Category: Other
‘s biggest snake found in Colombia
PANAMA CITY, February 5, 2009 (AFP) – Scientists have found a 60-million-year-old fossil of the world’s largest snake, a 13-meter (42-foot), one-tonne behemoth dubbed Titanoboa, in a coal mine in Colombia, the US Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute said Wednesday. “The discovery of Titanoboa challenges our understanding of past climates and environments, as well as the […]
Darwin at 200: World salutes founder of evolutionary theory
PARIS, February 5, 2009 (AFP) – Two hundred years ago, in a wealthy household in rural England, a child was born who, in a quiet, dogged and utterly peaceful way, was destined to become one of the greatest revolutionaries who lived. Armed just with a pen, Charles Darwin reforged our concept of Nature and humanity’s […]
Australian man caught with pigeons in trousers
MELBOURNE, February 3, 2009 (AFP) – An Australian man was caught with two live pigeons stuffed in his trousers as he got off a flight from the Middle East, authorities said Tuesday. Customs officers body-searched the 23-year-old after he was allegedly found with two bird eggs in a vitamin container in his pocket during baggage […]
UN urges safe passage for civilians caught in Sri Lanka fighting
UNITED NATIONS, January 30, 2009 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday appealed to the Sri Lankan government and its Tamil foes to ensure safe passage for an estimated 250,000 civilians caught in the fighting in the northeast of the island country.“The Secretary General calls upon the (rebel) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), […]
Refuge
TOKYO, January 30, 2009 (AFP) – The number of asylum seekers in Japan doubled last year amid turmoil in Myanmar but only a small number of them were granted refugee status, government figures showed Friday. By comparison, the United States resettles up to 50,000 refugees a year. Japan imposes tight restrictions on immigration and has […]
UN evacuates wounded civilians from Sri Lanka war zone
January 29, 2009 (AFP) – The United Nations evacuated hundreds of severely wounded civilians from behind rebel lines in Sri Lanka Thursday as government troops fought to secure final victory over the Tamil Tigers.Human rights bodies have called for immediate steps by both the Colombo government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to […]
Thailand plans 200,000-tonne rubber stockpile to boost prices
BANGKOK, January 29, 2009 (AFP) – Thailand’s cabinet Thursday approved a plan to stockpile 200,000 tonnes of rubber from next month in a bid to stabilise prices which have almost halved in a year.Thailand’s rubber industry, based mostly in the southern and eastern provinces, has suffered in recent months from falling oil prices, which have […]
Sri Lanka tea prices firm despite weaker currencies of importing countries
Jan 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices at the Colombo auctions this week maintained their upward trend with demand strong despite the weakening of the currencies of key buyer countries like Russia, brokers said. Supply was tight because of dry weather in key origins while demand remained strong because of winter in the […]
Obama to let states set higher emissions standards: report
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2009 (AFP) – President Barack Obama on Monday is expected to issue new regulations allowing several US states to set tougher car emissions and fuel efficiency standards, the New York Times reported, citing administration officials.He also will direct the Department of Transportation to immediately begin drafting automobile fuel-economy regulations to comply with […]
Indian PM undergoes heart bypass surgery
NEW DELHI, January 24, 2009 (AFP) – India’s 76-year-old Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underwent heart bypass surgery Saturday, raising questions about his political future with general elections looming.Doctors decided to perform the surgery, which was due to take up to eight hours, after Singh complained of chest pains earlier in the week. The procedure began […]
Legal Meet
Jan 23, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s lawyers are hosting an ICT law conference in Colombo next week, to debate emerging legal issues with the heavy use of information technology (ICT), its organizers said. Intellectual Property and Information Technology (IT), Legal issues arising out of outsourcing software development contracts, Telecommunication and legal implication on Mobile […]
Lubanga trial will open eyes to child soldiers: ICC prosecutor – Interview
THE HAGUE, January 23, 2009 (AFP) – Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo hopes to alert the world to the plight of child soldiers when he finally faces Congolese militiaman Thomas Lubanga next week at the International Criminal Court’s first-ever trial.“This case is about how serious it is to enlist hundreds of children and transform them into killers,” […]