Category: South Asia

ISLAMABAD, September 3, 2008 (AFP) – Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani escaped an assassination attempt after shots were fired at his vehicle Wednesday, his spokesman said. “By the grace of Allah the prime minister is safe,” Bashir said. “There was firing near the motorcade of the prime minister. Two bullets hit the window glass […]

Aug 28, 2008 (LBO) – South Asian nations should lower trade barriers to make a regional economic co-operation work and deliver the promised benefits to the region’s people, a Sri Lankan business leader said Thursday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Regional integration is the […]

ISLAMABAD, August 19, 2008 (AFP) – Leaders of Pakistan’s ruling coalition were to meet later Tuesday to discuss a replacement for President Pervez Musharraf and the fate of dozens of deposed judges, a party spokesman said. The meeting comes a day after key US ally Musharraf resigned in the face of impeachment charges, nine years […]

NEW DELHI, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Until a few months ago, the most popular buzz phrase for India was “economic miracle”, with the nation appearing impervious to the financial turmoil engulfing the developed world. “No other issue is likely to dominate the political scene” as much in the coming months, he said. The government […]

ISLAMABAD, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief dashed to Pakistan for talks with the government over its plans to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, a senior official in Islamabad said Saturday.“If the president resigns, the coalition government will look into the (amnesty) subject,” he told AFP. The visit of Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz […]

DHAKA, August 9, 2008 (AFP) – Bangladesh’s military-backed government is close to freeing ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, a minister said Saturday, as part of an apparent deal to secure her party’s participation in December general elections.Last year the government tried to force both Sheikh Hasina and Zia into exile as part of an effort to […]

Aug 8, 2008 (LBO) – Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ratified a new constitution that ushers in key reforms and allows multi-party elections in the Indian Ocean republic. “Today we have witnessed a special moment where (the) Maldives has embraced a constitution that will usher in a liberal and modern democracy into the country, and […]

August 07, 2008 (AFP) – India said there had been serious security lapses during a visit to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite the island nation’s promise of “ultimate security.” The Sri Lankan bodyguard assigned to protect Singh did not turn up during a regional summit last weekend, while the motorcade for India’s […]

August 06, 2008 (LBO) – Maldives is set to ratify a new constitution this week which will bring multi-party democracy the Indian Ocean tourist paradise, but the archipelago’s politics are already tainted with allegations of bribery amid fears of a constitutional crisis.Under that, an Elections Commission must be formed within 30 days, a Supreme Court […]

DHAKA, 2008 (AFP) – Bangladesh is pursuing bilateral free trade deals with three neighbouring countries following the collapse of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks for a global agreement, an official said Monday. If successful, the WTO’s so-called Doha round of talks would have reaped huge financial benefits for Bangladesh, giving the impoverished country a massive […]

Aug 04, 2008 (LBO) – A South Asian ‘food bank’ to counter rising prices and perceived ‘shortages’ would be housed in Bangladesh, a Sri Lankan official said at the conclusion of a meeting of an eight nation regional grouping in Colombo.The food bank will have contributions from each country according to the size of its […]

August 3, 2008 (LBO) – Bhutan and Bangladesh, tried to fan the flame of free trade in South Asia as dismantling trade barriers went off the agenda, when leaders of seven nations that make up a South Asian regional grouping met in Colombo.The agenda of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) was dominated […]