Category:
” hailed as cost of living goes up
TOKYO, September 9, 2013 (AFP) – Japan’s economy in the April-June quarter expanded more than initially estimated, revised data showed Monday, offering another boost for Tokyo’s bid to reverse years of tepid growth. The Cabinet Office put second-quarter growth at 0.9 percent from the previous quarter, up from a preliminary reading of a 0.6 percent […]
New India central bank chief may face short honeymoon
NEW DELHI, September 8, 2013 (AFP) – The euphoria which greeted new central bank governor Raghuram Rajan has been unprecedented in India’s normally sober financial world but the honeymoon may be shortlived.In fact, Rajan’s comments suggest he is likely to be “more hawkish”, said CLSA economist Rajeev Malik said. The former top finance ministry advisor […]
Nasheed faces tricky run-off in Maldives election
MALÉ, September 8, 2013 (AFP) – The ex-leader of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, faced disappointment Sunday after failing to secure a majority in presidential polls he hoped would seal his return to power 18 months after he was toppled.Nasheed now faces a tricky run-off election on September 28 after he won the first round of […]
Arrested
COLOMBO, September 7, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police have arrested a navy officer suspected of involvement in smuggling people in fishing boats to Australia, officials said Saturday. Australia announced tough new measures in mid-July to discourage illegal boatpeople. Since then, local police have apprehended three boats and detained 300 Sri Lankans, including 56 women […]
Sri Lanka Muslim leader warns against extremism claims
COLOMBO, September 6, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main Muslim political leader, who is also the justice minister, criticised his own government Friday for blaming religious tensions in the mainly Buddhist nation on Islamic fundamentalism.Rauf Hakeem said he had been “disturbed” by recent comments from the country’s defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse which warned of efforts […]
Opposition Warning
Sept 06, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition has warned that several finance companies are taking public deposits without meeting minimum statutory requirements, saying action was needed prevent disasters. “It is well known to the regulators and financial analysts that several finance companies who are still taking public deposits are on the verge of […]
Sri Lanka offered hi-tec dairy farm by Dutch firm
Sept 06, 2013 (LBO) – A Netherlands based company has offered to set up a hi-tec dairy farm with processing facilities with high yield milch cows, provided suitable land with fresh water is made available, officials said. Velema Holdings, a Netherland based investment firm, is offering to put together a turnkey dairy facility if about […]
‘s bond awaiting launch window
Sept 05, 2013 (LBO) – A planned global bond sale by Sri Lanka’s National Savings Bank is waiting for international market conditions to improve, sources following the deal said.An international road show on NSB ended this week but market conditions remained unstable with a possible US strikes on Syria looming over the horizon, market sources […]
Clear Message
PARIS, September 4, 2013 (AFP) – Big anti-smoking messages on the front of cigarette packets may help deter youngsters tempted by tobacco but have little effect when they are on the back of the pack, research has found. Touching on a subject that has stirred controversy in countries where pro- and anti-tobacco lobbies are fighting […]
Innovation
Sept 05, 2013 (LBO) – Content owners are now choosing to allow unauthorized posting of their material when given a chance to earn advertising revenues, a regional Google official said at a forum in Sri Lanka. Ann Lavin, head of government policy for Asia and Greater China at Google said, there were over 100,000 owners […]
‘s plans
MUMBAI, September 5, 2013 (AFP) – India’s rupee strengthened and stocks jumped Thursday after new central bank governor Raghuram Rajan outlined a reform plan aimed at boosting investor confidence and stabilising the ailing currency.The rupee climbed to 65.75 against the dollar, gaining nearly two percent from its previous close, on investor hopes the worst could […]
” violence
MALE, September 5, 2013 (AFP) – The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives goes to the polls this weekend for a presidential election that will test its young democracy 18 months after a violent change in leadership. Its more than 1,000 islands sit aside the world’s most important east-west shipping channel and its strategic location […]