Category: Other
US scientists pinpoint 14 top technological challenges
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – The US National Academy of Engineering has announced the grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century that, if met, would improve people’s lives.The list of 14 tasks was unveiled Friday by a diverse committee of experts from around the world, convened at the request of the US […]
WHO wants tobacco firms to stop smuggling with new treaty
GENEVA, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – The World Health Organisation announced Friday that it planned to adopt a new international treaty on the illegal tobacco trade by 2010. The existing FCTC agreement, signed in February 2005, aims to rein in the estimated five million annual deaths caused by smoking, which the WHO says will double […]
India opens massive weapons fair, denies arming for war
NEW DELHI, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – A massive defence fair opened in India’s capital Saturday, with hundreds of global weapons firms competing for billions of dollars of sales to one of the world’s largest armies and biggest spenders. Some 450 firms from countries including the United States, Russia, Britain, Russia and Israel are displaying […]
Ward Rounds
Feb 16, 2008 (LBO) – A ban on representatives of Sri Lanka’s healthcare firms visiting hospitals has been lifted following a presidential order after the industry agreed to follow a code of conduct, an industry body said. Sri Lanka’s health ministry had banned visits by representatives to hospitals as part of a series of regulations […]
Dollar slips after Bernanke opens door to rate cuts
NEW YORK, Feb 14, 2008 (AFP) – The dollar eased against other major currencies Thursday after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke highlighted economic risks, signaling further interest rate cuts to bolster growth.Around 2200 GMT, the euro was at 1.4637 dollars, up from 1.4573 dollars in New York late Wednesday. The dollar also fell to […]
‘s inflation surges to 66,000 percent
HARARE, Feb 14, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s inflation rate, already the highest in the world, has soared to a new high of 66,212.3 percent, according to official figures obtained by AFP on Thursday.“The year-on-year inflation rate for the month of December 2007, as measured by the all items Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 66,212.3 […]
Indonesian shares close 0.5 percent higher
JAKARTA, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – Jakarta share prices closed 0.5 percent higher Friday rebounding from morning losses after the government’s announcement of strong 2007 growth data, dealers said. They said for 2007, the economy expanded 6.32 percent, the fastest for Indonesia since the Asian financial crisis 11 years ago.It remained below the pre-crisis level […]
‘s Baurs goes deeper into infant food
Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s diversified A. Baur & Company has launched a new powdered milk brand to boost its share in the premiumn infant milk powder business. Baurs says it already has a 20 percent market share in the infant milk powder segment. The product, ‘Enfakid’, developed by US food giant Mead […]
‘s Day to heart
MALE Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Unsigned love letters, flowers, tokens and trinkets of undying affection.This is not a page from a romantic novel, but how youngsters in the Islamic Republic of Maldives plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day celebrations and marketing gimmicks have, according to many, reached a new high this year, with […]
Indian Ocean naval summit opens
NEW DELHI, Feb 14, 2008 (AFP) – India on Thursday launched its first naval summit aimed at forging ties with nations that have a stake in the busy maritime lanes of the Indian Ocean.Twenty-six representatives of navies from countries including Australia, Egypt, France and Sri Lanka are attending the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), seen […]
Sri Lanka tea prices seen staying strong
Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices are forecast to stay strong this year because of international supply disruptions caused by the violence in Kenya and rising demand from consumers in oil-rich countries, brokers said. “Problems in Kenya will definitely have an impact on global supply during the first quarter of 2008,” brokers […]
‘s News Corp.: report
NEW YORK, Feb 13, 2008 (AFP) – Yahoo is exploring a possible alliance with media conglomerate News Corp.to stave off a take-over by software giant Microsoft, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. owns the Journal, as well a global media empire that includes popular online social networking website MySpace, Dow […]