Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

LIOC is abt to open another 40 outlets every year from now on !

Who is getting richer & richer ?

Wealth of India s rich drops by over 30%

June 26, 2009 05:25 pm

The wealth of world s rich people dropped nearly 20 per cent to $32.8 trillion, while Indiasaw the second largest decline in the number of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) at the end of 2008, says a report.



The population of HNWIs shrank by about 15 per cent to 8.6 million and in India, the numbers came down by 31.6 per cent to 84,000, says the World Wealth Report from Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.



HNWIs are referred to those who have at least $one million in investable assets, excluding primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables.



At the end of 2008, the world s population of HNWIs was down 14.9 per cent from the year before to 8.6 million, and their wealth had dropped 19.5 per cent to $32.8 trillion.



The declines were unprecedented, and wiped out two robust years of growth in 2006 and 2007, the report said.



Interestingly, the wealth of such individuals grew about 7.2 per cent from 2005 to 2007 while their wealth rose 10.4 per cent during the same period.



India s HNWI population shrank 31.6 per cent to 84,000, the second largest decline in the world, after posting the fastest rate of growth (up 22.7 per cent) in 2007.



India, still an emerging economy, suffered declining global demand for its goods and services and a hefty drop in market capitalisation (64.1 per cent) in 2008, the report said.



In the Asia-Pacific region, the number of HNWIs came down the maximum in Hong Kong (-61.3 per cent) followed by India (-31.6 per cent).



Among the regions, the population of these individuals declined the most in North America (-19.0 per cent), Europe(-14.4 per cent) and Asia-Pacific (-14.2 per cent). (Press Trust of India)

LIOC is abt to open another 40 outlets every year from now on !

Who is getting richer & richer ?

The reactivation of the Press Council is being seen as a means to control the media in a country where concerns have been voiced about intimidation and pressure on reporters critical of the government.

The government's move to revive the powerful Press Council was announced by the Sri Lankan media minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

The Press Council was staffed with government appointees. It had the authority to hear complaints about inaccurate reporting or defamation and fine and jail journalists if found guilty.

It's very dangerous and also is unfortunately a new step in all this campaign against free media in Sri Lanka,' he said. 'I think the government should consider it again.'

Indian forces renew Maoist attack

Indian forces have launched fresh operations against Maoist strongholds in an embattled enclave in the state of West Bengal, officials say.

Having consolidated their grip on parts of Lalgarh, troops are now fanning out to target surrounding areas, a police spokesman told the BBC.

The state government recently re-asserted control in Lalgarh after Maoist rebels drove out local police.

The insurgents had almost total control of the area since November 2008.

But security forces have launched a determined campaign to retrieve territory and impose government control.

They have been been bolstered by the arrival of more police from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.

The BBC's Subhir Bhaumik, in Calcutta, says Maoists are active there as well and the Jharkand police units have considerable experience in fighting Maoist rebels.

Maoist-linked violence has killed 6,000 people in India over the past 20 years. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoists as the greatest threat to India's internal security.

West Bengal police spokesman Raj Kanojia said that the paramilitary troops were now targeting the areas of Goaltore and Ramgarh.

'The fresh operations started early on Friday. The forces are fanning out slowly and so far they have not met any resistance from the Maoists,' Mr Kanojia told the BBC.

'But they have been told to be extremely alert because there could be stray raids, explosions and some obstruction by supporters of a local resistance committee close to the Maoists.'

Troop movements

The BBC's Amitabha Bhattsali is with the paramilitary columns fanning out towards Goaltore from Lalgarh.

'The forces are moving in a single column to avoid casualties in a possible ambush.

'Minesweeping vehicles have cleared the roads but the troops are cautious. They are looking out for explosives specially under wooden bridges,' he reported from Lalgarh.

Until Thursday, there were reports that armed Maoist squads were present around Goaltore and neighbouring areas of Kadasole.

'They were provoking villagers to stay back and resist the forces , but now the villages seem desolate,' our correspondent says.

The renewed attack comes shortly after the Indian government banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

The move enabled the government to arrest party members even if they had not been directly involved in insurgent activities.

A top Maoist leader and the party's 'overground spokesman' Gour Chakrabarty was arrested on Tuesday.

West Bengal's chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has rejected Maoist offers of talks, saying 'they must first surrender their weapons and stop the violence'.

The violence in Lalgarh began last November after Mr Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a landmine blast blamed on the rebels.

Protests were launched when a number of locals were arrested on suspicion of attempting to assassinate him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8120245.stm

That is why you bowed your head in shame to Vanangaman Ship ?

A Bridge Too Far

A Bridge Too Far II: The Tamil Homeland

Indian-origin woman is US special envoy to Muslim world

Washington:

The United States has appointed Farah Pandith, a Kashmiri-origin Indian woman, to reach out to the Muslim world, providing momentum to President Barack Obama's efforts for a 'new beginning' with the community.

Pandith's appointment was made early this week but the State Department communications staff failed to make the key nomination public.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed Pandith, a Muslim, as a Special Representative to Islamic communities two days ago.

Kelly only released the information when journalists asked him during the daily media briefing about reports that a special representative for Muslim communities had been named.

'Yes,' he said.

'She's actually a friend of mine. I worked with her very closely in the European Bureau, Farah Pandith. She was a special adviser for outreach to Muslim communities in Europe.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Indian-origin-woman-is-US-special-envoy-to-Muslim-world/481644

Stupid Sri lankans !