Category: Other
Oil hits record 100.10 dollars
NEW YORK, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) – The price of oil in New York spiked to a record 100.10 dollars a barrel Tuesday on supply concerns. The price for a barrel of light, sweet crude, eclipsed the record set in January of 100.09 dollars a barrel. The market rallied amid speculation that the Organization of […]
Sri Lanka coconut palms hit by deadly yellowing disease
Feb 20, 2008 (LBO) – A bacteria spreading the lethal yellowing disease on coconut palms has entered Sri Lanka destroying more than 200,000 trees in the southern coast of the island, coconut experts say. The bacteria known as ˜phytoplasma™ came through a shipment of ornamental palms that were not quarantined before entering the island, Salinda […]
Money Launder
Feb 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank says it has strengthened an anti-money laundering and warns the public against engaging in illegal transactions. “The Central Bank warns the public to be aware of the dangers of getting involved in unlawful financial transactions that are detrimental to public or national interest and the country’s […]
Aussie coach tells tourists to mind their own business
ADELAIDE, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) – Australian coach Tim Nielsen told the touring Indians and Sri Lankans here Monday to worry about their own form instead of concerning themselves with the home side’s performances.Nielsen was responding to claims from both that the Australians were struggling, despite being the clear leader on the tri-series ladder. Sri […]
Platinum breaks through 2,100 dollars for first time
LONDON, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) – The price of platinum on Monday struck a record high above 2,100 dollars owing to a tight supply situation, dealers said. On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum struck a record 2,119 dollars an ounce. It later stood at 2,090 dollars as profit-taking set in. The latest advance […]
”: Russian firm
NEW DELHI, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) – India could soon begin producing “original” Kalashnikov assault rifles under licence and stop buying knock-offs of the ubiquitous weapon, a Russian firm said Tuesday. Speaking at the end of a four-day weapons fair in New Delhi, Izhmash JSC said it was negotiating with India on the local production […]
Sri Lanka plans draconian new laws to curb coconut farmers; new disease threatens crop
Feb 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning draconian new laws to limit the rights of coconut farmers to put land to alternative uses and cut import duty on coconut oil as prices soared and a new pest hit groves in the island. Disease and clearance of coconut land for development have helped reduce […]
EU divided over Kosovo independence, Russia opposes
MOSCOW, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – Russia angrily condemned Kosovo’s declaration of independence on Sunday and while many major powers are expected to recognise the fledgling state, even the European Union is divided. The foreign ministry said it “could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign […]
”, Australia backs Kosovo split
PARIS, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) – Australia on Monday became the lastest nation to welcome Kosovo’s declaration of independence, joining the United States and several European powers, despite fierce objections from Serbia and Russia.Ethnic Albanians account for around 25 percent of Macedonia’s two-million population.In 2001, the government and ethnic Albanian rebels waged a brief fight […]
High inflation oil-subsidizing Iran to spend US3bn importing fuel
TEHRAN, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s parliament on Saturday approved a three-billion-dollar spending plan to fund diesel and petrol imports during the next Iranian year, the official IRNA news agency reported.MPs approved a budget allowing imports worth up to 30 trillion rials (3.2 billion dollars) in the new year beginning on March 20. Iran […]
Laws hamper media coverage of Maoist story
RAIPUR, India, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – As the state at the epicentre of India’s Maoist insurgency battles the rebels, journalists say they too are finding themselves branded as outlaws.A law passed by Chhattisgarh state in 2005 made it a crime to “assist in a meeting” with a member of a banned organisation, or to […]
Germany reels over fat cat tax probe
BERLIN, Feb 17, 2008 (AFP) – Germany braced Sunday for more fallout from the worst tax evasion scandal in its history, exposed by a mysterious informant who reportedly took a five-million-euro award and now says he fears for his life.The German government said it paid the unnamed whistle-blower to hand over Liechtenstein bank details on […]