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Japan proposes 16-nation Asian trade bloc: officials
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (AFP) – Japanese officials on Thursday proposed a sprawling 16-nation free-trade grouping with China, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand and the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc, officials said. The 16 last year formed the East Asia Summit — seen as a precursor of a giant free-trade community embracing half the world’s […]
Fate of ancient brothel hangs in the balance in China
BEIJING, Aug 17 (AFP) – A city in central China is agonizing over whether it should preserve an ancient building that once housed a brothel in case it is seen as promoting prostitution, state media said Thursday. The problem is that if the authorities at Jinggang in Hunan province decide not to save the structure, […]
Sri Lanka fume, India cool as South Africa flee “risky” Colombo
COLOMBO, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s cricket chiefs and media slammed South Africa on Thursday for pulling out of the tri-series as India looked forward to playing three matches against the hosts. The Proteas abandoned the tri-series on Wednesday, saying “the current risk to the team is at an unacceptable level” following a […]
”’ monitors flee from shelling
Aug 17 (AFP) – Ceasefire monitors in eastern Sri Lanka were forced to flee after they were nearly hit by heavy shelling in clashes between Tamil Tiger rebels and security forces, an official said Thursday.The six-member team left its base in the eastern port town of Trincomalee which has been the scene of fierce clashes […]
Troops beat back fresh attack on Jaffna forward defences
Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – Troops killed over 50 Tamil rebels Thursday when the guerrillas staged a fresh attack on Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula, officials said, a day after the president said the door was still open for peace talks. -updated- Troops beat back the attempt by the rebels to overrun their defences and killed […]
Climbing Up
August 16 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said Wednesday that it would raise fares by end August for the third time this year, to cope with soaring fuel prices, even as it trims costs onboard its aircraft. Fuel prices are on an upward trend and we will have to pass it on, there is no other […]
Tea exporter in Sri Lanka to get incentive fees for value addition
August 16 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exporters can tap into about 30 million rupees in cess funds being given this year as an incentive for value added exports of Ceylon tea.Exporters can submit claims based on volumes exported, proof of value addition under Sri Lankan brand labels, provided pack sizes are under three kilos, […]
Oil steady on easing Middle East concerns
SINGAPORE, Aug 16 (AFP) – Crude prices were steady in Asian hours Wednesday as traders breathed easier over the Middle East after the UN ceasefire in Lebanon took effect, dealers said. British energy giant BP’s announcement Friday that it would keep pumping oil from its Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska was also a relief for […]
Maldives frees democrazy activist
Aug 16 (AFP) – The Maldives said Wednesday it had freed a leading opposition figure as part of efforts to move the island nation towards multi-party democracy. Jennifer Latheef, who was jailed for 10 years on terror charges linked to a 2003 pro-democracy riot, was pardoned and released, the Maldivian government said in a statement. […]
South Africa pulls out of Sri Lanka cricket series
Aug 16 (AFP) – South Africa have pulled out of the limited-overs tri-series against India and hosts Sri Lanka due to security concerns after a deadly bombing, a Sri Lankan cricket official said on Wednesday. Australia and the West Indies refused to play their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka in 1996 when a powerful […]
Canada calls for ceasefire in Sri Lanka
OTTOWA, Aug 15, 2006 (AFP) – Canada called Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and a resumption of peace negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the rebel Tamil Tigers. “Canada believes that there can be no military solution to this lengthy conflict,” Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement. “We call […]
Central bank holds Sri Lanka policy rates steady in August
August 16 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said Wednesday it was holding rates steady, but warned that fuel subsidies were putting pressure on the balance of payments. The rate setting monetary board had decided not to raise policy interest rates but rely on open market operations to slow money supply growth, the central bank’s […]