peace talks later this month, analysts say. In just six hours last Wednesday, the Tigers turned back a government push into their territory, deftly […]
Sri Lanka navy sinks suspected Tiger trawler
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy sank a suspected Tamil Tiger trawler Sunday along the island’s northwest coast, killing at least four people, after the ship opened fire on patrol craft, military sources said.Naval patrols had ordered the trawler to stop before it fired on the government boats, a source said, adding that […]