Category: Other
Anti Migrant
July 19, 2013 (LBO) – Boat people arriving in Australia from countries like Sri Lanka and others may be settled in Papua New Guinea and other developing countries, media reports said. AFP news agency quoting the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Australia has struck a deal with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to process and settle […]
Closed
SYDNEY, July 19, 2013 (AFP) – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Friday announced that no more boatpeople will be resettled in Australia as refugees, with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea.Australia will also contribute funds to reform the impoverished Pacific nation’s university sector and support other health, education and law and […]
‘s northern agri-biz fair set to go
July 18, 2013 (LBO) – An agri business fair in Killinochchi, a former war zone in the northern Sri Lanka is ready to open on July 26 with all stalls filled, its organizers said.The event has been supported backed by the Governor of the Northern Province, the military and state officials, the organizers said. The […]
India police release sketches of suspected temple bomber
PATNA, July 16, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police investigating bomb blasts at one of Buddhism’s holiest sites released sketches of a suspect on Tuesday and offered a reward for information about the attacks.Buddhists are rarely targeted in India but there have been tensions in the wider region recently following clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in […]
India eases foreign investment rules in new reform push
NEW DELHI, July 16, 2013 (AFP) – A group of Indian cabinet ministers late on Tuesday cleared plans to remove the foreign investment cap in telecoms and relax overseas ownership rules in a host of sectors in a new economic reforms push.Economists say India needs foreign investment to spur growth and also to close its […]
Halted
COLOMBO, July 15, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has halted a French cultural festival after it screened an internationally-acclaimed local film that the military considered insulting, authorities said Monday.The French Film Festival in Colombo was abruptly stopped by the management of the state-owned venue after the movie — set during Sri Lanka’s ethnic war — […]
Sri Lanka tea promoted at US food fair
July 16, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ‘Ceylon Tea’ has been showcased at a specialty food fair in the in the US city of New York, the island’s embassy said. Representatives of the US tea trade, officials from the US Tea Council and media had attended a networking dinner on July 01. On July 02, […]
Delivering mail in Kabul, where streets have no name
KABUL, July 15, 2013 (AFP) – In Kabul, many streets have no name and houses often have no number, meaning that postmen already braving the constant threat of suicide bombings must play detective to deliver mail. Such hard work is not well-rewarded in Afghanistan, which has 900 postmen nationwide with 100 in Kabul. Agha earns […]
In US, struggle against snake-head ends on plates
MARBURY, July 15, 2013 (AFP) – The snakehead is an invasive species of fish from Asia that is threatening the delicate ecosystem of the Potomac River that flows through Washington into the Atlantic Ocean.“It was delicious,” he said. “Very flaky, and it did not have any kind of unusual taste.I had it fried and broiled; […]
India ready for bilateral investment treaty talks with US
NEW DELHI, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – India is ready for talks with the United States on a bilateral investment treaty to reinvigorate commercial ties between the world’s two biggest democracies, a report said Saturday.The announcement comes days after neighbouring China and the United States agreed to relaunch talks on a similar bilateral investment treaty. […]
Bhutan cements democracy with tight election race
THIMPHU, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan concludes its second-ever election on Saturday, with the race to form a government too close to call as voters give their verdict on five years of democracy.The incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party is up against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the […]
Indians remember telegram heyday as service stops
NEW DELHI, July 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sixty-six years ago, Santosh Sharma saw her mother sell gold bangles to feed and clothe her family of six and then dispatch telegrams to her brothers urging them to leave newly-created Pakistan and gather in New Delhi. “Eventually the telegraph system had to face defeat.” “Come, we will […]