Author: lbostgadmin
Palmtop
Aug 18, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Peoples’ Bank has started a new service with personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped officers visiting customer premises to offer banking facilities. The ‘palm-top’ banking service allows customers to open an account, make deposits, withdraw cash, apply for loans, make balance inquiries and do reversals, the bank said. […]
Phelps makes history with eighth gold
BEIJING, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Michael Phelps became the first competitor in the history of the Olympics to win eight gold medals at a single Games as the United States won the men’s 4x100m medley relay on Sunday. With the victory, Phelps overtook compatriot Mark Spitz, who won seven swimming gold medals at Munich […]
Bolt set up for historic sprint double
BEIJING, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Jamaica’s Usain Bolt has set himself up for the first Olympic sprint double since American Carl Lewis 24 years ago after scorching to the 100m title in world record-breaking style. Bolt set the 91,000-capacity National Stadium alight on Saturday when he broke his own record in scorching to the […]
Openers Jayasuriya, Sehwag in explosive duel
DAMBULLA, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene are looking forward to an explosive start to their one-day international series starting here Monday.Sri Lanka’s left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya may be 39, but remains a bowler’s nightmare with his ability to change the course of a match […]
Australia announces Pacific guest worker scheme
SYDNEY, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Thousands of Pacific Islanders will be allowed to live and work in Australia under a new guest worker plan announced Sunday by the government.Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said the scheme would allow up to 2,500 people from Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to work here for […]
‘s economy as gloomy data piles up
NEW DELHI, August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Until a few months ago, the most popular buzz phrase for India was “economic miracle”, with the nation appearing impervious to the financial turmoil engulfing the developed world. “No other issue is likely to dominate the political scene” as much in the coming months, he said. The government […]
India pin hopes on fresh legs in Sri Lanka one-dayers
DAMBULLA, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – India open a five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka here on Monday hoping to erase unhappy memories of their last encounter. Sri Lanka dashed India’s hopes of winning a major title in the sub-continent in their previous one-day international, winning the Asia Cup final by a comfortable 100-run margin […]
Philippine outsourcing industry needs extra 420,000 workers by 2010
MANILA, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – The Philippine outsourcing industry will need an extra 420,000 workers within the next two years as it bids to become one of the world’s leading outsourcing centres, business leaders said Friday. The industry is targetting annual revenues of 12-13 billion dollars by 2010, Business Processing Association of the Philippines […]
Shapeways lets Internet users manufacture goods
SAN FRANCISCO, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – In a step toward the type of future pictured in the hit film “Iron Man,” a firm in the Netherlands is letting people fabricate items designed in three-dimensions on the Internet.Shapeways chief executive Peter Weijmarshausen depicts the “rapid manufacture” service launched online this week as a natural extension […]
Former Siemens management lax on anti-corruption: report
BERLIN, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – German engineering giant Siemens ignored its own anti-corruption procedures in a slush fund scandal that has brought down a number of former group executives, Spiegel magazine said.“Netzwerk-compliance,” a network comprising more than 400 businesses created to secure good company governance, identified “considerable structural shortcomings” in Siemens’ anti-corruption rules, according […]
Sri Lanka power demand slowing: expert
Aug 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka faces no immediate threat of blackouts with growth in demand for electricity slowing down as industries grapple with the highest power costs in Asia, an energy expert said. “The slowdown in demand for electricity is coming mainly from industry. Last year industry reported zero growth in electricity consumption.” […]
Sri Lanka fighting endangering civilians: Amnesty
August 16, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north is endangering the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people, rights group Amnesty International said. Amnesty said it had received reports that the government is housing those who have been able to leave LTTE areas in temporary […]