bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Court says chief justice impeachment unlawful
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's supreme court said yesterday parliament does not have the authority to investigate accusations of misconduct against senior judges and an impeachment proceeding against the chief justice was against the law. On November 6, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling party filed an impeachment motion against Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka's first female head of the supreme court. The government complained that she had been overstepping her authority, but Bandaranayake's supporters complained of political interference in the judiciary. Reuters
 
Philippines condemns murder by loggers
MANILA - The Philippine government has voiced outrage at "ruthless" illegal loggers intent on defying a nationwide ban on destroying forests, following the New Year's Day murder of an environment officer. Two unidentified men armed with M-16 rifles shot environment department officer Alfredo Almueda in the head as he waited at a forest checkpoint to intercept a truck carrying logs. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of yet another environment officer," Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said. AFP
 
Women banned from straddling motorcycles
BANDA ACEH -- A city in Indonesia's Islamic law stronghold of Aceh will ban women from straddling male drivers on motorcycles, with the mayor dubbing the position "improper". Under the new law, women in Lhokseumawe city, in northern Sumatra, will have to sit with their legs dangling off to one side. "Women sitting on motorbikes must not sit astride because it will provoke the male driver. It's also to protect women from an undesirable condition," mayor Suaidi Yahya said. AFP
 
Soldier Rain to be punished for dating
SEOUL -The South Korean military will punish pop star Rain for meeting with a top actress while on duty during his mandatory military service. Paparazzi photos showing Rain meeting Kim Tae-hee have raised suspicions that highly sought-after entertainers may be receiving special favours during military service. The ministry denies Rain has received special treatment. But a spokesman said Rain, an "entertainment soldier", broke rules by meeting Kim at least three times late last year. AP
 
Protesters seek action over rape of maid
KATHMANDU - Hundreds of Nepalese campaigners protested over the alleged rape and robbery of a maid by government officials. Sita Rai, an assumed name used by the 21-year-old to protect her identity, says she was robbed by officials and then raped by a policeman as she returned to Kathmandu's airport from Saudi Arabia. Rai was given US$1,700 in compensation, angering demonstrators who began picketing the residence of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai a week ago. AFP


Briefs, January 4, 2013

Singer Rain to face discipline for dating during service. Photo: EPA

News

Asia

Sri Lanka's supreme court said yesterday parliament does not have the authority to investigate accusations of misconduct against senior judges and an impeachment proceeding against the chief justice was against the law. 
