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Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger chief to rally for war: observers
Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) – The leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers will give his annual policy speech from a jungle hideout this week, with observers predicting a rallying call to arms as the island slides back into all-out war.The reclusive Velupillai Prabhakaran will be speaking at the end of a difficult year for his […]
Sri Lanka a treasure trove of unexplored maritime history: archaeologists
Nov 25, 2007 (LBO) – Archaeologists working on a Dutch colonial era shipwreck in Sri Lanka’s southern Galle port say 12 more wrecks lie submerged, awaiting excavation and cataloging as historical treasure. In 1999, the team had also uncovered a human skull. “There are 27 sites which contain 12 shipwrecks in the Galle port,” Rasika […]
‘s new leader set to win over big business
SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – By revamping itself behind a fiscal conservative, Australia’s Labor Party has overcome big business fears that its election victory could set back the country’s economic boom, analysts say.Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said Labor leader Kevin Rudd brought energy, a sense of social justice and an understanding […]
Germans getting jittery as euro continues to climb
FRANKFURT, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Until recently, Germany has maintained an air of serenity as the euro spiked higher against other major currencies, even though exports are the motor of growth for the eurozone’s biggest economy. That has begun to change however, as seen in particular through comments by Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told […]
Sacred Aztec drink losing out to beer in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – It was a sacred liquid to the Aztecs and consumed for centuries in Mexico, but the traditional pulque drink seems to be fading in popularity despite its historic roots.“At first, I didn’t like the texture,” said 21-year-old Saria Fuentes, “then I got used to the taste and now, […]
‘s Tharanga gives England a headache
Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s young batsman Upul Tharanga staked a strong claim for the first Test against England with another powerful display against the tourists here on Sunday.The left-hander, who made 112 in the tour opener last week, smashed 86 as the Sri Lanka Cricket XI made 298-9 by stumps on the […]
Sri Lankan rebel Atapattu slams selectors
Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Marvan Atapattu made his final goodbye to Sri Lankan cricket on Sunday with another scathing attack on the selectors he had earlier described as “muppets headed by a joker.” The 37-year-old, who retired from international cricket earlier this month during the Australian tour, left Colombo to play in the rebel […]
Sri Lanka bombs Tamil Tiger-held north: ministry
Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes bombed the Tamil Tiger-held north Sunday, with the government claiming it destroyed a satellite communications centre but the rebels saying only civilians were killed.The air strike hit an area just outside the rebels’ political capital of Kilinochchi that was “also a clandestine meeting place for LTTE […]
Double Show
Nov 24, 2007 (LBO) – After tax profits of Habib Bank in Sri Lanka almost doubled to 118 million rupees for the nine months ended September 2007, published company statements showed. The bank, a branch of the largest bank in Pakistan, posted an income of 285 million rupees for the three quarters ended September, up […]
India, Malaysia to start FTA talks next year: report
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia and India will begin negotiating a free trade agreement in January 2008, a report said Saturday. Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia’s trade minister was quoted as saying a bilateral trade pact could boost Malaysia’s exports to India by 1.3 times, or 12 billion dollars, by 2012. The talks would […]
Rudd sweeps to power in Australian landslide
SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Centre-left leader Kevin Rudd stormed to victory in Australia’s election Saturday, ending conservative Prime Minister John Howard’s 11-year rule with pledges to change course on climate change and the Iraq war.Howard, US President George W. Bush’s closest ally in the Iraq war, conceded defeat in Sydney and admitted it […]
Bangladesh Grameen borrowers face debt mountain after cyclone
AMTOLA VILLAGE, Bangladesh, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) – Nearly 20 years ago when small loans from the Nobel peace prize winning Grameen bank first became available in her village, Bilkis Begum wasted no time in signing up.“The Grameen Bank has made profits from the interest we pay.We have also benefited, (but) I am telling the […]