Author: lbostgadmin
China quake buries at least 10,000 people in one city: Xinhua
DUJIANGYAN, China, May 13, 2008 (AFP) – At least 10,000 people remained buried Tuesday in a single city in China’s Sichuan province following a massive earthquake, Xinhua news agency said. The 10,000 were missing in the city of Mianzhu, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) southeast of the epicentre of the 7.8-magnitude quake that struck on […]
Dollar nudges higher ahead of Bernanke speech
TOKYO, May 13, 2008 (AFP) – The dollar was slightly firmer in Asian trade on Tuesday as the market waited for a speech by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke for fresh leads on the health of the US economy, dealers said. The dollar rose to 103.91 yen in Tokyo morning trade from 103.83 in New […]
France offers to help India modernise railways including fast trains
MUMBAI, May 13, 2008 (AFP) – France will sign an agreement with India to help modernise its massive railway system with a focus on safety, training and technology including fast trains, the French transport minister said Tuesday. “Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français – the French National Railway Company – and the Indian Railways […]
World rice production to hit new record in 2008 : FAO
ROME, May 12, 2008 (AFP) – Rice production in Asia, Africa and Latin America is forecast to reach a new record level in 2008, but world rice prices could remain high in the short term, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Monday.However the destruction of Myanmar’s food resources by a deadly cyclone could […]
Australia boosts skilled migration numbers in budget
SYDNEY, May 13, 2008 (AFP) – Australia will boost its skilled migrant intake 30 percent to record levels in a bid to overcome a shortage of skilled workers, the government said Tuesday.As part of the centre-left Labor government’s first budget, Immigration Minister Chris Evans said an extra 31,000 skilled migrants would be allowed into Australia […]
Bollywood Link
May 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and India’s Adlabs plan to enter into a joint venture to upgrade 30 local cinemas, an official said. A mission from the entertainment company will be in Sri Lanka shortly, Saman Weeraman, head of the State Film Corporation said. Adlabs plans to develop and modernize the cinemas with […]
Rural Health
May 13, 2008 (LBO) – Japan has given a grant of 3,103 million yen (about 3.2 billion rupees) to expand Sri Lanka’s third largest hospital and import equipment for development projects, the finance ministry said Tuesday. . It said in a statement that 1.8 billion yen would go to modernise the Anuradhapura teaching hospital, the […]
Sri Lanka Fonterra unit to double yoghurt production
May 13, 2008 (LBO) – Fonterra Brands Lanka is investing 1.2 billion rupees to double yoghurt output and boost local raw milk supplies to cushion against volatile international prices, an official said. “The Sri Lankan yoghurt market has experienced double digit growth in the past five years and consumers now eat more than 12,000 metric […]
Sri Lankan stocks fall in thin trading on earnings fears
May 13, 2008 (LBO) – Most Sri Lankan shares lost value Tuesday in thin trading with investors apparently worried that corporate earnings could be hit by high inflation and interest rates, brokers said.The Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Index fell 1.04 percent (27.35 points) to 2,613.89 and the more liquid Milanka Index was down 1.39 […]
Sri Lanka coastal town scores with garbage recycling
May 12, 2008 (LBO) – A town in Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt has improved its environment and the finances of its local government body through a garbage recycling project, officials said. The cash saved on garbage disposal and money earned through recycling is being used for road improvement by the Weligama urban council. In […]
Sri Lanka Marxist rebels form new party
May 12, 2008 (LBO) – A breakaway faction of Sri Lanka’s Marxist-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP- People’s Liberation Front) said Monday that they had formed a new political party. Lead by controversial lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa, the breakaway group, known as the ‘Wimal faction’, claims the support of at least nine of the 38 members of […]
Sri Lanka opposition challenge govt poll win
May 12, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s opposition said Monday it planned to mount a legal challenge to the government’s weekend win in key local elections in the east of the island.The opposition said President Mahinda Rajapakse’s party and his allies — including Tamil Tiger rebel defectors — used “terror” tactics to bully voters and […]