Rs. 14.8 m stolen from Malabe bank

Two armed men stormed a private bank in Malabe at around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and robbed Rs. 14.8 million from the cashiers at gunpoint. According to Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana, the two men who arrived at the bank premises in a motorcycle wearing full face helmets had first told the security guards at the entrance to kneel down.
“One man then entered the bank and collected the money from the cashiers while the other was at the entrance. They fled with the money,” he said. The Police spokesman said a special operation is in place in and around Malabe to nab the robbers.

Anna Umemiya victim of pickpocket in New York

“Talent” and model Anna Umemiya, 41, who has been living in New York since last month, wrote on her blog this week that she was the victim of a pickpocket.
Umemiya wrote that last Saturday, she finished lunch and paid for it with her credit card and then was walking to Carnegie Hall when she stopped at a traffic lights. “That’s where it must have happened,” she wrote. “Someone reached into my handbag and took my wallet.”
Umemiya said she noticed her wallet was missing about 10 minutes later and rushed back to her hotel to cancel her credit card. But within a period of 30 minutes, the pickpocket used her card to buy goods, metro cards and withdrew cash for a total take of about $1,000.
Umemiya said she was amazed at how smooth the pickpocket was. “He took my wallet out of my bag when he was standing right behind me. He must be a real pro.”
She said that when she told her American friends, they weren’t surprised. “Most of them said that at one time or another, they had experienced the same thing,” she wrote

Sri Lankan President's visit to Kenya opens up collaborative economic opportunities

Dec 16, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the island early this morning following a successful state visit to Kenya, the first by a Sri Lankan head of state to that country.
In addition to attending Kenya's 50th Independence Day celebrations, the visit aimed to enhance bilateral relations and open up new collaborative economic opportunities for the two countries and their business communities, a media release from President's Media Unit said.
"I believe there is much potential to strengthen trade and economic relations between our two countries," President Rajapaksa told his Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta during the bilateral discussions.
During the bilateral discussions the two leaders reiterated their commitment to the continued expansion of bilateral ties and to build a fresh momentum for cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
Towards this end the two countries signed eight Memoranda of Understanding on Bilateral Relations, Bilateral Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, Visa exemption for holders of Diplomatic and Official passports, Cooperation in the field of Tourism, Cultural Cooperation and Cooperation in the field of Sports.
Currently, there are approximately 200 Sri Lankans living in Kenya with a number of them engaged in large projects in a variety of sectors from apparel and horticulture to motor vehicle trade. One other area Sri Lankan businesses have already identified as having large investment opportunities (not only in Kenya, but throughout Africa) is the power and energy sector.
"Sri Lankan private companies have invested in the power and energy sector in African states, and they have the capacity and desire to extend their business and services in the region," President Rajapaksa said.
One of those projects is the "Nanyuki Transmission Project," built by Sri Lanka's LTL Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. It was handed over to the Kenyan Government during this state visit in the presence of the two leaders.
The tea and coconut industries are two other areas that Sri Lankan and Kenyan investors can explore for mutual benefit. According the Tea Board of Kenya, the country had produced an average of about 360 million kilograms of tea annually during the past five years. This year, so far, it has produced a total of 365 million kilograms.
During the bilateral discussions, the Kenyan delegation noted that it would be beneficial for tea producing countries to collectively approach tea markets. They also indicated keen interest in learning best practices from Sri Lanka on value addition for tea and noted that Kenya would benefit from exchange visits to share knowledge and experiences. President Kenyatta also highlighted Kenya's desire to learn from Sri Lanka's experiences in the coconut industry.
Investment opportunities between the two countries are likely to be better facilitated following the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Both President Rajapaksa and President Kenyatta acknowledged that connectivity is the key in enhancing all forms of relations between the two countries, be it economic, cultural or social. Towards this end, President Rajapaksa and President Kenyatta agreed to work towards two specific objectives: Establishing direct air links between the two capitals and enhancing links between the Ports of Mombasa, Colombo and Hambantota.
Both leaders acknowledged that acts of terrorism in any form cannot be condoned and agreed to enhance cooperation and the sharing of experiences especially in the areas of counterterrorism and defence.
Following discussions President Kenyatta accepted an invitation extended by Sri Lankan President to pay a state visit to Sri Lanka at a time to be mutually agreed.

China's parliament: Japan has no right to criticize air defense zone

BEIJING —

China’s parliament has declared that Japan has no right to criticize the establishment of a Chinese air defense zone which it said was in accordance with international law, state media reported on Sunday.
Japan, South Korea and their ally the United States have all protested at China’s decision last month to declare an air defense identification zone in an area that includes islands at the heart of a territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.
China’s National People’s Congress firmly opposes the so-called resolution passed by Japan’s lower house of parliament, said Xinhua, citing a statement by the congress.
Japanese lawmakers had adopted a resolution protesting China’s “reckless and risky measures” and said they would never accept Beijing’s “unilateral attempts to change the status quo”.
The Chinese parliament’s statement also reiterated China’s stance that the Diaoyu Islands, or Senkakus as they are known in Japan, are part of Chinese sovereign territory which Japan has tried to encroach upon with its own air defense zone.
The Chinese assembly blamed Japan for the tension over the East China Sea, and called on Japan to stop its “provocative” words and actions in order to repair relations, Xinhua reported.
Earlier in the day visiting Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop played down discord over the air defense zone after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang had said on Friday that Australia’s position on the issue had damaged bilateral trust.
On Tuesday U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Japan and China to find ways to reduce tension, while reiterating his country’s concern at Beijing’s gambit.
The United States has made clear it will stand by treaty obligations that require it to defend the Japanese-controlled islands, but it is also reluctant to get dragged into any military clash between the Asian rivals. 

He's back

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in Japan this week to promote his latest film, “Escape Plan, in which he stars with Sylvester Stallone. Schwarznegger, 66, attended the Japan premiere at Roppongi Hills on Tuesday night. He said he intends to keep making movies until the day he dies. Next year, he will be seen in three films, including the star-studded “Expendables 3,” in which he again co-stars with Stallone. “Escape Plan” opens in Japan on Jan 10. 

Emperor in India

Japan’s Emperor Akihito, third from right, waits for Empress Michiko right, during their visit to Lodhi garden, home to 15th and 16th century tombs of Mughal emperors, in New Delhi, India, on Sunday.