Category: Other
Freedom Debate
Nov 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court came under fire in parliament on a debate on an expropriation bill, after the highest court reportedly said it was consistent with the constitution. The bill went to the Supreme Court after the cabinet of ministers gave their assent. “How can the Supreme Court, like this […]
India warns against protectionism in debt fallout
MUMBAI, November 13, 2011 (AFP) – India warned on Sunday against protectionism as the world grapples with the sovereign debt crisis, portraying itself as a relative haven of stability in troubled economic times. Commerce minister Anand Sharma said India was an influential emerging economy and that the country “will be part of the stabilisation process […]
Sri Lanka spice theft seen as organized crime
Nov 12, 2011 (LBO) – Theft on spice plantations in Sri Lanka has become a major problem and amounts to ‘organised robbery’, Sarada de Silva, head of a Sri Lankan grouping representing the spice industry said. One plantation company which had nurtured a large extent of cinnamon, the island’s main spice, found their first crop […]
South Asia vows to boost trade as tensions ease
ADDU, November 11, 2011 (AFP) – South Asian leaders ended a summit in the Maldives Friday with pledges to increase regional trade as arch rivals India and Pakistan demonstrated signs of easing tensions between them. The US, which is an observer of SAARC, welcomed the easing of Indo-Pakistan tensions and said increasing trade and economic […]
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ADDU, November 10, 2011 (AFP) – The prime ministers of India and Pakistan said Thursday they expected to open a “new chapter” at future talks between the rival nations after they met at a regional summit in the Maldives. India’s Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani said their often strained ties were […]
China seeks greater role in SAARC
ADDU, November 11, 2011 (AFP) – China is seeking an active role in the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, an official said Friday, in a move likely to be resisted by India. India would likely be suspicious of any greater Chinese role. New Delhi has watched with anxiety as Beijing has forged ties […]
Biometric Barrier
Nov 11, 2011 (LBO) – Two Sri Lankan visa applicants for travel to the United Kingdom were arrested this week when their attempt to use fake identities were detected with the help of fingerprints scans. UK visa applicants worldwide are required to provide their biometric data, having their fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken […]
Ad Hominem
Nov 11, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan lawmakers expressed deep concern over a hastily passed expropriation law, which they said arrogated judicial and executive roles to elected members, undermining a constitutional separation of powers and violated property rights. “This bill has been drafted with no regard to the basic process of legislating,” opposition lawmaker and […]
India-Pakistan talks amid warming ties
ADDU, November 9, 2011 (AFP) – The prime ministers of India and Pakistan meet Thursday at a summit of South Asian leaders, with signs of warming relations between their countries providing a boost for the region. India’s Manmohan Singh and Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani are due to hold talks at an upmarket resort on […]
Two rhino species bite the dust: Red List
PARIS, November 10, 2011 (AFP) – Several species of rhino have been poached into extinction or to the point of no return, according to an update of the Red List of Threatened Species, the gold standard for animal and plant conservation. All told, a quarter of all mammal species assessed are at risk of extinction, […]
China opens embassy in Maldives ahead of key summit
GAN, November 8, 2011 (AFP) – China opened a full diplomatic mission in the Maldives Tuesday, two days ahead of a key South Asian summit in the Indian Ocean archipelago, an official said. Beijing established the embassy in the capital Male as seven South Asian leaders were due in the Maldives for their 17th summit […]
SEC Case
NEW YORK, November 8, 2011 (AFP) – Disgraced hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, already sentenced to prison for 11 years, was ordered Tuesday to pay almost $93 million dollars as part of an insider trading case brought by financial regulators. A New York federal judge ordered Rajaratnam to pay the $92.8 million in a case […]