Asia - Tue 7 Oct 2008
Cornered Tigers bare their teeth
With government troops at the gates of their northern stronghold, the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Monday resorted to the deadliest weapon in their arsenal - a suicide bomber killed a former army chief and 24 other people. The Tigers are not yet ready for government offers of surrender and "rehabilitation". (Oct 7, '08)Views: 8
SPEAKING FREELY : More US ears in Israel
Why did the United States Senate approve a US$89 million bill to deploy an immensely powerful and precise long-range radar system to Israel one year ahead of schedule? Most likely because the X-band radar - which can locate an object the size of a baseball 4,700 kilometers away - adds one more strategic base to contain and intimidate Iran, Syria and Lebanon. - Ardeshir Ommani (Oct 7, '08)Views: 27
A fatal flaw in Afghan peace process
While the parties involved are playing coy, it is beyond doubt that Saudi Arabia-brokered Afghan peace talks have begun. Using a mix of the godly and the worldly, which is useful for finessing a movement like the Taliban that crisscrosses religion and politics, the United States aims to keep the process within a tiny, exclusive circle of friends and allies. This means no role for Iran and Russia. It also means failure. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct 7, '08)Views: 30
The teddy bear millionaire
WHEN Imran Hakim collected two awards at the Institute of Directors regional awards dinner last month, he paid tribute to his `fantastic team' whom he credited with putting him where he is today.Views: 10
Philippines angry at Enfield show
The Philippine embassy in London complains over a sketch featuring a Filipina maid in Harry Enfield's BBC show.Views: 14
Philippines angry at UK comic's show
The Philippine embassy in London complains over a sketch featuring a Filipina maid in Harry Enfield's BBC show.Views: 7
Political courage the missing link
The global economic and financial crisis is not a work of nature but the predictable result of overly expansionary monetary and fiscal policies and a deregulated and disorderly financial industry. Political courage is needed to implement the most appropriate, perhaps the least popular, policies. - Hossein Askari and Noureddine KricheneViews: 23
THE BEAR'S LAIR : Market-place gods had it right
The folly of treating traditional market truths as outdated and irrelevant in the modern world is now all too apparent. Economists, financiers and regulators must return to such fundamentals as they view the wreckage their hubris has encouraged. - Martin HutchinsonViews: 20
California crash driver arrested
The driver of a US bus that crashed killing eight passengers is held on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, police say.Views: 8
Californian crash driver arrested
The driver of a US bus that crashed killing eight passengers is held on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, police say.Views: 9
Troops confront Bangkok protests
Thai troops are deployed in the capital after police fail for a second time to disperse anti-government protesters.Views: 14
Thai government takes a tougher tack
Thai police fired teargas at anti-government protestors on Tuesday, injuring dozens who had moved to occupy parliament and lock out lawmakers. The violent crackdown has led to the resignation of the deputy prime minister and public concern from the Thai queen. A royally endorsed government may be the only way out of the escalating crisis. - Shawn W Crispin (Oct 7, '08)Views: 13
Asia worries dent stock markets
Stock markets plummet around the world as investors worry about the growing level of financial turmoil.Views: 20
Syria plays hardball with the Saudis
Saudi Arabia's refusal to denounce the deadly September 27 attack in Syria has enflamed relations between Damascus and Riyadh. The Syrians believe the Saudis, furious over defeat in Beirut and Syria's diplomatic successes, are now financing radicals in Lebanon to strike at both Hezbollah and Syria - a move that could set the region ablaze. - Sami Moubayed (Oct 7, '08Views: 15
Tata at a fork in the road
Ratan Tata is the philanthropic power house and septuagenarian driving force behind the award-winning Nano "people's car". How he emerges from the forced dismantling of Tata Motors' West Bengal Nano autoplant and other recent corporate setbacks may reveal how well he is attuned to the modern India. - Raja MurthyViews: 5
Japan holds interest rate at 0.5%
Japan keeps its key interest rate at 0.5% for the 20th consecutive month - amid continued worries about the global financial crisis.Views: 26
Kashmiri leader passes away
HUNDREDS of people filled out Cheetham Hill's Khizrah Mosque to pay their respect to a former Kashmiri political leader.Views: 7
Look who came to dinner ...
Former Taliban foreign minister Wakeel Ahmed Muttawakil was one of the special guests at a dinner hosted by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at which a peace process with the Taliban is said to have been discussed. Muttawakil tells Syed Saleem Shahzad of the good relations the Taliban once enjoyed with the Saudis, but won't be drawn further. If previous Saudi efforts are a guide, a Muslim peacekeeping force for Afghanistan is on the menu. (Oct 7, '08)Views: 24
US wars keep the money flowing
Doom and gloom merchants in the United States military/industrial complex have got it all wrong. There is no chance of the Pentagon's massive budget being cut any time soon, or the military in any way "transformed", no matter who takes over the White House. The simple fact is, the United States is at war. - David Isenberg (Oct 7, '08)Views: 13
Millionaire swaps curry for comedy
CURRY king Charan Gill MBE will play it for laughs when he launches a new career as a stand-up comedian.Views: 25
Paedophile faces new Thai charges
Convicted Canadian paedophile Christopher Neil appears in a Thai court to face a new charge of abusing children.Views: 30
SUN WUKONG : China takes stock in crisis
China's refusal to allow full convertability of its currency has left its economy relatively isolated from the financial crisis sweeping the world. But exporters will suffer, and market reforms that have been underway for three decades are likely to proceed at an even more cautious pace. - Wu ZhongViews: 14
China cancels US military contact
China cancels some military and diplomatic exchanges with the US over Washington's $6.5bn deal to supply Taiwan with arms.Views: 15
THE MOGAMBO GURU : Government spending spree
Banks are the focus of US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's vast bailout plan but it is the government that needs the cash because it employs half the workers in the country - and the Federal Reserve prints the money the government wants.Views: 15
Shahin Badar's long awaited album Laila due for release
AWARD winning and leading British Asian vocalist Shahin Badar is releasing her debut solo album Laila and returningViews: 29
Bangkok governor is re-elected
Apirak Kosayodhin, the outgoing governor of the Thai capital, Bangkok, is re-elected to his post.Views: 6
Australian jet plunge injures 40
A plane makes an emergency landing in Australia after 40 people are injured following a "sudden change in altitude".Views: 14
H.K. urges banks to buy back Lehman mini-bonds from angry investors
Hong Kong's financial chief said Monday that financial institutions that sold Lehman Brothers-related mini-bonds should consider buying the products back from investors. ''We have demanded the banks (that issued those mini-bonds) to, as soon as possible, assess the current value of the collateral of the mini-bonds and consider a buyback (based on the assessed value),'' Financial Secretary John Tsang told reporters after meeting with the institutions.Views: 18
