Category: Other
Maldives frees democrazy activist
Aug 16 (AFP) – The Maldives said Wednesday it had freed a leading opposition figure as part of efforts to move the island nation towards multi-party democracy. Jennifer Latheef, who was jailed for 10 years on terror charges linked to a 2003 pro-democracy riot, was pardoned and released, the Maldivian government said in a statement. […]
Oil steady on easing Middle East concerns
SINGAPORE, Aug 16 (AFP) – Crude prices were steady in Asian hours Wednesday as traders breathed easier over the Middle East after the UN ceasefire in Lebanon took effect, dealers said. British energy giant BP’s announcement Friday that it would keep pumping oil from its Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska was also a relief for […]
Tea exporter in Sri Lanka to get incentive fees for value addition
August 16 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exporters can tap into about 30 million rupees in cess funds being given this year as an incentive for value added exports of Ceylon tea.Exporters can submit claims based on volumes exported, proof of value addition under Sri Lankan brand labels, provided pack sizes are under three kilos, […]
Poverty and conflict in South Asia breeding ground for AIDS: Experts
TORONTO, Canada, Aug 15, 2006 (AFP) – South Asia’s AIDS epidemic could smash through vulnerable populations unless India and its neighbours take the battle into high-risk areas, including the sex industry, the World Bank warned Monday.The report, issued at the world’s biggest-ever AIDS meeting, painted a picture of an HIV time bomb that ticked in […]
Indian chosen to head Pepsico
NEW YORK, Aug 14, 2006 (AFP) – Global beverages giant PepsiCo Monday named Indra Nooyi as its new chief executive, capping a rapid rise to the highest ranks of corporate America for the Indian-born woman. Nooyi, 50, will succeed the 58-year-old Steve Reinemund on October 1st, although Reinemund will keep working for the company until […]
Treasury in talks with ADB to structure donor backed bonds for plantations
August 14 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in talks with the Asian Development Bank to structure donor backed bonds to encourage private investment into the plantation sector, top officials said Monday. “We are talking to the Asian Development Bank to see if long term bonds guaranteed by foreign funding can be worked out for the plantation […]
Harrods designs Ceylon teas from Sri Lanka
Aug 11 (LBO) – A top UK department store says it is expanding its selection of up market Ceylon Teas by introducing more custom made designer teas to tempt the palate of its customers. A soon to be introduced Harrods “Eagle Nest” tea is manually hand rolled to exacting specifications of the posh Knightsbridge department store. […]
Passengers face delays, extra checks at Asian airports
HONG KONG, Aug 11, 2006 (AFP) – Passengers at Asian airports faced delays and were stopped from taking electronics and liquids on board US-bound flights Friday as security was stepped up after British police foiled an alleged plot to blow up planes over the Atlantic Ocean. Additional dog squads and bomb disposal and detection teams […]
PCs still changing the world at 25 years old
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 10, 2006 (AFP) – Personal computers have transformed society in a mere 25 years and they are just getting warmed up.In the short time since IBM launched its pioneering PC on August 12, 1981, teenagers have gone from hiding secrets in locked diaries to baring all on social networking websites such as […]
Coke, Pepsi struggle to find fizz in India
NEW DELHI, Aug 10, 2006 (AFP) – With a billion-plus people in a hot climate and a booming economy, India should be a choice market for Coke and Pepsi — but the two cola giants have instead faced a very bumpy local ride. The brands are in the midst of a publicity nightmare after an […]
British bomb plot causes worldwide airline chaos
LONDON, Aug 10, 2006 (AFP) – Air travel to and from Britain was plunged into chaos on Thursday in the wake of the discovery of a plot to blow up airlines on transatlantic flights. Many airlines said they were cancelling all flights to Britain and to the epicentre of the threat, London Heathrow, one of […]
‘s Union Bank
LONDON, Aug 9, 2006 (AFP) – Standard Chartered, the Britain-based emerging markets bank, said Wednesday that it has agreed to buy 80.86 percent of Pakistan’s Union Bank for 413 million dollars (321 million euros). “The acquisition of Union Bank will make Standard Chartered the sixth largest bank in Pakistan by market share of assets and […]