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Indian court rules domestic whisky not “Scotch”
NEW DELHI, Apr. 24 (AFP) – An Indian court has ordered domestic whisky makers not to use the words “Scot” or “Scotch” for their distilled brews as it would violate global copyright laws, a lawyer said Monday. These include 53,000 dollars to Cartier, 35,000 dollars to Time magazine and 280,000 dollars to Microsoft — all […]
Jackpot
PARIS, Apr.24 (AFP) – While governments and consumers weep over the rise and rise of fuel prices, oil companies are rubbing their hands in glee. Last year the world’s 250 top oil companies earned profits totalling 243 billion euros (300 billion dollars), a 35-percent increase on 2004, and that in spite of hurricanes in the […]
Sri Lankan troops kill two Tiger suspects amid new tensions
Apr.24 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops shot dead two men who were trying to set up a Claymore mine Monday intended for security forces in the island’s east, a defence official said.The men were killed at Vandaramullai in the district of Batticaloa as army soldiers conducted an operation to clear the main road of mines […]
E-sex bust
Apr.23 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s immigration authorities have closed an internet-based commercial sex service run by foreign nationals, in the first such operation, officials said. The service run by persons of Ukrainian origin, and solicited clients via the website www.bananaescort.net, ended on April 12, after just two months of operations when sleuths from the Department […]
Maldives fishermen bring police record hashish haul
COLOMBO, Apr. 23 (AFP) – Fishermen in the Indian Ocean tourist paradise of the Maldives gave police their biggest catch of illegal drugs after an accidental discovery of hashish in a lagoon, the Haveeru News Service reported Sunday.Lobster fishermen found the hasish packed in 1,697 plastic bags on the ocean bed, the news agency said, […]
Sri Lanka seeks Tiger ban in Europe as toll hits 14
Apr. 23 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Sunday asked the European Union to designate Tamil Tiger rebels as terrorists, saying such a move could nudge them into resuming talks on a collapsing ceasefire.The request came as 14 more people were killed in fresh violence linked to the latest clashes with Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the island’s […]
Bond auction yields decline
Apr.21 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank sold a billion rupees worth of three and four year bonds Friday at yields below market expectations. Details of the auction below: Treasury Bond Auctions 3-years 4-years Date of Maturity 15-03-2009 01-02-2010 Coupon Rate 7.50% 7.20 % Amount Offered (LKR) 1,000 1,000 Bids Received (LKR) 3,280 1,905 […]
Chinese Flyovers
Apr.21 (LBO) – China Friday agreed to give a billion rupee grant to build three flyover roads in Sri Lanka, the Finance Ministry said. – LBO Newsdesk “The three infrastructure projects will help reduce the traffic congestion on the highly congested interchanges at Nugegoda and Welikada and also the road section from Kadawatha to Kiribathgoda,” […]
Wider Berth
DHAKA, April 21, 2006 (AFP) – South Asian nations have agreed to include services in the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) in a bid to boost regional economic integration, a report said Friday.The decision came at a meeting of South Asian trade ministers in Dhaka that ended Thursday on the free trade pact which […]
Easing Up
SINGAPORE, April 21, 2006 (AFP) – Oil prices were lower in Asian trade Friday on profit-taking after recent sustained gains to record highs amid concerns over tight US gasoline (petrol) supplies and tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, dealers said. At 11:15 am (0315 GMT), the June New York light sweet crude contract was at 72.96 […]