Author: LBO
Macau to lead the way in Asia’s gaming boom: industry
SINGAPORE, July 24, 2006 (AFP) – Casino gaming is increasingly accepted as a revenue stream for Asian governments and the sector is set to continue growing phenomenally with Macau leading the way, industry players said Monday. From Australia to Singapore and other Asian countries, the region’s governments now recognise that integrated gaming “resorts”, offering casino […]
Sri Lanka’s rights watch dog slammed for dropping investigations
July 18, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan watchdog has halted its probes into the disappearance of thousands of people so that the government can avoid paying compensation, the Asian Human Rights Commission charged Tuesday.Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission (HRC), appointed and funded by the government, has shelved some 2,000 current probes into people who […]
Car trunks key for Zimbabwean ‘millionaires’
HARARE, July 16, 2006 (AFP) – Becoming a millionaire in Zimbabwe is easy these days, but wallets and purses have given way to car trunks and suitcases as the crucial accessory for carrying wads of nearly worthless cash.As the southern African country battles hyper-inflation and grinding fuel and foreign exchange shortages amid a seven-year economic […]
Microsoft software to improve India’s cricket umpires
NEW DELHI, July 16, 2006 (AFP) – India’s cricket chiefs are negotiating with Microsoft for new software aimed at raising umpiring standards in the country, an official said on Sunday. The Indian board will record all domestic matches with six cameras and the footage will be analysed by the software to be developed by Microsoft, […]
Ex-captain Ranatunga, three others set to run Sri Lanka’s cricket
July 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s only World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga is among four cricketers recommended by ex-players to run the sport in the island nation, sources told AFP on Friday.Elections to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), scheduled to be held on Saturday, were cancelled on the advice of the country’s President Mahinda […]
Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widens despite strong export growth in May
July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expanded to 429 million dollars for the five months to May, amidst strong growth in export earnings. Exports from Sri Lanka rose 5.8 percent to 2,530 million dollars from Jan – May, as the island shipped more clothes, tea, rubber based products. During the month of […]
Indian servant’s tell-all book on a domestic’s hard life
NEW DELHI, July 12, 2006 (AFP) – For many affluent Indians, the ideal servant is one who is seen and not heard, rises early to get the kids off to school and uncomplainingly serves the family their last cup of tea at night. They don’t want to hear any heart-wrenching or even mundane details of […]
Zimbabwe’s churches say they may have answer to economic woes
HARARE, July 9, 2006 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s churches are rallying to provide what they call a “comprehensive document” they believe could help lift the embattled southern African country from its political and economical muddle.The plan drawn up by the influential Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) comes in the wake of a recent call by President […]
India’s ruling Congress battles mounting criticism over reforms
NEW DELHI, July 8, 2006 (AFP) – India’s ruling Congress party moved into damage control on Saturday after an embarrassing U-turn on privatisation sparked rumours that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was quitting.“There are no differences, and will never be, between the party and the prime minister. We stand as one,” Singh’s Congress party spokeswoman Jayanti […]
Bank of Japan to tighten rules on executives’ finances
TOKYO, July 7, 2006 (AFP) – The Bank of Japan said Friday it will ban its executives from investing in most types of financial products following a scandal over its governor’s personal investments.They will be forbidden from trading stocks or investing in private funds, the central bank decided, based on recommendations from an advisory panel. […]
Indian freeze on privatisation shows PM’s tough reforms fight
NEW DELHI, July 7, 2006 (AFP) – India’s move to freeze its privatisation programme is a bad signal for reforms and highlights the uphill battle Prime Minister Manmohan Singh faces to liberalise the economy, analysts said Friday.Only two weeks after announcing the government would revive asset sales, Singh said Thursday he was putting “on hold” […]
Sri Lanka’s Mercantile Investments mulls subsidiary to hold leisure business
July 5, 2006 (LBO) — Finance company Mercantile Investments Ltd, plans to float a fully-owned subsidiary to hold their leisure investments, a credit rating report said.George Ondaatjie family, which controls 56 percent of Mercantile Investments, currently owns these investments as associate companies. Mercantile Investments has three associate companies catering to the tourism segment: Royal Palms […]