Category: Other
‘s infant mortality crisis
NEW DELHI, October 5, 2009 (AFP) – More than 400,000 Indian babies die every year from preventable causes within 24 hours of their birth, despite the country’s recent rapid economic development, a report said Monday. India accounts for a fifth of all newborn deaths worldwide, according to the major report published by charity Save the […]
Sri Lanka August tea exports up
Oct 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exports rose slightly in August from a year ago as production recovered from drought earlier in the year, but shipments for the year were still sharply lower, brokers said. Sri Lanka exported 27.9 million kilos of tea in August 2009, an increase of 0.5 million kilos over […]
Pilots fight crew in mid-air brawl on Indian flight: report
NEW DELHI, October 4, 2009 (AFP) – Air India said on Sunday it was investigating allegations of a mid-air brawl in which pilots and cabin crew were reported to have exchanged blows in front of startled passengers.The Times of India reported that crew members threw punches and hurled abuse at each other on the flight […]
South Asia frets over high food prices
NEW DELHI, October 4, 2009 (AFP) – Ambika Biswas looks at her grocery bag and winces.She is buying food for her family in one of New Delhi’s cheapest markets — yet her grocery costs are far higher than last year. Her maid’s income of 5,000 rupees (104 dollars) a month supports her two teenage children […]
Deficit Finance
Oct 03, 2009 (LBO) – First of all it’s necessary to say, that there can be several definitions of budget deficits such as the structural budget deficit, the inflation adjusted budget deficit, the nominal budget deficit, the primary budget deficit, the budget deficit on current account and the over-all budget deficit. Each definition has its […]
Death tolls rise in disaster-struck Asia
MANILA, October 3, 2009 (AFP) – The death toll from a week of catastrophes in the Asia-Pacific rose to 1,680 Saturday as the region struggled to cope with a freak series of earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. At least 139 people were feared dead in Samoa alone, with 129 confirmed killed and 10 missing.Another 32 were […]
Sri Lankan tea prices fall
Oct 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices fell at this week’s auction, raising concern that plantations corporations may not enjoy the high price levels required to cope with a recent near 40 percent wage hike. Brokers Asia Siyaka Commodities said there was “fair general demand at lower rates” for teas from regional plantations […]
Sri Lanka aims to save last reef on south coast
Oct 01, 2009 (LBO) – A coral reef described as the last remaining living, extensive reef on Sri Lanka’s south coast was cleaned up in an effort where international and local agencies worked together, the ministry of fisheries said.The initiative aims to improve the quality and condition of the Kapparathota coral reef in Weligama Bay, […]
India over the moon with water discovery
BANGALORE, September 25, 2009 (AFP) – India on Friday hailed the discovery of water on the moon as a triumph for its lunar programme as the country aims to cement its reputation as a serious player in the space industry.“There could be much more interesting facts.We will talk about all of it once we have […]
Sri Lanka plantations say productivity link to future wages
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plantations industry has said new wage models are being considered in talks with labour unions after managing to link worker productivity to wages in recent negotiations.Dhamitha Perera, chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA), said the recent near 40 percent wage hike, raising a worker’s daily wage […]
Bharti shares rise as MTN talks deadline looms
NEW DELHI, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – Shares of Bharti Airtel rose nearly two percent in morning trade Tuesday ahead of an expected announcement by the top Indian mobile firm and South Africa’s flagship group MTN on a possible tie-up.Shares of Bharti Airtel were up 1.75 percent or 7.25 rupees at 421.60, a day ahead […]
‘s major species at threat: Australian report
SYDNEY, September 29, 2009 (AFP) – Almost 10 percent of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish are in danger of extinction due to climate change and other factors, according to an Australian report released Tuesday.“We have a long way to go, we have discovered and named only about a quarter of Australia’s estimated […]