"Sri Lanka is our next door neighbour. Geography bounds us. We have overwhelming trade ties with them. India is their biggest trade partner and the largest investor in Sri Lanka. Every fifth tourist in Sri Lanka arrives from India. Both countries' bilateral relation are so intertwined that both of us will soon take India's vote against them in the United Nations Human Rights Council in their stride."
World champions Spain and Italy completed the formalities of qualification for Euro 2012 on Tuesday, Netherlands are as good as through and England are in a commanding position to secure a place in next year's finals.
Spain, Germany and England all chalked up victories in their qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup on Saturday.
Newly crowned European champions Spain have climbed to the top of latest world rankings published by world soccer's governing body FIFA on Wednesday. It is the first time since the introduction of the rankings in 1992 that Spain, who were rated fourth last month, have been listed as the world's best team.
While wealth doesn't seem to generate happiness, extreme poverty is more likely to produce the opposite.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the upcoming moratorium does not stipulate permanent withdrawal from the CFE Treaty, adding that Russia will resume its obligations as soon as NATO countries ratify the adapted version.
In Moscow, Russia rallied to beat England 2-1 and keep their hopes alive for a berth in the finals.
Germany became the first country to win a place at Euro 2008 with a 0-0 draw in Ireland on Saturday, while World Cup finalists Italy and France still live in fear of losing out to Scotland.
French sporting pride took another hammering when Scotland won 1-0 in Paris on Wednesday to leave France's Euro 2008 qualifying hopes in the balance.
Italy drew 0-0 with France in a passionate and tough-tackling Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday, which dropped the world champions to third in Group B.
Injury-hit England host Israel knowing anything less than three points would leave them precariously off the pace in Group E.
Bosnian champions Sarajevo crushed Marsaxlokk of Malta 6-0 in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday to set up a likely meeting with Genk of Belgium in the second qualifying round.
Greece together with France, Germany and Romania all moved closer to a place in next year's European Championship finals.
The Russian President says a proposed US missile defence shield threatens Russia, and that Moscow would have to target European cities with nuclear missiles.
Scotland shocked World Cup finalists France 1-0 while England were held to a goalless draw by Macedonia.
India had a disappointing finish at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Italy.
Surya Shekhar Ganguly and P Harikrishna scored victories to help India post a resounding 3-1 victory over Germany.
Viswanathan Anand and National champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly were held in a 2-2 draw in the fifth round of the Chess Olympiad.
India stands 40th in 'network readiness' in the world, having slipped from the 39th spot it held last year. However, it is above China (50th) and Pakistan (67th) and Sri Lanka (83rd).
Indian men finished sixth after beating Bulgaria 2.5-1.5 in the 14th and final round of the 36th Chess Olympiad.
But their medal hopes remain dim after the 13th and penultimate round of the 36th Chess Olympiad.
Gunning for the silver medal are Russia and United States who have 25.5 points each.
Indian eves came up with yet another emphatic performance in the 10th round of the women's section of the 36th Chess Olympiad.
P Harikrishna and S S Ganguly lost their games as India went down to defending champions Russia in the Chess Olympiad.
Indian eves cruised to an emphatic 2-1 victory over eighth seeds France in the eighth round of the 36th Chess Olympiad.
The Indian men succumbed to their first defeat going down 1.5-2.5 to slip to joint sixth spot after the seventh round of the 36th Chess Olympiad.
In the Global Corruption Index, a survey of 133 nations conducted by Transparency International (an anti-graft watchdog), India stood 83rd, recording a score of 2.8 out of 10.
India have been drawn in along with Japan, Oman and Singapore in the Asian qualifying group for the 2006 World Cup football finals.\n\n
Germany beat the Faroe Islands 2-0 with two desperately late goals while Spain drew with N. Ireland in the Euro 2004 qualifiers.
European champions France are set to become the first country to qualify for Euro 2004 after a 2-1 win over Israel
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