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Muslim jeans for worshippers cause a stir in Pakistan
KARACHI, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – A new line of jeans for Muslims who want to stay comfortable when they pray has drawn mixed reactions from religious hardliners in Pakistan, where the trousers are being made. Designed by an Italian company and named after the Arabic term for Jerusalem, Al Quds Jeans are baggy with […]
‘s Merapi
KINAHREJO, Indonesia, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – The guardian of Indonesia’s Mount Merapi leads a silent procession — or what should be — around his hamlet under the cover of night in a bid to appease the volcano’s ancient spirits. Merapi, which means “Mountain of Fire”, has been belching potentially deadly heat clouds from its […]
Power cuts plunge half Bangladesh into darkness
DHAKA, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – Almost half of Bangladesh was plunged into darkness as the national electricity grid tripped, shutting down most of the country’s power generation units, reports said Friday. The capital Dhaka and districts across the north were affected by the more than two-hour shutdown late Thursday as summer temperatures soared above […]
Norway fears isolation over role in Sri Lanka peace process
OSLO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union’s decision to place the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on its list of terrorist organisations risks isolating Norway, which has played a key role in the nation’s peace process, chief negotiator Erik Solheim said on Friday. Norway, which is not an EU member, has mediated […]
EU agrees in principle to ban Sri Lankan rebels
COLOMBO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union has agreed in principle to blacklist Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels as a “terrorist” group, EU diplomats said Friday, in a move the rebels said would only lead to war in the country. US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Camp […]
EU ban on Sri Lanka rebels will only lead to war: rebel negotiator
COLOMBO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – A European Union ban on Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels will only lead to war in the country, the rebels’ top negotiator said in comments received Friday. The statement by Anton Balasingham came as Sri Lanka’s foreign minister visited Japan where he sought the help of donor nations to […]
Sinking Further
May 17 (LBO) – Petroleum retailer Lanka IOC, Friday reported a 7.1 billion rupee loss for the year ended March 31, as the Sri Lankan government fail to settle its subsidy bills. A unit of the Fortune 500 Indian Oil Corp., LIOCs financial health has been deteriorating since total subsidy claims climbed up to 7.695 […]
Continuing violence slowing down aid projects: World Bank
May 19, 2006 (LBO) – An upsurge in violence in the north east part of Sri Lanka could slow down progress post-conflict development projects, a top World Bank official said Friday. The bank, which lends around 80-100 million dollars to Sri Lanka each year, has a few medium-term projects in the north east. “We are […]
First sex ‘theme park’ set to open in London
LONDON, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – The world’s first “theme park” dedicated to sex and relationships is set to open in London’s bustling West End later this summer, its promoters said Thursday.Amora: The Academy of Sex and Relationships, featuring “high-tech and interactive exhibits together with new media displays,” expects up to 600,000 visitors within its […]
Time to eat? You’ve got 3.5 minutes…
LONDON, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – The average British worker spends just 3.5 minutes on average actually eating lunch, in order to cram as much as possible into their break, according to a survey published Thursday.The study of 2,000 people suggested nearly two-thirds (64 percent) tried to fit a number of activities into their lunch […]