All Blogs
Sri Lankan Airlines less attractive without catering, ground handling: analysts
Jan 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines is not an attractive opportunity for potential investors unless it comes with ground handling and catering, as airline operations alone were not very profitable, analysts said. (US$1=SLR 108.30) The Bloomberg newswire quoting presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga said a committee may be set up to look into options […]
Maldive Island hopper jumps to India
January 07, 2008 (LBO) – The Republic Island of Maldives will resume international flights with state-run Island Aviation Services due to fly to the Indian city of Trivandrum later this month, officials said.Island Aviation Services (IAS), a domestic carrier, will operate daily schedule flights from January 25, using a turboprop DeHavilland Cananda ‘Dash8′ aircraft between […]
China defends sovereign wealth funds
BEIJING, Jan 7, 2008 (AFP) – China defended the role of sovereign wealth funds, responding to fears that its own fund, China Investment Corp, might destabilise global markets, state media said Monday.It is in charge of 200 billion dollars — roughly one seventh of China’s forex reserves — and could potentially see even more funds […]
Iran to have bigger budget despite 19 percent inflation amidst massive oil subsidies
TEHRAN, Jan 7, 2008 (AFP) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday he was seeking a 17 percent spending increase in the budget for the next Iranian year, amid concerns the government’s expansionary policies are stoking inflation.Unveiling his budget plan to parliament, Ahmadinejad argued that ordinary people in OPEC’s number two oil producer needed to see […]
Sri Lanka slams Nordic nations over truce remarks
Jan 7, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Monday took exception to a statement by Nordic nations which voiced distress over the situation in the Indian ocean island, where the government abrogated an Oslo-arranged truce.With fighting escalating in recent months, Colombo now believes it has the upper hand over the rebels and is in a position […]
Quit Notice
Jan 06, 2007 (LBO) – Emirates said it would stop managing Sri Lankan Airlines after March 2008, ending months of controversy and a troubled relationship that culminated with the island government canceling the visa of its resident manager in Colombo. .Updated “Emirates has notified the Government of Sri Lanka that it will not be renewing […]
” in Mideast, S. Asia: minister
LONDON, Jan 6, 2008 (AFP) – Britain is planning a “diplomatic surge” in the Middle East and south Asia to help counter extremism and nuclear proliferation, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an article published Sunday. Writing in The Sunday Times, Miliband said 2008 would “show in word and deed” what Prime Minister Gordon Brown […]
High oil price will last until March: OPEC president
ALGIERS, Jan 5, 2008 (AFP) – The high price of oil will continue until the end of March 2008, the president of OPEC said Saturday.“The surge in price will probably endure until the end of the first quarter of 2008, before stabilising during the second quarter,” the Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil — who is […]
New Singapore terminal to bolster air hub status: analysts
SINGAPORE, Jan 6, 2008 (AFP) – Singapore will Wednesday open an ultra-modern new 1.2-billion-dollar airport terminal that industry analysts say will reinforce the city-state’s position as a regional aviation hub.Terminal 3, which boasts a five-storey vertical garden with waterfalls, will receive its first passengers just months after a new terminal opened in Hong Kong and […]
‘s peace advisor quits
Jan 6, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s top advisor on the peace process quit Sunday, after the government scrapped an Oslo-brokered truce with Tamil Tiger rebels. Jayantha Dhanapala, a diplomat and former candidate for the post of UN secretary general who was appointed as peace advisor in December 2005, said he was […]