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US approves first offshore wind farm
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2010 (AFP) – The first US offshore wind farm project won government approval Wednesday after nearly a decade of battles involving environmentalists, Indian tribes and others. The big Massachusetts project approved by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is seen as a giving a major boost to wind power in the United States even […]
Tobacco firms take aim at Bangladeshi, Asian women
DHAKA, April 29, 2010 (AFP) – Bangladeshi chest doctor Kazi Saifuddin Bennoor has seen many misleading cigarette advertisements, but the one that suggested smoking could make childbirth easier plumbed new depths. Advertisements telling smokers they are smarter, more energetic and better lovers than their non-smoking counterparts are a familiar sight across Bangladesh — something unimaginable […]
Aishwarya Abhishek together in new film
MUMBAI, April 29, 2010 (AFP) – Bollywood’s leading couple, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, are teaming up for their first film together in two years, hoping to harness the power of the Internet to make it a box office hit. “Raavan,” with music by Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” composer A.R. Rahman, is a modern-day take on […]
Emirates starts Amsterdam Sri Lanka run
Apr 29, 2010 (LBO) – Emirates airlines said it was starting flights to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam from Colombo first and business class passenger being given complementary stays in Dubai. From Colombo, Emirates operates 21 services a week to Dubai. “Sri Lanka and the Netherlands are linked by centuries of history and trade, said […]
Sri Lanka to get Courtaulds clothing plant
Apr 29, 2010 (LBO) – Courtaulds Clothing has signed an agreement with Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment to set up a plant to manufacture knitted fabric for the export market, the investment promotion agency said. Another investment is by Regnis Appliances worth 1.1 million dollars to manufacture and assemble home appliances. An investment agreement for […]
‘s house: politician
April 29, 2010 (AFP) – The ancestral home of Sri Lanka’s slain Tamil Tiger rebel chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has been demolished as it was becoming a tourist attraction, a Tamil politician said Thursday. M. K. Sivajilingam, secretary of the Tamil National Liberation Alliance, accused security forces of destroying the house a year after Prabhakaran was […]
South Asian leaders admit failing their region
THIMPHU, April 28, 2010 (AFP) – South Asian leaders admitted Wednesday a common failure to overcome their differences and tackle the key challenges in their conflict-ridden region, including poverty, climate change and terrorism. Opening a summit of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Bhutan, the host nation’s Prime Minister Jigme Thinley […]
‘s Bharti Airtel reports dip in profit
MUMBAI, April 28, 2010 (AFP) – India’s top mobile phone company Bharti Airtel Wednesday blamed an 8. 2-percent fall in its fourth-quarter net profit on “hyper-competition” in its domestic market. Net profit for the three months to March 31 fell on a 12-month basis to 20. 55 billion rupees (46 million dollars) while revenues for […]
Reforms to allow Sri Lanka president to retain power: report
April 28, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party will press ahead with constitutional reforms to allow President Mahinda Rajapakse to run for a third term in office, a press report said Wednesday. With the support of smaller parties and defectors, Rajapakse’s party could soon muster the six seats needed to have the two-thirds majority […]
Sri Lanka Overseas Realty expands amid a property market pick up
Apr 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan developer Overseas Realty (Ceylon), a unit of Singapore’s Shing Kwan group said it was starting an expansion of a property project amid a pick up in the property market. Overseas Realty owns the twin tower World Trade Centre building in Sri Lanka’s capital which houses the Colombo Stock […]
Sri Lanka business loans surge in February: data
Apr 27, 2010 (LBO) – Loans from Sri Lanka’s commercial banks to the private business rose 16. 5 billion rupees in February in the biggest monthly gain seen since a credit contraction ended in September, official data shows. Credit to the private sector grew to 1,212. 3 billion rupees in February from 1,195.8 billion rupees […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields dip
Apr 27, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month Treasury bill yields dipped 06 basis points to 8.40 percent at Tuesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said. The 6-month yield slid 09 basis points to 9.10 percent while the 12-month yield was down 16 basis points 9. 30 percent. The government’s debt office said it sold […]