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Sri Lanka Tigers pay homage to 356 suicide bombers
July 6, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers on Sunday commemorated 356 men and women who have staged suicide attacks since the tactic was first used by the rebels 21 years ago. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they held ceremonies in guerrilla-held Wanni region on Saturday to mark the 21st […]
Airlines shed weight as fuel costs soar
TOKYO, July 6, 2008 (AFP) – Next time you take to the skies you may find there are fewer pages in your in-flight magazine, your fork is slimmer and your plate feels different.Blame it on soaring oil prices. The seat you are sitting on may be lighter. Perhaps there’s less water on board for the […]
Iran inflation tops 26-pct amid 40-pct money growth
TEHRAN, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s inflation rate, which has provoked intense criticism of the government, topped 26 percent in June, according to a central bank statement published in the press on Saturday.“During the Iranian month of Kordad (to June 20) inflation reached 26. 4 percent compared with the same month a year ago,” […]
Sri Lankans tops at Asian cricket awards
KARACHI, July 6, 2008 (AFP) – Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was named best Test bowler of the year and compatriot Kumar Sangakkara the best Test batsman as Sri Lankans dominated the Asian cricket awards at the weekend. Muralitharan, 36, surpassed Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket last year. He now has […]
Lovable losers – the Olympic ideal or waste of space
MELBOURNE, July 6, 2008 (AFP) – The Olympic movement has a long history of loveable losers but debate rages over whether they embody the spirit of Games or are a distraction unworthy of competing alongside the world’s top athletes.Ski-jumper Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards, swimmer Eric “the Eel” Moussambani and the Jamaican bobsleigh team all caught […]
Sri Lanka activists organising media boycott of South Asia summit: report
July 6, 2008 (AFP) – Media activists in Sri Lanka are organising a boycott of the upcoming South Asian summit in Colombo in protest at escalating attacks against journalists, a report said Sunday.The Lakbima News weekly said several media outlets had agreed in principle not to cover the August 1 summit of the South Asian […]
Sri Lanka nature reserve threatened by politicians, business say activists
July 06, 2008 (LBO) – One of the three top nature reserves in Sri Lanka, a biodiversity hotspot, is being threatened by encroachment and commercial cultivation involving corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and business, a new report says.“Once title is given, the land soon passes to the politically powerful or their cronies,” says Environmental Foundation Ltd., which […]
Sri Lanka tea exporters bemoan lack of funds for promotion
July 04, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters of tea, the island’s top export commodity, say they not getting enough funds for marketing even though the government charges a tax on shipments which is meant for tea promotion.But the government subsequently decided to consolidate at the Treasury all cess funds collected on exports of tea, […]
World oil markets to remain tight until 2013: IEA chief
BERLIN, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – International Energy Agency chief Nobuo Tanaka has predicted that world oil markets will remain tight until 2013, according to an interview with the German economic daily Handelsblatt.The market will initially relax from now until 2009/2010 due to a foreseeable increase in supply brought about by new production sites, said […]
EU airline pollution plan could spark trade wars: industry officials
GENEVA, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – A plan by the European Union to impose a carbon dioxide emissions quota for all airlines flying into and out of the bloc could spark trade wars, aviation industry officials warned.The so-called emissions trading scheme, which is to be voted on by the EU lawmakers next week, aims at […]
Southern Africa coastal states get tough on illegal fishing
WINDHOEK, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – Eight southern African coastal states have agreed to set up a regional task force to deal with illegal fishing in their waters and save dwindling fish stocks, fisheries ministers said.A three-day ministerial conference held in Namibia decided to implement the plan which would ban trans-shipment of catches at sea […]
Sri Lanka pin Cup final hopes on Mendis
KARACHI, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka will look to their new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis to defend their Asia Cup title against batting juggernauts India when the two teams meet in the final here on Sunday. The 23-year-old from Moratuwa has bowled impressively in a tournament dominated by batsmen, and after going wicketless […]