Category:
Economic crisis a gift to people traffickers: Australia
NUSA DUA, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – People traffickers are licking their lips as the world economic downturn pushes more people to migrate in search of work, Australia’s foreign minister told Asian ministers Wednesday.Stephen Smith told a gathering of ministers and high-level officials from more than 60 countries, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region, that the […]
Sri Lankan rebels say ready for truce, peace talks
April 14, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels said Tuesday they were ready to negotiate a ceasefire with government forces and restart peace talks to halt decades of ethnic bloodshed.The government said it hoped that non-combatants would be able to leave a narrow strip of coastal jungle where they are allegedly held hostage […]
Sri Lanka Eagle Insurance says competition eroding profitability
Apr 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Eagle Insurance, whose 2008 profits fell 12.0 percent to 463.7 million rupees, says it faces tough competition in motor insurance, higher claims and increasing lapse rates. Eagle Insurance Group’s holdings of government securities have increased by 17.1 percent or 1.65 billion rupees, to 11.6 billion. Interest income from […]
Australian parliament examines sports news row
CANBERRA, April 14, 2009 (AFP) – Australia’s Senate will this week examine a critical dispute between sports administrators and global media over the use of digital technology to cover sporting events. The issue has become increasingly controversial, sparking media boycotts of major events as sports bodies seek to impose strict conditions on how games are […]
Pakistan president signs sharia law deal
ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistan’s president signed an accord to put part of the country under Islamic law as part of efforts to end a Taliban insurgency, despite fears Tuesday that it would encourage extremism. President Asif Ali Zardari’s move formalises a controversial deal between a pro-Taliban cleric, who led thousands of supporters […]
Sri Lanka will be more attractive to investors after IMF bailout: CB official
Apr 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will become more attractive for investors once an International Monetary Fund stamp of approval comes with a bailout package, a top central bank official has said. “Once the IMF come in there would be more confidence, where you will find more development partners and foreign investors who would […]
Steady Numbers
Apr 13, 2009 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s Pan Asia Bank has grown 3.5 percent to 223 million rupees in the full-year 2008, through strong net interest margins were eroded by high taxes, the bank’s annual report shows. Interest income shot up 45.5 percent to 2.86 billion rupees, interest expenses increased 46.9 percent to […]
”” hearts
NEW DELHI, April 13, 2009 (AFP) – A professor dubbed “the love guru” is contesting India’s elections on an unusual platform — more freedom for lovers and standing up to vigilante groups who frown on public displays of affection. Matuk Nath Choudhary, who is standing in the Bihar state capital of Patna, is promising that, […]
Dwindling exports hit Bangladesh economy
DHAKA, April 13, 2009 (AFP) – Export growth for Bangladesh’s crucial garments sector has ground to a halt as a result of the global financial crisis, threatening to pull down the rest of the economy, experts said. Clothing manufacture underpins impoverished Bangladesh’s industrial activity, accounting for 80 percent of overseas sales and pulling in 11 […]
Sri Lankan military begins two-day ceasefire
April 13, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces began a two-day ceasefire on Monday, as the government called for the cornered Tamil Tiger rebels to allow thousands of civilians to flee the conflict zone. The Tigers, who are accused of holding the civilians hostage, have suffered months of battlefield setbacks that could finally end […]
Sri Lanka strips Norway of peace-broker role: official
April 13, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Monday stripped Norway of its role as broker of the island’s moribund peace process, a government official told AFP. Sri Lanka formally invited the Scandanavian nation to act as peace broker in January 2000, and Oslo managed to secure a ceasefire between the government and rebels which […]
‘s residence
SYDNEY, April 13, 2009 (AFP) – Hundreds of Tamil protesters staged a rally outside Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s official Sydney residence Monday calling for a lasting ceasefire in Sri Lanka. About 300 demonstrators gathered outside Kirribilli House and nearby Admiralty House, the governor-general’s residence, to urge the Australian government to call for Colombo to […]