Category: Other
US Senate to vote Wednesday on bailout package
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2008 (AFP) – The US Senate will vote Wednesday evening on a revised 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout, after the House of Representatives sparked economic turmoil by rejecting the original package. A Democratic Senate aide speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the surprise vote would go ahead and the bill is […]
” accounting rules amidst illiquid markets
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – US regulators Tuesday offered new guidelines aimed at easing accounting rules blamed by some analysts for worsening the crisis for banks with heavy losses from mortgage securities The Securities and Exchange Commission made the announcement offering clarification to companies preparing to report their financial results for the third quarter, […]
French PM says banks vulnerable, but state will step in
PARIS, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has warned in an interview to appear Wednesday that the country’s banks are vulnerable given the global financial crisis, which he compared to the Great Depression.Fillon, however, said in the interview with Les Echos business newspaper that the state would not allow any banks […]
Privatization of first US airport could bank 2.5 billion dollars
CHICAGO, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – The privatization of the first major US airport could net the city of Chicago 2.5 billion dollars, officials said Tuesday. The 99-year lease of Chicago’s secondary airport, Midway, must still be approved by the city council and federal regulators but officials expressed confidence it would pass. “With this agreement […]
Coral-killing starfish turns out to be four species, not one
PARIS, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – The crown-of-thorns starfish, a notorious threat to coral in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, comprises four species, not one, biologists reported on Tuesday. The spiny predator, known by its Latin name of Acanthaster planci, has been a worsening peril to reefs for at least three decades, latching onto coral […]
Sri Lanka to introduce energy efficiency laws
Oct 01, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government plans to introduce new laws to make energy efficiency improvement measures mandatory that may even extend to private homes, a senior official said.Wickramasinghe said the government aims to encourage supply side and end-use energy efficiency and the Energy Conservation Act will be amended. The authority will prepare […]
Legal Action
Sept 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s lawyers are to protest in front of the main court complex in the capital Colombo while condemnation poured in, after an attack on the residence of a top anti-corruption activist and fellow attorney. “We fear that we cannot ignore this situation any further and allow it to escalate […]
Markets dive after US lawmakers reject financial bailout
NEW YORK, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – Global markets panicked Monday after US lawmakers rejected a 700-billion-dollar rescue of the financial system, raising the prospect of deeper financial turmoil. Wall Street blue-chip stocks suffered their worst single-day point decline after the US House of Representatives defeated the measure billed by President George W. Bush’s administration […]
Drama as American people say no to Wall Street bailout
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – Shocked, open-mouthed and fearful US lawmakers stood in the well of the House of Representatives Monday, dumbfounded by the magnitude of the chamber’s decision to kill a bid to save Wall Street. Democratic and Republican party leaders who had battled to pass a 700 billion dollar bailout bill, stared […]
Dollar gains despite rejection of bailout plan
NEW YORK, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – The euro and the pound slid against the dollar Monday after the rescue of several European banks deepened worries about the global financial system. The currency market showed little reaction off US lawmakers’ rejection of a 700-billion-dollar financial rescue plan touted by President George W.Bush’s administration as vital […]
Asian stocks dive as panic sweeps global markets
TOKYO, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – Stocks plunged in Asia Tuesday as fears of escalating financial turmoil triggered panic selling on world markets after Washington policymakers unexpectedly shot down a US financial rescue plan. In Tokyo and Hong Kong stocks were some five percent in the red despite calls from policymakers for markets to keep […]
World awaits action after US rejects bailout
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned US lawmakers they had to act fast after the House rejected his 700-billion-dollar bank bailout, triggering panic selling as the global financial crisis deepened. Stock markets around the world plunged after US House members, wary an angry public will punish them on Election Day […]