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Pakistani officials to meet IMF over economic crisis
KARACHI, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Pakistani officials are to meet International Monetary Fund representatives in Dubai on Tuesday as the violence-hit country looks for billions of dollars to stave off an economic meltdown. The government has insisted that seeking IMF help to avoid a balance of payments crisis is only a “back-up plan”, but […]
Sri Lanka says battle against Tigers delayed due to civilians
October 21, 2008 (AFP) – A massive Sri Lankan government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels is taking longer than expected because of concern for civilians trapped in the battle zone, the country’s president said Tuesday.Mahinda Rajapakse told the state-run Daily News newspaper that his security forces were “fighting under severe constraints, to cause no harm […]
Sri Lanka Brandix says cleaner production makes economic sense
Oct 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan apparel exporter Brandix group said its cleaner production efforts are driven not only by environmental imperatives but because they help cut costs and improve efficiency.New manufacturing methods that are cleaner than older ones are motivated by environmental imperatives, Brandix Casualwear Managing Director A J Johnpillai said. But they […]
Sri Lanka August export growth driven by commodities as garments falter
Oct 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s August 2008 export earnings went up 16.6 percent to 761 million dollars from a year ago, driven largely by the boom in agricultural exports, the central bank said Tuesday. Spending on investment goods were up 21.3 percent to 1,976 million dollars in the eight month period. The central […]
India plans to complete global 3G spectrum auction in January
NEW DELHI, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – India said Tuesday its planned global auction for airwaves to offer high-speed third generation mobile phone services will likely be completed by mid-January.The auction of 3G phone spectrum could spur greater growth in the world’s fastest-expanding mobile market, which has been adding eight million new subscribers monthly, and […]
Iran hopes OPEC cut would push oil prices to 150 dollars
TEHRAN, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s oil minister said on Tuesday that Tehran believes OPEC should cut production by between two million and 2.5 million barrels a day, and that prices could go higher than 150 dollars a barrel.Attiyah also said OPEC “might be obliged to reduce production to balance supply and demand,” at […]
Obama to dash to side of sick grandmother
WEST PALM BEACH, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Democrat Barack Obama will leave the White House trail later this week to dash to the side of his gravely ill 85-year-old grandmother in Hawaii, just 11 days before the election. The Illinois senator will cancel events in midwestern Iowa and Wisconsin and head to his native […]
Chinese exporters gear up for worst crisis in their miracle rise
CIXI, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Richard Fan is preparing for what may be the worst crisis of his six-year manufacturing career as the world markets that made his business in eastern China thrive are drying up at an alarming rate. Standing on the shop floor of Henwei Industrial, which produces everything from bottle openers […]
Anti-dumping probes surge 39 percent in first half of 2008: WTO
GENEVA, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – The number of anti-dumping probes launched by trading nations against alleged unfairly-priced imports surged 39 percent in the first half of the year, with China a key target, the WTO said Monday. Between January and June 2008, 16 World Trade Organization members initiated 85 new probes, compared to 61 […]
Aussie non-banks face run after government guarantees banks deposits
SYDNEY, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – Australia’s largest mortgage fund, Challenger Howard, is set to freeze investor redemptions following a rush of withdrawals sparked by the government’s guarantee of bank deposits, a report said Tuesday. The Australian Financial Review reported that the 2.9-billion-dollar (two billion US) fund would act imminently to prevent a flight of […]