Category: Other
Shapeways lets Internet users manufacture goods
SAN FRANCISCO, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – In a step toward the type of future pictured in the hit film “Iron Man,” a firm in the Netherlands is letting people fabricate items designed in three-dimensions on the Internet.Shapeways chief executive Peter Weijmarshausen depicts the “rapid manufacture” service launched online this week as a natural extension […]
Former Siemens management lax on anti-corruption: report
BERLIN, August 16, 2008 (AFP) – German engineering giant Siemens ignored its own anti-corruption procedures in a slush fund scandal that has brought down a number of former group executives, Spiegel magazine said.“Netzwerk-compliance,” a network comprising more than 400 businesses created to secure good company governance, identified “considerable structural shortcomings” in Siemens’ anti-corruption rules, according […]
Oil prices extend losses; OPEC says demand growth will slow
LONDON, August 15, 2008 (AFP) – Crude prices fell further on Friday as OPEC lowered its forecast for oil demand growth, citing the weak global economy. London’s Brent North Sea crude for October delivery dropped 1.21 dollars to 112.47 dollars a barrel. The September contract had expired at 112.64 dollars on Thursday. New York’s main […]
Sri Lanka tea exporters bank on variety, health benefits
Aug 15, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea exporters expect to earn about 1.8 billion dollars this year with the wide variety of teas offered and growing awareness of tea’s health benefits expected to keep the market strong. “Sri Lanka has the widest variety of grades and the widest variety of tastes,” said Perera. “Kenya […]
Sri Lankan low grown tea prices on the decline
Aug 15, 2008 (LBO) – Prices of Sri Lankan low grown teas, which make up more than half the crop, fell for the third week running at this week’s Colombo auctions, brokers said. However, high grown teas produced by the listed plantations companies, stayed firm as erratic weather created fears of tight supply. The brokers […]
”’ flow slowing: report
BEIJING, August 15, 2008 (AFP) – Foreign exchange deposits into Chinese banks in July dropped to 5.6 billion dollars, down by nearly half from June, state media reported, indicating the flow of “hot money” into China is slowing. The level of new foreign exchange deposits was lower than last month’s 8.3 billion dollars in direct […]
Sri Lanka fighting endangering civilians: Amnesty
August 15, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north is endangering the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people, rights group Amnesty International said Friday. Government bombardments and artillery shelling since May have forced thousands to flee their homes, primarily in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts, the […]
Contractors reap 85 bln dlrs from Iraq war: US report
WASHINGTON, August 15, 2008 (AFP) – The US government paid out 85 billion dollars in four years to contractors providing services to various government agencies in support of the Iraq war and reconstruction, a survey showed.The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report said the administration of US President George W.Bush awarded 85-billion-dollars in contracts between 2003 […]
Gold price slumps under 800 dollars
LONDON, August 15, 2008 (AFP) – Gold prices tumbled underneath 800 dollars per ounce on Friday, hitting a ten-month low point as the precious metal was hampered by the strong US currency and weak oil prices, analysts said. On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold slid to 772.98 dollars per ounce. That was […]
Oil prices up at US$113 after US inventory report
NEW YORK, August 13, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices rallied Wednesday after a weekly US government snapshot showed a surprisingly sharp drop in gasoline stockpiles amid the peak demand season. Oil prices bounced back strongly after sliding to four-month lows Tuesday after Russia announced the end of military operations in Georgia and as the International […]
Vietnam aiming for seven to eight pct growth: state media
HANOI, August 14, 2008 (AFP) – The Vietnamese government has targeted economic growth of seven to eight percent in 2009 and aims to win its fight against soaring inflation, state media said Thursday.Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday asked officials to draw up a plan to achieve the growth objective, and to bring inflation […]
‘s expects inflation to fall to 6.0-pct as commodity bubble bursts
SHANGHAI, August 14, 2008 (AFP) – China’s consumer inflation is expected to continue to slow in the rest of this year and in 2009 as global commodity prices ease, Chinese state media reported Thursday.China’s consumer price inflation fell to 6.3 percent in July, off from a nearly 12-year high of 8.7 percent hit in February […]