Category: Other
Maldives heads backs to the polls amid controversy
MALÉ, October 17, 2013 (AFP) – The Maldives returns to the polls on Saturday for another presidential election after a top court annulled last month’s results, deepening concern about political stability in the young democracy.Election officials were working overtime to ready the luxury tourist destination for Saturday, after the Supreme Court last week scrapped the […]
Thousands homeless after killer Indian cyclone
GOPALPUR, October 13, 2013 (AFP) – Tens of thousands of people who fled India’s strongest cyclone in 14 years returned to discover their homes and livelihoods destroyed Monday, as a massive relief operation kicked into gear.One million people were forced to seek refuge in shelters and government buildings after the terrifying cyclone struck eastern India […]
Killer cyclone wreaks havoc along Indian coast
BHUBANESWAR, October 12, 2013 (AFP) – A cyclone left a trail of death and destruction Sunday after winds packing speeds of up to 200 kilometres an hour ripped through a vast swathe of India’s impoverished east coast.As emergency teams began assessing the damage from the country’s worst cyclone in 14 years, a massive relief effort […]
Maldivian president ends re-election bid
MALÉ, October 12, 2013 (AFP) – Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed has withdrawn his candidature for fresh elections which were ordered by the Supreme Court after a previous round of voting was annulled, an official said Saturday.However, a Commonwealth probe said the transfer of power was constitutional. A new president must be in office in the […]
‘s eastern coast
NEW DELHI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) – A cyclone barrelling towards India’s east coast intensified overnight, leading weather forecasters to warn Friday of a “very severe” storm that could cause widespread damage and flooding.Cyclone Phailin was expected to hit the impoverished states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday evening, accompanied by a storm surge […]
Miss Universe apologises to India over Taj photoshoot
NEW DELHI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) – Organisers of Miss Universe extended their “deepest apologies” to India over a photo shoot at the Taj Mahal that triggered a police case and accusations that she disrespected the famed monument to love. Reigning Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, a 21-year-old American from Rhode Island, visited the Islamic mausoleum […]
Lonely planet found floating without star
WASHINGTON, October 9, 2013 (AFP) – Astronomers said Wednesday they have found a lonely planet outside the solar system floating alone in space and not orbiting a star.Other telescopes in Hawaii showed that the planet has similar properties to those of gas giants orbiting around young stars, but PSO J318.5-22 lacks a host star. During […]
‘s Bharti end joint venture
MUMBAI, October 9, 2013 (AFP) – Global retail giant Walmart and Indian firm Bharti said on Wednesday they were ending their partnership in the country’s retail sector and would now operate separate businesses.The companies said in a joint statement that they would “discontinue their franchise agreement in the retail business” in India and would “independently […]
No Bribery
Oct 08, 2013 (LBO) – Ceylon Tobacco Company, a unit of British American Tobacco has denied media reports which gave the impression that it had attempted to bribe the island’s health minister to stop pictorial health warnings.Sri Lankan media carried reports last month attributed to health minister Maithripala Sirisena that the tobacco industry had attempted […]
Maldives Supreme Court annuls presidential vote
MALÉ, October 7, 2013 (AFP) – The Maldives Supreme Court Monday annulled the results of last month’s presidential elections, in a move likely to deepen international concern amid high tensions on the troubled Indian Ocean archipelago.The court annulled the first round of voting, which was held on September 7 and won by former leader Mohamed […]
Maldives asks for support after election annulled
MALÉ, October 8, 2013 (AFP) – The Maldives government on Tuesday urged all parties to support fresh elections after the Supreme Court annulled last month’s results, even though international observers had said those polls were free and fair. buy Hours before the ruling, six masked men set fire to a private television station that supports […]
Television channel set on fire amid Maldives crisis
COLOMBO, October 7, 2013 (AFP) – Unidentified attackers set fire to the main pro-opposition television network in the Maldives on Monday ahead of a crucial court ruling on whether suspended presidential elections should go ahead, officials said.At least six men stormed the offices of the Raajje television network in a pre-dawn attack and set fire […]