All Blogs
India over the moon with water discovery
BANGALORE, September 25, 2009 (AFP) – India on Friday hailed the discovery of water on the moon as a triumph for its lunar programme as the country aims to cement its reputation as a serious player in the space industry.“There could be much more interesting facts.We will talk about all of it once we have […]
Sri Lanka insurance upgrade on national rating, Fitch says
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said it was correcting a previous announcement on Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC), saying it had upgraded its National Long-term rating, and not the National Issuer Default Rating. It said in a statement the announcement corrects the version issued on 14 August 2009. According to the corrected version, […]
Sri Lanka inflation slows to 0.7 percent in September
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 0.7 percent in September from a year earlier, down from 0.9 percent in August, the government’s statistics office said.The monetary authority, which keeps the rupee pegged to the US dollar, has relaxed policy rates, but has been engaging in steady “quantity tightening” […]
Sri Lankan shares up 0.56-pct
Sep 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed up Tuesday as investors bet on an expected rally in the coming weeks when market liquidity is lifted by refunds from two Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), brokers said.Hatton National Bank closed at 163.25 rupees, up 1.25, while DFCC Bank closed flat at 151.00 rupees. Sampath Bank […]
Sri Lanka spice traders thwart protectionist move
Sept 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan spice traders say they have thwarted an attempt by few processors to push the government to impose an export tax that would have benefited their own industries but hurt growers, mostly small farmers.Pepper light berries are used to make high value products from the extracted oil while nutmeg […]
Sri Lanka wage hike seen eroding plantations profitability
Sept 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan plantations companies relying mainly on high grown teas such as Maskeliya Plantations and Namunukula Plantations would be worst hit by a recent wage hike, an equities research report says. These are mainly small-holder farmers in the island’s southern districts making low-grown teas, which account for over 60 percent […]
‘s major species at threat: Australian report
SYDNEY, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – Almost 10 percent of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish are in danger of extinction due to climate change and other factors, according to an Australian report released Tuesday.“We have a long way to go, we have discovered and named only about a quarter of Australia’s estimated […]
India drops arms scandal case against Italian: report
NEW DELHI, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – India on Tuesday said it was dropping a graft case against an Italian involved in the arms scandal that ended Rajiv Gandhi’s premiership 20 years ago, the Press Trust of India reported. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told the supreme court the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi would […]
Strike forces Air India to suspend ticket sales
NEW DELHI, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – Air India said on Tuesday that about half of its international flights had been cancelled due to a strike by pilots and announced a suspension of new bookings.Nine out of 21 international flights and 37 out of 177 domestic flights were scrapped, spokesman Jitender Bhargava said, after pilots […]
Bharti shares rise as MTN talks deadline looms
NEW DELHI, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – Shares of Bharti Airtel rose nearly two percent in morning trade Tuesday ahead of an expected announcement by the top Indian mobile firm and South Africa’s flagship group MTN on a possible tie-up.Shares of Bharti Airtel were up 1.75 percent or 7.25 rupees at 421.60, a day ahead […]