Category: World
Neoliberalism oversold? Inequality throttles growth, say IMF economists
June 02, 2016 (LBO) – Instead of delivering growth, some neoliberal policies increase inequality which in turn jeopardize sustainable development, three IMF economists say in a recent article. Neoliberalism refers to capitalism in its purest form where privatization, deregulation, and the “freeing of the market” are keys to a flourishing economy. The senior IMF economists […]
General Electric to change globalization strategy, localization key, says CEO
May 31, 2016 (LBO) – Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, says the global manufacturer is gearing up for a bold pivot in its globalization strategy. This change is in response to rising protectionist political pressures and distrust of big companies, amid government and global institutions failing to address the world’s challenges. Although innovation has […]
Japanese PM to delay consumption tax hike; possible no-confidence
May 30, 2016 (LBO) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met top executives of his Liberal Democratic Party to discuss the proposal to delay the scheduled April 2017 consumption tax hike. Japanese media reported that Vice-President Masahiko Komura, General Council Chairman Toshihiro Nikai, and Policy Research Council Chairman Tomomi Inada were among them. Shinzo […]
World Bank Launches Financing Facility to Protect Countries against Pandemics
SENDAI, Japan —The World Bank Group today launched the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF), an innovative, fast-disbursing global financing mechanism designed to protect the world against deadly pandemics, which will create the first-ever insurance market for pandemic risk. Japan, which holds the G7 Presidency, committed the first $50 million in funding toward the new initiative. “Pandemics […]
India to turn Iranian port into transit hub bypassing Pakistan
May 24, 2016 (LBO) – India, Iran and Afghanistan have signed a tripartite agreement to turn the Iranian Chabahar port into a transit hub bypassing Pakistan, foreign media reported. The agreement will significantly increase the use of Chabahar port and connect India to Central Asia through Afghanistan and also provide Afghanistan access to India through […]
Flood-hit Sri Lanka receives help from several countries
May 24, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has received a helping hand from several friendly countries to support the disaster affected people in the country. The Foreign Ministry has established a task force to coordinate emergency relief assistance from Diplomatic Missions in Colombo and Sri Lankan Missions overseas, with the relevant Ministries and Agencies in […]
Crisis-hit Venezuela near collapse, says new oil deal with China
May 17, 2016 (LBO) – Venezuela says it has reached a deal with China to improve loan terms as falling oil prices have driven the oil-exporting country into economic crisis and collapsed its currency. Venezuelan Economy Vice-President Miguel Perez told Reuters that all conditions, including loan time frames, investment amounts and non-financial aspects, had been […]
Samantha Power meets former President Chandrika Kumaratunga
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power met with former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, currently Chairperson of Sri Lanka’s Office of National Unity Reconciliation (ONUR), and Mano Tittawella, Secretary-General for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, on May 11, 2016, at the Sri Lankan Mission to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador […]
Sri Lankan community in France to receive solutions for consular issues
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris successfully concluded the first ever consular forum conducted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Paris with a view to address issues faced by the Sri Lankan Community in France pertaining to issuance of passports, registration of birth, citizenship certificates and issuance of dual citizenship certificates. On an […]
South Korea introduces new points system to recruit workers from Sri Lanka
May 10, 2016 (LBO) – The Human Resources Development Services of Korea has introduced a new point based system to recruit workers from Sri Lanka and other countries, The Korean Embassy said. Current system allows only passers of Korean language examination (EPS-TOPIK) constitute valid roster, which has not contained various elements of the person, for […]
London swears in first Muslim Mayor
May 09, 2016 (LBO) – The United Kingdoms Labour party candidate Sadiq Khan was sworn in as London’s first Muslim mayor last weekend. Having won 1,310,143 votes, Khan received the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history. New mayor Khan said he will “put London first” as he looked to move on from the […]
Clinton, Trump lead in New York primaries
Apr 20, 2016 (LBO) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won New York’s Democratic primary reasserting her position over rival Bernie Sanders in the fight for the presidential nomination. In the Republican contest, Donald Trump defeated Ohio Governor John Kasich and Texas Senator Ted Cruz by a wide margin. Sanders had surged over the past […]