Category: Other
”: Russian firm
NEW DELHI, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) – India could soon begin producing “original” Kalashnikov assault rifles under licence and stop buying knock-offs of the ubiquitous weapon, a Russian firm said Tuesday. Speaking at the end of a four-day weapons fair in New Delhi, Izhmash JSC said it was negotiating with India on the local production […]
Money Launder
Feb 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank says it has strengthened an anti-money laundering and warns the public against engaging in illegal transactions. “The Central Bank warns the public to be aware of the dangers of getting involved in unlawful financial transactions that are detrimental to public or national interest and the country’s […]
EU divided over Kosovo independence, Russia opposes
MOSCOW, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – Russia angrily condemned Kosovo’s declaration of independence on Sunday and while many major powers are expected to recognise the fledgling state, even the European Union is divided. The foreign ministry said it “could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign […]
”, Australia backs Kosovo split
PARIS, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) – Australia on Monday became the lastest nation to welcome Kosovo’s declaration of independence, joining the United States and several European powers, despite fierce objections from Serbia and Russia.Ethnic Albanians account for around 25 percent of Macedonia’s two-million population.In 2001, the government and ethnic Albanian rebels waged a brief fight […]
High inflation oil-subsidizing Iran to spend US3bn importing fuel
TEHRAN, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s parliament on Saturday approved a three-billion-dollar spending plan to fund diesel and petrol imports during the next Iranian year, the official IRNA news agency reported.MPs approved a budget allowing imports worth up to 30 trillion rials (3.2 billion dollars) in the new year beginning on March 20. Iran […]
Laws hamper media coverage of Maoist story
RAIPUR, India, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – As the state at the epicentre of India’s Maoist insurgency battles the rebels, journalists say they too are finding themselves branded as outlaws.A law passed by Chhattisgarh state in 2005 made it a crime to “assist in a meeting” with a member of a banned organisation, or to […]
Germany reels over fat cat tax probe
BERLIN, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – Germany braced Sunday for more fallout from the worst tax evasion scandal in its history, exposed by a mysterious informant who reportedly took a five-million-euro award and now says he fears for his life.The German government said it paid the unnamed whistle-blower to hand over Liechtenstein bank details on […]
WHO wants tobacco firms to stop smuggling with new treaty
GENEVA, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – The World Health Organisation announced Friday that it planned to adopt a new international treaty on the illegal tobacco trade by 2010. The existing FCTC agreement, signed in February 2005, aims to rein in the estimated five million annual deaths caused by smoking, which the WHO says will double […]
India opens massive weapons fair, denies arming for war
NEW DELHI, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – A massive defence fair opened in India’s capital Saturday, with hundreds of global weapons firms competing for billions of dollars of sales to one of the world’s largest armies and biggest spenders. Some 450 firms from countries including the United States, Russia, Britain, Russia and Israel are displaying […]
Ward Rounds
Feb 16, 2008 (LBO) – A ban on representatives of Sri Lanka’s healthcare firms visiting hospitals has been lifted following a presidential order after the industry agreed to follow a code of conduct, an industry body said. Sri Lanka’s health ministry had banned visits by representatives to hospitals as part of a series of regulations […]
US scientists pinpoint 14 top technological challenges
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – The US National Academy of Engineering has announced the grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century that, if met, would improve people’s lives.The list of 14 tasks was unveiled Friday by a diverse committee of experts from around the world, convened at the request of the US […]
Indonesian shares close 0.5 percent higher
JAKARTA, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – Jakarta share prices closed 0.5 percent higher Friday rebounding from morning losses after the government’s announcement of strong 2007 growth data, dealers said. They said for 2007, the economy expanded 6.32 percent, the fastest for Indonesia since the Asian financial crisis 11 years ago.It remained below the pre-crisis level […]