Category: Other
Maldives nab foreigners for prostitution
January 17, 2006 (LBO) — Five foreigners have been arrested in the Indian Ocean Island of Maldives for allegedly offering commercial sex and having lubricants and condoms on them, police said Thursday.“Three men and two women were arrested Tuesday midnight on a tip off from a house in Male,” police spokesman Sergeant Ahmed Shiyam said […]
British bank Northern Rock looking for suitors after defeating rebel shareholders
LONDON, Jan 15, 2008 (AFP) – Northern Rock, the British bank almost sunk by the global credit crunch, on Tuesday defeated most of the plans by rebel shareholders to limit management’s ability to sell the group without consulting investors. However, the Financial Times on Tuesday reported that Brown would not be forced into making a […]
Sri Lanka coconut prices may ease, but not much
Jan 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan coconut prices which have soared in recent months are expected to ease by end-February as new crops come in but will remain high as world edible oil prices were high, industry officials said. “The shortage of nuts could ease towards the end of February but I’m not sure […]
Record-breaking gold could hit 1,000 dollars: analysts
LONDON, Jan 15, 2008 (AFP) – The price of gold is hitting new record highs owing to the troubled US economy and a cocktail of other supportive factors, leading some analysts to predict 1,000 dollars per ounce could happen soon.In recent days the precious metal has blasted past 900 dollars in a record-breaking run. Unprecedented […]
Way Open
SYDNEY, Jan 15, 2008 (AFP) – Nauru authorities have dropped sexual assault charges against six Sri Lankan asylum seekers, paving the way for their claims to be processed, Australian immigration officials said Tuesday. The six are among the last asylum seekers held in an Australian immigration detention centre on the Pacific island which Australian Prime […]
China sets 2008 inflation target at 4.6 percent
SHANGHAI, Jan 14, 2008 (AFP) – China has set an initial inflation target of 4.6 percent for 2008, up from three percent last year, state media reported Monday, reflecting a recent spike in the prices of consumer products. The National Development and Reform Commission also set a target for economic growth this year of eight […]
Maldives economy slows in 2007: central bank
MALE, Jan 14, 2008 (AFP) – Economic growth in the Maldives slowed to 6.6 percent in 2007, the islands’ central bank said Monday as high oil prices and a drop in the fish catch impacted on the economy. Economic growth, down from a staggering 19 percent in 2006, was however better than the 5.5 percent […]
No Justice
Jan 14, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan man has been released from prison after spending 50 years on remand, his lawyer said Monday.D.P. James, now 80, was arrested in August 1958 for attacking and wounding his father with a knife. He was sent to jail, then moved to a psychiatric hospital, and then discharged […]
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
Jan 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said. Gulam Chatoor, former chairman of the Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders Association said India’s imposition of a cap of 2,500 tonnes a year on […]
Troubled Gulf Air places US$4bn Boeing order
MANAMA, Jan 12, 2008 (AFP) – The Bahrain-based airline Gulf Air has ordered 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners valued at around four billion dollars and taken options for eight more, an airline official told AFP on Saturday.Gulf Air places four billion dollar order with Boeing ATTENTION – ADDS background /// “Gulf Air has signed today (Saturday) […]
Zimbabweans off banks after cash crunch
HARARE, Jan 13, 2008 (AFP) – Kennedy Tsambo’s faith in Zimbabwe’s banking system finally hit breaking point over Christmas when he spent an ultimately fruitless three days queuing to withdraw cash in order to buy a bus fare home. “This was not a donation that I was queuing for, it’s my own money which I […]
Card Scam
Jan 12, 2007 (LBO) – Credit cards purported to have been issued by two Sri Lankan banks were found with a British national arrested in India over a credit card scam, a media report said. Police examinations of his e-mail had revealed that he had received confidential information such as PIN of ATM cards and […]