Category: Other
China sees “historic opportunities” in South Asia
NEW DELHI, April 3, 2007 (AFP) – China declared Tuesday that South Asia was on the brink of “historic opportunities” and sought stepped up cooperation with the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made the statement as he welcomed Beijing’s new observer status at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). “We all belong […]
” in huge Solomons quake, tsunami
HONIARA, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – A powerful undersea earthquake unleashed a tsunami that pounded the Solomon Islands early Monday, flattening villages and killing at least six people and sparking scenes of panic, officials said.Witnesses said the wall of water triggered by the 8.0-magnitude quake was up to five metres (16.5 feet) high and swamped […]
Bangladesh hikes fuel prices 21 percent in line with global rates
DHAKA, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh’s military-backed interim government said Monday that it raised the price of fuels used for transport and cooking by as much as 21 percent in the face of sharply rising global oil prices.The prices of diesel and kerosene were hiked by 21 percent to 40 taka (27.80 US cents) […]
Time for South Asia nations to deliver: ministers
NEW DELHI, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – South Asia’s expanding but underperforming SAARC grouping needs to work harder and overcome internal rivalries to boost regional cooperation, officials said Monday on the eve of a summit.“We are at a defining moment in SAARC history,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said ahead of the South Asian Association […]
Malaysian anti-corruption chief dumped amid graft allegations: report
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia’s top anti-corruption official, who is facing a police investigation into graft allegations against him, will not have his contract renewed, a report said Saturday.Malaysians believe their country has an “acute” corruption problem, international monitor Transparency International said recently, warning the issue could drive away foreign investors.Zulkipli Mat […]
Sri Lanka tea exports recover in February
March 22, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea exports grew six percent in February while higher prices also pushed earnings higher, commodities broker Asia Siyaka said. Sri Lanka exported 26.5 million kilograms of tea in February (24.9 mn kg in 2005) but was unable to fully recover losses in January when production plummeted as estates recovered […]
Safe Flow
March 21 (LBO) – An investment protection agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia has come into effect from March this year with Australia, which can increase investment flows to the island, the foreign ministry said. Sri Lanka had completed its internal legal requirements in February 2006. “The Agreement sets out the State to State guarantees […]
Gender Wars
March 21 (LBO) – In Sri Lanka, women already outnumber men at 52 women for every 48 men and activists are warning that the proportion would increase if the war continues. However, in the workplace prospects are not all that rosy for Sri Lanka’s ladies. Women are still a minority among Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians and […]
Airbus A380 superjumbo wows crowds on historic US debut
LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2007 (AFP) – The giant Airbus A380 superjumbo landed on US soil for the first time Monday, dazzling large crowds gathered in Los Angeles and New York to catch a glimpse of the world’s biggest passenger plane. The 555-seat double-decker behemoth with a wingspan the size of a football pitch descended […]
Bangladesh gets second private passenger airline
DHAKA, March 20, 2007 (AFP) – A Kuwait-based company has joined Bangladesh’s leading air-cargo operator to launch the country’s second private passenger airline, a company official said Tuesday.Biman reported a record loss of 120 million dollars in the year to June last year. Aqeeq Aviation Holding has bought a 49 percent stake in Best Aviation […]
Malaysia issues WiMAX licences to four companies
KUALA LUMPUR, March 16, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia on Friday issued licences to four telecommunication operators to provide fourth generation (4G) wireless high speed Internet services nationwide this year.The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the winning bidders are Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd, MIB Comm Sdn Bhd, Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd and Asiaspace Dotcom […]
LBR-LBO WiE Forum
March 16 (LBO) – Allowing employers and female workers to negotiate a work-family balance is far more effective in practice than laws, Sri Lankan women in business told a forum this week. In 2005, 7.52 million of Sri lanka’s labour force was employed of which 30.9 percent were females, statistics show, which was half the […]