Monthly archive

<<		February 2012			>>

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryainsha

Mon, 2009-04-06 00:48 — admin

Defence spending, interest on debt absorb three-fourth of Pak revenues

Mon, 2009-04-06 00:52 — admin

Defence spending and interest costs on country's rising debt are absorbing three-fourth of the revenues, says the State Bank of Pakistan. The second quarterly report on the economy, issued by SBP, on Saturday also said that due to sharply constrained access to international capital markets as well as slower deposit growth in banks, the domestic interest rates will be more sensitive to government funding demands through the volume-based auctions of government paper. SBP lowers GDP growth forecast to 2.5-3.5 percent. T-bill purchases to determine banks' interest rates. Inflation to decelerate sharply in the final quarter, C/A deficit expected between 5.8 percent and 6.2 percent.

Change of Guards in Denmark - Next Premier Lars Lokke Rasmussen

Mon, 2009-04-06 01:21 — admin

Danish Finance Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen is the next Prime Minister of Denmark succeeding the outgoing Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen who will assume as the next leader of NATO. Fogh Rasmussen, has been appointed NATO Secretary-General at a summit of the military alliance on Saturday overcoming Turkey’s objections that the choice would rile Muslims and damage the war effort in Afghanistan. Rasmussen will take over on 01 August from Dutchman Jaap De Hoop Scheffer, 61, NATO’s chief since 2003. Rasmussen’s appointment capped two days of intrigue in which NATO leaders -- many of them fresh from the Group of 20 economic summit in London -- sought to paper over rifts on Afghanistan, ties with Russia and the pace of future NATO expansion.

How The Might Have Fallen !

Mon, 2009-04-06 01:27 — admin

BY Hijinks in London

As secondary school students we listened with growing admiration when told of the great British House of Commons. We were told that this was the Mother of Parliaments and here was heard some of the great debates of all time. We sat at the feet (metaphorically speaking naturally) of our teachers who regaled us awe-stricken students with tales of the great orators who bestrode the chamber and made the rafters tremble with their eloquence. There are still those who talk of the Churchillian oratory that roused a dispirited nation as the Nazi Panzer divisions over ran Europe and set their gun sights on the United Kingdom, separated from the continent by a narrow strip of water.

Shares fall marginally on profit taking

Mon, 2009-04-06 02:19 — admin

By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

Acuity – the Stock Brokering arm of HNB and DFCC in their weekly review indicated that stocks returned to negative territory during the week as profit taking, mostly by retail investors resulted in a slight downturn in the market. Indices showed some recovery on Wednesday and Friday, but the gains made were insufficient to regain lost ground. Nevertheless few large deals boosted the week’s activity, as turnover levels remained healthy during the week. Comparing Week on Week (WoW) the All Share Price Index (ASPI) declined by a marginal 0.7% or 11.3 points to close at 1637.2 points while the Milanka Price Index (MPI) edged down by 1.8% or 31.6 points to 1726.1 points.

Lakhs attend Ramnavami celebrations at Shirdi

Mon, 2009-04-06 02:22 — admin

By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune

Decoration of Saibaba idol Lakhs of devotees attended the special Ramnavami celebrations at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple at Shiridi. The showering of flowers on Saibaba’s Samadhi temple by helicopter, kirtan by H.B.P. Vikrambuva Dandekar on lord Rama’s birthday, conclusion of Akhand Parayan (Continuous reading) of Shri Satcharitra and delicious food at the free of cost to all devotees by the Santhan were the main features of the festival. The temple was opened throughout the night for darshan on Friday. The rush of devotees in the night was less as compared to day time. About three lakhs devotees have taken Saibaba’s darshan.

18 militants killed in military operation in northwestern Pakistan

Mon, 2009-04-06 02:39 — admin

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships and jets killed at least 18 militants in Mohmand Agency a restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Sunday. At least 18 militants were killed and over 20 injured when security forces pounded hideouts of militants in Tehsil Pindyali and Ambar of Mohmand Agency. Security forces claimed to have taken control of Pindyali, Ambar and other adjoining areas and also recovered five paramilitary men from Dozai area, who were kidnapped two months back by militants from Mohmand Gut area.

CCC makes a successful trade mission to Chile

Mon, 2009-04-06 02:42 — admin

By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit arranged a successful Business Promotion Mission to Chile and CCC would enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Chilean Industry and the National Chamber of Commerce in Santiago. The CCC delegation had One-to-One business meetings that was organized by the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and the visiting delegation to established contacts with their counterparts. The main sectors covered by the delegates were export of Tea, Spices, D/C, Writing instruments, Import of Canned fish, fish related products, chemicals and Freight forwarding services.

Concocted plan of attack on White House finalized

Mon, 2009-04-06 02:50 — admin

By Asif Haroon Raja

I have been forewarning about the sinister designs of adversaries of Pakistan wanting to harm Pakistan for the last three years. What I had penned in 2006 about the dangerous ramifications of Indo-US-Afghan nexus based in Kabul has come true. Under the garb of friendship, Pakistan has been gradually and systematically weakened from within and destabilized through covert means employed by RAW, RAM, CIA duly complemented by Mossad and MI-6. In the last seven years Pakistan has suffered grievously on all counts and its very foundations have been jolted. Mumbai episode on 26 November was the starting point for executing the final destructive phase against Pakistan. Sudden flurry of CIA controlled drone attacks and terrorist attacks in various parts of Pakistan are clear cut indications that our adversaries are now all set to deliver the decisive hammer.

Hope For Asia

Mon, 2009-04-06 03:02 — admin

By Emeritus President and CEO of PATA, Lakshman Ratnapala

There's some cause for cautious optimism in the tourism and travel industry across Asia, according to strategic intelligence released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a multi-national corporation representing the governments and tourism industry leaders of the Pacific Asia region. The PATA Tourism Forecasts 2009-2011, to be published this month, suggest growth in international arrivals for many destinations across the region - despite the global economic downturn. The Forecasts indicate a very mixed bag of results with significant variations across Asia Pacific.

Bangladesh govt. to form probe committee on April 08 to investigate into war crimes

Mon, 2009-04-06 04:26 — admin

M. A. Kader-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh

With the appointment of an investigation officer the Bangladesh government on April 8 would form a probe committee on war crimes committed during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. With the formation of the war crimes probe committee the must-awaited trial process of war criminals would begin, the state minister for Law Qamrul Islam told journalists after a meeting with UNDP Bangladesh representative Renata Lok Dessallien in Dhaka on Sunday.

25 dead, scores injured in suicide blast in Pakistan

Mon, 2009-04-06 04:33 — admin

At least 25 persons died and 35 were injured at an Imambargah (shiet mosque) suicide bombing in Chakwal city of eastern Pakistan on Sunday. One killer blew himself up during annual Majlis Aza being held at the Imambargah located in the centre of the town at Mohala Sarpak of City police station area. The blast ripped apart the bodies of the faithful leaving a horrific scene of scattered body parts and blood all around the incident site.

'Tripartite treaty on Gurkha recruitment needs to be reviewed'

Mon, 2009-04-06 04:37 — admin

Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal

Chairman of the ruling CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal on Sunday said that the tripartite treaty made between Nepal, India and United Kingdom relating Gurkha army servicemen needs to be reviewed. "We want to establish relationship with United Kingdom in independent manner. This needs reviewing the tripartite treaty," said Chairman Khanal. Khanal was addressing an inaugural session of the second national convention of Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organization in Kathmandu. About 300 representatives living in various 10 countries including India, United Kingdom, Singapore, Iraq and Afghanistan are participating in the convention, according to the organizer.

Prevail on LTTE to allow the Civilians to go for safety- MEPs Urged

Mon, 2009-04-06 00:48 — admin

Sri Lanka calls on European MEPs to influence diaspora communities they represent to bring pressure on the LTTE to let go of the people they are holding as 'human shields'. Ambassador Ravinatha Aryainsha has told Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that some apologists among them are trying to save the LTTE by calling for a ceasefire and trying to stop the Sri Lanka Government from militarily defeating the terrorists, and that if MEPs really want to help affected civilians in the uncleared areas in Sri Lanka, they should use whatever influence they had, particularly with Tamil diaspora communities they represent, to bring pressure on the LTTE to let go of the 50,000 people they are holding as 'human shields'.

John Solecki - Kidnapped UNHCR official John Solecki released

Mon, 2009-04-06 00:23 — admin

UNHCR official John Solecki released by his captors on Saturday after keeping him in captivity for two months. Solecki was released by the Baloch Liberation United Front in Mastung district, about 50km south of Quetta, Pakistan. "Police found John Solecki in Mastung. He is fine," Balochistan’s Inspector-General of Police Asif Nawaz Wariach said. John Solecki was kidnapped on Feb 2 from Quetta. His driver, Syed Hashim, was killed during the shootout. Later on Feb 7, the BLUF, a previously unknown organisation, claimed the responsibility for the kidnapping, and demanded the release of 1,109 Baloch political activists, including 141 women.