Category: Other
Military training programme for teens expands in US
CHICAGO, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) – Dozens of teens dressed in uniforms provided by the US Marines stand at attention in the gym of a Chicago public high school as a drill sergeant goes through a list of the day’s do’s and don’ts.Bring your books to class. Come for extra help if you need it.And […]
Sri Lanka in new push on agriculture
Nov 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is getting 360 million dollars in concessionary aid from Iran to build a multipurpose irrigation project that will generate 100 MegaWatts of electricity and divert water to irrigate the south of the country, officials said. The Uma Oya project with cost a total of 450 million dollars, Treasury […]
Market stress keeps economic outlook murky: Bernanke
WASHINGTON, Nov 29, 2007 (AFP) – The Federal Reserve sees a high degree of uncertainty in the US economic outlook and is worried that strains in financial markets may lead to broader problems, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday.In remarks prepared for delivery to a business group in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bernanke said policymakers are […]
China to stop arresting women for carrying condoms: state press
BEIJING, Nov 30, 2007 (AFP) – Chinese police are to stop arresting women who carry condoms, traditionally seen as evidence of prostitution, in an effort to help curb the spread of AIDS, state press said Friday.Despite efforts to stop the practice, women in China are still being sent to labour camps for prostitution offences merely […]
Political Wages
Nov 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s large tea plantations have slammed state interference in wages that saw unions effectively egged onto breaking a legal wage deal and plantations firms forced into a new agreement. The Planters Association (PA), an industry body representing tea farms said the companies “were literally forced to accept the government […]
Sri Lanka to raise milch cows on grazing land freed from Tigers
Nov 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is trying to make use of grazing lands freed from the grip of Tamil Tiger rebels in the island’s east to increase domestic fresh milk production. . The initiative would help meet domestic demand and reduce imports at a time when global milk prices have doubled owing to […]
Japan looks at everyday use of robots
TOKYO, Nov 29, 2007 (AFP) – Japan, which has taken the lead in developing a generation of high-tech if quirky robots, is now getting down to reality by looking at what humanoids can actually do for people.Some 200 companies and more than 50 organisations from Japan and abroad are taking part in the 2007 International […]
Malaysia considers spanking naughty girls: reports
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia is considering allowing schools to cane unruly girls to curb an upsurge in discipline problems including gang fights and bullying, reports said Wednesday. Currently only boys are caned in Malaysian schools, but only rarely and for serious offences.The punishment is administered on the buttocks or the palm […]
Wall St. sees red as economic fears spark losses
NEW YORK, Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) – Wall Street saw a sea of red Wednesday in a heavy selloff as investors voiced fears that the housing slump and credit crunch could derail US economic growth. Analysts said retail sales over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend had appeared robust, but economists said the American consumer is being […]
HSBC bails out investment funds
LONDON, Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) – European share prices closed lower Monday, while Wall Street slipped back as investors looked past sharp gains in Asia and continued to fret about the global credit squeeze, dealers said.They said a constant flow of bad news about the impact of the crisis in the US subprime or higher […]
Sri Lanka backs tea producing nations grouping
Nov 27, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is supporting efforts by other major tea growing countries to form a forum exclusively for tea producing nations, Ranjith Abeykoon, director of Tea Promotions said. The idea, being discussed at the on-going India International Tea Convention in Guwahati, is to increase global demand for tea, which now still […]