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The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil administering the oath of office of the Prime Minister to Dr. Manmohan Singh at a S

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:23 — admin

Appa conquers Mt. Everest for 19th times, breaks his own record

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:36 — admin

Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal

The mountaineering legend Appa Sherpa on Thursday made it to the top of the Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, for a record 19th time, breaking his own record of 18th ascent last year. Appa, 49, reached the top of the Everest at about 8 am local time, leading Eco Everest Expedition 2009. He stayed on the top for 30 minutes, according to officials with Asian Trekking that organized the expedition. Appa has been climbing the peak for social cause.

Sri Lanka: A9 highway in the North opens next week

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:41 — admin

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

The A9 highway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the hill country capital Kandy, in Sri Lanka is likely to be opened to the general public by next week, a Ministry of Highways and Road Development spokesman said. The statement said that the highway, which was closed to the public in 2006 after escalation of the armed conflict between the troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), would be opened once clearance has been received from the Defence Ministry, that all land mines have been uprooted.

UN appeals for more aid to assist displaced Pakistanis

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:46 — admin

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune

The United Nations is appealing for more than $500 million to assist nearly 2 million Pakistanis displaced by fighting between army troops and Taliban militants in Swat Valley. The agency says that the scale and speed of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Pakistan is extraordinary. "The numbers of people who have moved in that last three and half weeks is the highest rate of movement we have seen for more than 20 years anywhere in the world. And it is the biggest displacement that has ever occurred in Pakistan," UN coordinator said Friday.

Sri Lanka President congratulates the Indian Prime Minister

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:51 — admin

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa has sent a message of congratulations to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India on his being sworn in once again as Prime Minister of India. President Mahinda Rajapaksa states: "Having come to know you closely, I am indeed happy that our association will be strengthened in the years to come as a result of your re-election."

Chandrika congratulate Mahinda on the recent military victories over the LTTE

Sat, 2009-05-23 02:17 — admin

Chandrika KumaratungaChandrika Kumaratunga, the former President of Sri Lanka has congratulated Mahinda Rajapaksa her successor, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka on the recent military victories over the LTTE and its forces of terrorism. In a letter to Sri Lanka President, she wrote, "I join the Nation in paying homage to the courage and dedication of the men and women of our Armed Forces and to their Commanders."

10 died as car bomb jolted Peshawar

Sat, 2009-05-23 02:25 — admin

By Farzana Shah, Asian Tribune correspondent in Pakistan

Minimum 10 people got killed in a bomb blast on cinema road. Blast occurred in Khyber Bazar area of Peshawar which is one of few crowded places in city. At least 75 people were injured as the result of blast according to police. "There was no prior intelligence report in this regard", CCPO Peshawar Saffat Ghayoor said while talking to media after unfortunate incident. While accepting responsibility of security failure, CCPO further said, "There was 50 to 60 kilograms of explosive was used in the blast and explosive was planted in a car near the cinema house building".

India dispatches doctors and medicines to war ravaged Northern SL

Sat, 2009-05-23 02:30 — admin

By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune

India Friday dispatched a team of 27 doctors and paramedics to the war ravaged northern Sri Lanka for the benefit of the devastated civilian Tamil population. An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft took off from New Delhi for Colombo with the medical team, including a surgeon and pediatrician. The team carried about 30 tones of medicines worth over Rs. 3 crore to replenish stores at the Field Hospital run by the Indian Armed Forces in a camp for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Bangladesh assures of meeting international standards in trying war crimes

Sat, 2009-05-23 02:43 — admin

M.A. Qader - Our Correspondent in Bangladesh

Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni in a telephone conversation with her British counterpart David Miliband assured of meeting international standards in trying the war crimes during Bangladesh's war of independence from Pakistan in 1971, said a foreign ministry press statement on Friday. Dipu Moni, now on a personal visit to London, receiving a call from Miliband, the UK's secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs on Thursday had the talk. The Bangladesh foreign minister sought Miliband's support to resolve the problems of Bangladeshi expatriates, after the introduction of points-based system of immigration.

Now protect and nurture the freedom we won by making great sacrifices

Sat, 2009-05-23 03:33 — admin

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Mahinda Rajapaksa"We must now protect and nurture the freedom that we have won by sweeping terrorism out of the face of our country after the last thirty years. The battles that our soldiers, sailors and airmen won in this prolonged conflict with terrorism of the LTTE was won at great sacrifice. We must never forget that thousands of lives of our brave soldiers were lost in regaining this freedom". So said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed yesterday, in the midst of a cheering crowd, at the National Rally to felicitate the Armed Forces, held in Colombo.

DMK inclusion: now the action shifted to Chennai

Sat, 2009-05-23 03:45 — admin

By Gopal Ethiraj from Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi reached Chennai Friday afternoon and went into discussion with the Executive Council of the party this evening over the non acceptance of the Congress formula of accommodating DMK MPs in the Central ministry. Before leaving New Delhi with his son and MP, M.K.Azhagiri, the CM said the DMK would give only outside support to the Congress-led government after talks on the distribution of ministerial berths failed, hours before the new government was to be sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan. “The formula given by Congress has to be discussed at the party's executive council meeting," the DMK chief said.

US Senator Leahy – Pro-LTTE lobby in US work together To block IMF loan to Sri Lanka

Sat, 2009-05-23 12:16 — admin

Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune

Senator Patrick LeahyThe powerful United States Senator Patrick Leahy and the U.S.-based pro-Tamil Tiger lobby Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) are strange bedfellows: both are on the same page and forward similar arguments to prevent Sri Lanka, which this week put the last nail on the LTTE coffin internally eradicating terrorism from her soil after 25 years, obtaining the $1.9 billion standby loan from the IMF which U.S. has 16.77% stakes. The TAG says that "on information and belief, no loan has ever been approved by the IMF over the opposition of the United States."

Banibaba Ziarat: A strategic mountain taken by Pakistan army

Sat, 2009-05-23 12:56 — admin

By Farzana Shah, Asian Tribune correspondent in Pakistan

For the first time in a month long military offensive in restive Swat and Malakand against Taliban, media was allowed to cover war zone in NWFP province of Pakistan. A trip of international reporters in Islamabad was arranged by ISPR on 22nd May 2009, two days after Pakistan army took back Banani Baba Ziarat a strategic mountain which was being used by militants as training and communication base in the valley against security forces. Pakistan Army personnel took position on ridged mountain top overlooking a vast area around and under more than 7000 feet high Mountain.

India: Singh takes over as PM second time, DMK ministers next week

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:17 — admin

By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune

Swearing in of Dr. Manmohan SinghDMK component of the new Indian government will be in place next week as backroom players worked over time to win over sulking Karunanidhi and thus create ‘an all is good with allies’ backdrop for the swearing in Manmohan Singh cabinet on Friday evening. Besides the Prime Minister, nineteen cabinet ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Pratibha Patil at the glittering Ashok Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. They include old faces – Pranab, Chidambaram, Antony, Kamalnath and Pawar. Trinamul chief Mamata took oath in her trademark white sari with a green border. Two former Karnataka chief ministers SM Krishna and Veerappa Moily are the first time federal cabinet ministers.

Bangladesh steps up vigilance at borders with Myanmar after a fresh influx of Rohingyas

Sat, 2009-05-23 00:09 — admin

M.A. Qader-Our Correspondent in Bangladesh

In the wake of a fresh influx of Rohingya Muslims, Bangladesh has beefed up vigilance at its border with Myanmar, officials concerned said on Friday. "We have increased vigilance at the border to prevent the influx of Rohingyas," Major Tanim Hossain, a Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border guards officer said yesterday. Yet the flow of Myanmar refugees has been unabated, he said adding that the BDR had pushed back nearly 300 Rohingyas, who are new entrants in the past few days. According to locals and media reports, about 1,000 Rohingya Muslims entered Bangladesh in just the past three days, alleging increased persecution by Myanmar's military junta.