By Sudha Ramachandran BANGALORE – Developments in neighboring Sri Lanka are triggering unease in India. There is growing concern that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will use his second term to marginalize political rivals rather than seek a political solution to the island’s ethnic conflicts. The arrest last week of General Sarath Fonseka, former army chief and Rajapaksa’s losing rival in the presidential election in January, is fueling fears that the president is focusing on consolidating the already substantial grip of his family over the levers of power rather than on addressing the country’s bigger problems. Rajapaksa’s convincingly won the presidential election … Continue reading India uneasy over Sri Lanka’s slide

By Megawati Wijaya SINGAPORE – It is a sign of the changing aviation times that as once high-flying premium carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) was filing for bankruptcy last month, Singapore’s budget flier Tiger Airways was selling its shares to the public to such demand that its stock was oversubscribed by 21 times on the city’s stock exchange. Escalating fuel costs, plunging travel demand amid the global economic downturn, and last year’s H1N1 flu crisis, all conspired against the region’s full-service carriers (FSCs), causing many to cut routes and trim staff – or, in the case of JAL, to crash and … Continue reading New heights for Asia’s budget carriers

By Jim Lobe The ceasefire announced late last week between Yemen’s government and Houthi rebels in the northern part of the country is being greeted in the United States as an important initial step towards stabilizing the Arab world’s poorest country and reversing advances by al-Qaeda’s affiliate there. Washington wants the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to make the battle against al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which was allegedly behind the aborted bombing of a US commercial airliner on Christmas Day, its top security priority. It is providing tens of millions of dollars in training, arms and other … Continue reading US keeps its eye on al-Qaeda in Yemen

By Indrajit Basu KOLKATA – Ever since the devastating terror attack on Mumbai by a group of militants in November 2008, India has been living in fear of more. Few thought it would take until February 2010 for the next strike – on Saturday a bomb ripped through a German bakery in the western Indian city of Pune, killing 10 people and injuring more than 60. Experts fear the attack signals the beginning of a new wave. “I am more astonished by the fact that we did not have an attack in 2009. Given that India remains as vulnerable today … Continue reading Pune blast: One of many to come?

By M K Bhadrakumar United States National Security Advisor James Jones, who is usually taciturn, needed 20 words to sum up Russia’s current foreign policy. “Russia is supportive and is on board, and has been a steady friend and ally on this with President [Barack] Obama.” he told Fox News on Sunday. The “this” Jones referred to was Obama’s move to deepen pressure on Iran. He was speaking just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Moscow to press Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to back punitive sanctions on the Islamic republic. Curiously, Vladimir Nazarov, deputy secretary of the Russian … Continue reading Russia ‘on board’, but not in line over Iran