Author: LBO
Norway peace envoy says ‘major crisis’ looming in Sri Lanka
NEW DELHI, May 27, 2006 (AFP) – Norway’s top peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Eric Solheim, said Saturday a major crisis was brewing in the tropical island and that it could be headed back to full-scale civil war. Norway was committed to its role as facilitator despite the problems in the situation, he said. “We […]
Singapore’s Banyan Tree launches IPO
SINGAPORE, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Singapore-based luxury resort and spa chain the Banyan Tree on Friday launched an initial public offering (IPO) worth up to 407 million Singapore dollars (259 million US). The resort and spa chain is issuing some 380 million shares at a maximum price of 1.07 dollars each and will make […]
Behave or you’re history, Nepal’s finance minister warns king
KATHMANDU, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Humbled King Gyanendra must “behave” or he has no future even as a ceremonial monarch, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told AFP, revealing a royal spending spree before absolute rule was brought to an end.Gyanendra’s conduct had been “very good” in the month since he relinquished his 14-month […]
Sri Lanka’s World Trade Centre bans cars on bomb fears
May 25, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s twin-tower World Trade Centre banned vehicles Thursday fearing a car bomb attack by Tamil separatist rebels, police and tenants of the complex said.As part of stepped-up security measures, the 39-storey office complex in the heart of Colombo blocked all vehicles from entering, Colombo’s police chief Pujith Jayasundara said. […]
Malaysia’s Proton in talks with China’s Chery
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysian carmaker Proton said Wednesday it is in talks with Chinese manufacturer Chery on a deal to assemble and distribute Proton and Chery models in China, Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.Proton said in a statement that the two firms would work on a feasibility study over the […]
Narrow strip of land is Sri Lanka’s flashpoint
MUHAMALAI, Sri Lanka, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – A narrow strip of land in Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula of Jaffna is a flashpoint that could ignite a new war in the country, according to senior military commanders. “Tension is very high, very high,” the officer told AFP on Monday.“Anytime, this can accelerate.” In the past […]
Sri Lanka banks on Europe to tame Tigers amid ‘major war’ threat
May 22, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was banking on the European Union to tame Tamil Tiger guerrillas as the rebels warned that the killing of their top intelligence operative could force them into a “major war.” Scandinavian truce monitors have said that the February 2002 truce now existed only on paper.The rebel Liberation Tigers […]
Problems remembering wives’ names? Then you have too many
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21, 2006 (AFP) – A prominent Malaysian cleric has warned Muslims against repeatedly marrying and divorcing for fun after reports of a man who married 30 times and has scores of children and grand-children.Harussani Zakaria, a religious leader in northern Perak state, said in a report over the weekend it was sinful […]
New firing across Sri Lanka’s de facto front lines
May 20, 2006 (AFP) – Government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels traded artillery fire across a de facto front line in the island’s north Saturday, military officials said.There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side after a 30-minute exchange of fire at Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula, but the main entry and exit […]
Mysticism, modernity collide in ritual at Indonesia’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 […]
Annan says it’s Asia’s turn for secretary general
TOKYO, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday that most nations believe his successor should come from Asia, as campaigning for his replacement intensifies.“I can say that most of the member states believe that it is a turn for Asia,” Annan told a news conference in Tokyo. “It is a […]
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 […]