Monthly archive

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed deep concern today that "events continue to move in the wrong direction" in Pakistan and that the situation there may be approaching a tipping point. "I think we're certainly closer to the tipping point," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told NBC-TV's 'Today' show, who is traveling with him in the region. "I don't think that we're there." Mullen said he shares Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's concerns that the Taliban have taken full control of Pakistan's Swat Valley. "I'm increasingly both concerned and frustrated at the progression of the danger," Mullen said.

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

The World Bank has agreed to provide 350 million dollars during the next three years for Punjab Education Development Programme, says a handout issued Friday. The agreement to this effect was reached in a meeting between representatives of the World Bank and a Punjab government delegation composed of School Education Department Secretary Nadeem Ashraf, the special secretary finance and the P&D Department member (SS). It was stated the Punjab government had also introduced a number of initiatives to ensure universality as well as quality of education.

Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal

Nepal celebrated Loktantra Diwas i.e. Democracy Day on Friday to mark the third anniversary of the reinstatement of the democracy in the country. Exactly three years ago, the then King Gyanendra's autocratic regime was brought to its knees following a nationwide mass uprising popularly known as Janaandolan II. Over two dozen pro-democracy fighters had lost their lives and thousands others were injured during the 19-long long popular movement in April, 2006. The government started giving public holiday to mark the historic day since last year.

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

Taliban on Friday start pulling out of Buner district in northwestern Pakistan. The pull out starts as a result of an agreement reached between militants, Tahreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) and Commissioner Malakand earlier in the day. After the meeting Taliban agreed to vacate the district amid threats of possible military action. Militants on Friday agreed to vacate Buner district in North West Frontier Province, said Commissioner Malakand Division, Syed Muhammad Javed. The meeting was held in Butkhela which was attended by Commissioner Malakand division Syed Muhammed Javed, Naib Ameer Tehrik-e-Taliban, Muhammed Alam, Sheikh-ul-Quran Waliullah and others.

M.A Kader-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh

Bangladesh national parliament Speaker Abdul Hamid on Friday in Dhaka said the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) should not stay away from parliament over an extra-parliamentary issue. In the face of a boycott threat from BNP protesting the government notice served on its chief to leave her Dhaka cantonment house speaker Hamid said, "The ruling and opposition parties will have to work together to continue with the democratic process." "Everything could be discussed in parliament, but it would not be right for the opposition to boycott parliament over an extra-parliamentary issue," Hamid told reporters after attending a convention of Lions Club International in the capital city.

By Bobby Ramakant

In the least developed countries, one third of death and disease is a direct result of environmental causes. Proper environmental management is the key to avoiding the quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors, said Prabha Chaturvedi, President, Exnora Lucknow, in an interface with students of Navyug Public School in Chander Nagar, Alambagh. She stressed on the need to segregate bio-degradable and non bio-degradable garbage, and bury the bio-degradable garbage below the soil so that it can provide us with rich manure, and hand over the non bio-degradable garbage to the rag-pickers.

By Shenali Waduge

Instead of appreciating the humanitarian rescue operation being carried out by Sri Lanka and its armed forces, world leaders are exerting pressure upon the Government to enter a ceasefire ….their belief being that a ceasefire would help rescue these civilians. It is more than apparent that the world leaders and even media channels are clueless about the reality of the situation in Sri Lanka & it naturally makes any to wonder whether world leaders, foreign envoys, foreign secretaries etc apart from repeating what is on paper prepared by someone else actually understands the ground situation and seriously believe in what they say – because it is apparent that what they say is nothing but gobbledygook. Why?