Category:
Bangladesh rickshaws get modern makeover
DHAKA, June 24, 2008 (AFP) – The backbreaking job of pedalling a rickshaw in Bangladesh could soon be history with a local company saying it has come up with battery-powered, rechargeable cycles.Bangladesh Diesel Plant, an agricultural farm tool manufacturer owned by the country’s powerful army, says it has created an electric rickshaw and plans to […]
” inflation options
MUMBAI, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – The governor of India’s central bank said Monday he was looking at new options to halt a surge in inflation, currently running at a 13-year high. “We are currently in the midst of intensive examination of issues and options,” Reserve Bank of India chief Y.Y. Reddy said at a […]
Olympic athletes set to shine through smog, doping scandals
PARIS, June 24, 2008 (AFP) – Beijing Games organisers will be hoping that the exciting crop of competitors in the blue riband event of athletics can dispel the sordid spectre of doping and provide a feast of top-class sport.Certainly, there is a raft of big-name draw cards and record-breakers for whom the stage is set […]
Sri Lanka sells US$230mn in two year bonds
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka sold 2-year bonds worth 230 million US dollars priced at 294 basis points above the London Interbank Offered (LIBOR) rate, the government’s debt office said. At the same time 250 million dollars of old Sri Lanka Development Bonds also matured, indicating a net pay down of 20 million […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up on retail activity in energy counter
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks Monday edged up again on the back of Friday’s gains propelled by heavy trading in Vallibel Power Erathna, which announced a takeover deal, and trading in Dialog Telekom and Hayleys. Brokers said retail activity might pick up this week as investors may be more liquid with Sri […]
Sri Lanka tea board to tighten laws on exports
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Tea Board is seeking new laws to tighten quality control on exports and prevent shipments of what are considered teas below a certain minimum standard, a senior official said. Sri Lanka Tea Board chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi said national legislation was required to enforce the ISO 3720 standard […]
Malaysia releases Sri Lankan accused of nuclear links
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia said Monday it had released a Sri Lankan man held for four years over alleged links with a nuclear black market run by Pakistan’s Abdul Qadeer Khan, saying he did not pose any threat. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Buhary Syed Abu Tahir remained in the […]
Sri Lanka says at least 29 killed in fresh fighting
June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka’s northern regions left at least 29 combatants dead, the defence ministry said on Monday.At least 23 rebels and six government soldiers were killed as troops exchanged artillery fire and smashed through guerrilla bunkers in the district of Mannar […]
Sri Lanka power engineers say talks successful
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s power engineers are to formally decide on ending their work-to-rule campaign Monday following successful talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday, an official said. The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) started trade union action last week, seeking the removal of chairman Udayasri Kariyawasam and duty-slashed car concessions. A […]
Eurozone business activity contracts: survey
BRUSSELS, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Business activity in the 15 countries sharing the euro contracted in June for the first time for almost five years, according to a widely watched survey on Monday.The eurozone’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI), compiled by data and research group Markit, slid to 49.5 points in June, from 51.1 in […]
Oil prices rise after Jeddah summit
SINGAPORE, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – World oil prices rose in Asian trading on Monday after Saudi Arabia said at a weekend summit that it had raised output, and said speculators were partly to blame for higher prices.New York’s main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, was 29 cents higher at 135.65 […]
Zimbabwe opposition chief quits run-off, handing win to Mugabe
HARARE, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabweans faced an uncertain future Monday after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai abandoned a run-off election saying violence had made a fair vote impossible, in a move that virtually hands victory to President Robert Mugabe. “We will no longer participate in the violent illegitimate sham of an election process,” Tsvangirai, […]