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Sri Lanka to motivate youth in policy reform
June 29, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to recognize youth involved community development, in a bid to encourage young people to come forward and contribute to policy reform, an official said.The Young Community Leaders (YCL) award scheme is organized by Sri Lanka’s Banadaranaike Institute for International Studies (BCIS). The YCL awards which will […]
Sri Lanka says another 46 killed in fresh fighting
June 28, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces killed at least 44 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of two of their own soldiers in fresh ground battles in the island’s embattled north, the defence ministry said Saturday. The rebels from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in separate clashes on […]
‘s national carrier slaps fuel surcharge
June 28, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, will re-introduce a fuel surcharge to cover rising jet fuel costs, the airline said Saturday. “Sri Lankan Airlines has re-introduced the fuel surcharge for travel and ticketing effective July 1,” the airline said. It said flights between Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries […]
Beijing city hikes minimum wage as inflation soars: report
BEIJING, June 28, 2008 (AFP) – China’s capital Beijing is to raise its minimum salary by 10 percent in a bid to help the worst-off cope with rising inflation, state media said Saturday. Beginning from July 1, the minimum monthly salary for city employees will rise from 730 to 800 yuan (106 to 116 dollars), […]
Powerful earthquake in Indian Ocean, no tsunami threat
PORT BLAIR, June 28, 2008 (AFP) – A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off India’s Andaman islands in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said. The Andaman and Nicobar chain of 536 islands, 58 of them inhabited, was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami, with hundreds dead and more than 3,000 still officially […]
Global waste meeting fails to break impasse: delegate
NUSA DUA, June 28, 2008 (AFP) – A conference in Indonesia on the international waste trade ended without breaking a 14-year impasse over the sale of hazardous waste across borders, the host’s delegate said Saturday.The five-day conference on the resort island of Bali ended late Friday with a coalition of countries again stalling the ban […]
‘s Gazprom proposes natural gas stations for Europe
MOSCOW, June 28, 2008 (AFP) – The chief executive of Russian energy giant Gazprom has proposed setting up a European network of service stations for cars fuelled by natural gas, as an alternative to petrol.“We are proposing to our European partners the creation of a network of natural gas stations in Europe with the participation […]
Indian shares set to slide further as oil, inflation surge
MUMBAI, June 28, 2008 (AFP) – Indian shares are set to run into rough weather again next week, as global crude prices and domestic inflation continue to surge, raising fears of further monetary tightening, dealers said.Investors are also wary of rising political uncertainty with media reports suggesting Friday that India’s ruling Congress party may decide […]
Sri Lanka illicit small arms threat to business: survey
June 28, 2008 (LBO) – The proliferation of illicit small arms in Sri Lanka not only fuels crime but has indirect costs on business as well as the environment, a new survey says. It said 9mm pistols were sold in the underworld for 15,000 rupees and T-56 automatic assault rifles for 50,000 – 75,000 rupees […]
Sri Lankan stocks end weaker
June 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks ended weaker Friday with the market failing to sustain the momentum generated by businessman Dammika Perera’s share deals in which he sold his power firm and became the single largest shareholder of Hayleys.The all share price index fell 0.35 percent (8.78 points) to 2,470.43 while the more […]
Global stocks slide as oil prices rocket to US$142
LONDON, June 27, 2008 (AFP) – European stocks mostly fell on Friday as oil prices shot to record levels, but losses were less than falls on other global markets hit by soaring crude costs and a weak US economy. Concerns are growing among investors that rising energy costs will fuel inflation and lead to higher […]
Oil prices ease after hitting record 140 dollars
SINGAPORE, June 27, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices eased in Asia on Friday after reaching 140 dollars for the first time following the OPEC president’s forecast that prices could soon surge as high as 170 dollars a barrel. New York’s main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, dropped 18 cents to 139.46 […]